Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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To describe the aetiology and outcome of apparent life threatening events (ALTE) presenting to an emergency department (ED), and to assess the value of an initial investigation protocol. ⋯ ALTEs presenting to the ED may remain as a single, unexplained event or be attributable to numerous causes, ranging from minor to serious. Knowledge of the commoner causes and factors associated with higher risk could result in a more targeted approach, improving the decision making process and benefiting both infants and parents.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish whether antibiotics reduce infective complications after puncture wounds to the foot. A total of 29 papers were found using the reported search, of which none answered the question posed. Further research is needed in this area.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish whether phenytoin or paraldehyde should be given as the second drug for resistant fits in children. Altogether 41 papers were found using the reported search, of which none answered the question posed. Further research is needed in this area.
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Children frequently present to the accident and emergency (A&E) department in pain. Most presentations are acute, but children with pain of longer duration also present. Children also often undergo painful procedures in A&E in the process of diagnosis or treatment. ⋯ Part II: Pharmacological methods of paediatric analgesia. Part III: Non-pharmacological methods of pain control and anxiolysis. Part IV: Paediatric sedation in accident and emergency.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomised trial to investigate the efficacy of magnesium sulphate for refractory ventricular fibrillation.
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) remains the most salvageable rhythm in patients suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest (CA). However, outcome remains poor if there is no response to initial defibrillation. Some evidence suggests that intravenous magnesium may prove to be an effective antiarrhythmic agent in such circumstances. ⋯ Intravenous magnesium given early in patients suffering CA with refractory or recurrent VF did not significantly improve the proportion with a ROSC or who were discharged from hospital alive.