Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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We carried out a complete audit cycle, reviewing our management of paediatric patients with Bell's palsy within 72 h of symptom onset. Our protocol was published after the initial audit in 2009, and a re-audit was carried out in 2011. We aimed to improve our current practice in accordance with up-to-date evidence-based research on the use of steroids and antivirals. ⋯ At present there is insufficient evidence to discount the use of steroids and antivirals. Therefore, with our new management protocol, we recommend the use of steroids in patients presenting within 72 h of symptom onset, and antivirals for patients with a HB grade of IV or higher.
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Multicenter Study
Moral experience and ethical challenges in an emergency department in Pakistan: emergency physicians' perspectives.
Emergency departments (ED) are often stressful environments posing unique ethical challenges-issues that primarily raise moral rather than clinical concerns-in patient care. Despite this, there are very few reports of what emergency physicians find ethically challenging in their everyday work. Emergency medicine (EM) is a relatively young but rapidly growing specialty that is gaining acceptance worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of EM residents and physicians regarding the common ethical challenges they face during patient care in one of only two academic EM departments in Pakistan. These challenges could then be addressed in residents' training and departmental practice guidelines. ⋯ The study highlights the need for developing systematic and contextually appropriate mechanisms for resolving common ethical challenges in the EDs and for training residents in moral problem solving.
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Observational Study
Is there a diurnal difference in mortality of severely injured trauma patients?
Mortality may be higher for admissions at odd hours than during daytime, although for trauma patients results are conflicting. The objective of this study was to assess whether diurnal differences in mortality among severely injured trauma patients in Denmark were present. ⋯ In conclusion, we found no diurnal differences in 30-day mortality for severely injured trauma patients.
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To explore the increasing numbers of emergency medicine (EM) registrars that obtained their primary medical degree from UK or Irish universities, who work in emergency departments (ED) throughout Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ While there have been anecdotal reports of increased outflow of junior EM doctors from the UK and Ireland, we provide quantitative data on the extent of the recent (5-year trend data) emigration of UK/Irish EM trainees to Australia and New Zealand and discuss the impact of this on both the UK/Irish and Australasian health systems.