Emergency medicine (Fremantle, W.A.)
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To assess whether prehospital triage guidelines, based on mechanistic criteria alone, accurately identify victims of motor vehicle accidents (MVA) with major injury. ⋯ These data suggest that existing guidelines for the prehospital triage of MVA victims, based on mechanistic criteria alone may need revision.
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Emerg Med (Fremantle) · Oct 2003
Comparative StudyParacetamol poisoning: which nomogram should we use?
To determine the type of paracetamol nomograms used in Australasian EDs. To review the literature to determine the evidence base for existing nomograms. ⋯ Practice varies in Australasian EDs. Patients with paracetamol levels below the 1300 mumol/L have been reported in the literature to develop hepatotoxicity, and deaths have been documented. N-acetylcysteine is extremely safe when used in the recommended dosages.
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Emerg Med (Fremantle) · Oct 2003
Documentation and tagging of casualties in multiple casualty incidents.
The use of triage tags is widely advocated as a tool to improve the management of multiple casualty incident scenes. However, there are no published reports to suggest that triage tags have improved the management of incidents involving more than 24 persons, and a number of reports have detailed problems associated with triage tag use. ⋯ Adoption of an evidence-based approach to multiple casualty incident scene management will require a paradigm shift in the thinking of ambulance services. A broad-based educational approach that encourages critical reappraisal of existing procedures is recommended.
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Emerg Med (Fremantle) · Oct 2003
Comparative StudyComparison of a verbal numeric rating scale with the visual analogue scale for the measurement of acute pain.
To test the agreement between the visual analogue scale (VAS) and a verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) in measuring acute pain, and measure the minimum clinically significant change in VNRS. ⋯ The VNRS performs as well as the VAS in assessing changes in pain. However, although the VAS and VNRS are well correlated, patients systematically score their pain higher on the VNRS, with an unacceptably wide distribution of the differences.
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Emerg Med (Fremantle) · Oct 2003
Skills retention for insertion of the Combitube and laryngeal mask airway.
To determine if the skills to successfully ventilate using the laryngeal mask (The Laryngeal Mask Company Limited, Henley on Thames, United Kingdom) and Combitube (The Kendall Company, Mansfield, USA) can be retained after seven months. ⋯ The ability to successfully ventilate is better maintained with the laryngeal mask than the Combitube after seven months.