Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Rural and island areas of Scotland benefit from the availability of the Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic staffed helicopter for transfers and primary scene responses. There are a small number of patients who require advanced airway management, invasive procedures, or critical care interventions to stabilise them before transport to definitive care. ⋯ Given the potential difficulties of training paramedics to use these infrequently used skills it may be preferable to establish a formalised system to access suitably trained medical staff. This case series illustrates the clinical challenges and potential benefits of such a service and discusses the practicalities involved.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish the published evidence for gastric lavage in lithium overdose. Altogether 20 papers were found using the reported search, of which none presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. A clinical bottom line is stated.