Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
-
Multicenter Study
Emergency head injury imaging: implementing NICE 2007 in a tertiary neurosciences centre and a busy district general hospital.
Head injuries are a common emergency department (ED) presentation. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) updated its guidance in September 2007 regarding imaging required for patients with head injuries. ⋯ The SRFT implementation strategy employed was successful for adults, with the overall trend to increased clinical compliance post-guideline introduction. Evidence of a reluctance to adhere to the NICE recommendations for children indicated for CT head scan after a head injury was observed.
-
One of the main reasons for contact of psychiatric patients with Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments is deliberate self-harm. The situation is often complicated by the patient's ambivalence about treatment. Kerrie Wooltorton was one such patient who presented to an A&E department after having self-harmed by taking a fatal dose of antifreeze. ⋯ Alternatively, any decision to follow the Advance Decision has to be objectively supported by evidence. The Mental Capacity Act itself allows for overriding the patient's wishes if certain criteria under the Mental Health Act are met. This route was not explored in the Wooltorton case and this is the main lesson to learn.
-
ThoraQuik is a device with a unique design incorporating an aspiration port and one-way valve controlled by a three-way tap, fit for purpose for the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural effusion. Its use, safety and efficacy were evaluated in a prospective observational trial. ⋯ ThoraQuik achieves satisfactory penetration of the chest wall. It was safe and easy to use to manage pneumothoraces and pleural effusions.
-
To develop and validate a questionnaire to determine satisfaction with the hospital emergency department. ⋯ This questionnaire fulfils the necessary psychometric properties to be considered a useful and reliable tool for measuring patient satisfaction with hospital emergency services.
-
The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with prehospital delays in patients with acute ischaemic stroke who are indicated to receive thrombolysis if arriving within 2 h. ⋯ Early symptom recognition and arrival at the hospital are important in acute stroke. Further effort to improve these parameters should be made in terms of public health.