Nursing diagnoses in trauma victims with fatal outcomes in the emergency scenario

The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the nursing diagnoses that constitute risk factors for death in trauma victims in the first 6 hours post-event. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study using quantitative analysis. A total of 406 patients were evaluated over six months of data collection in a tertiary hospital in the municipality of Sao Paulo, according to an instrument created for this purpose. Of the total, 44 (10.7%) suffered death. Multivariate analysis indicated the nursing diagnoses ineffective respiratory pattern, impaired spontaneous ventilation, risk of bleeding and risk of ineffective gastrointestinal tissue perfusion as risk factors for death and ineffective airway clearance, impaired comfort, and acute pain as protective factors, data that can direct health teams for different interventionist actions faced with the complexity of the trauma.

[A million football fans in a city of 120,000 inhabitants--a nightmare for emergency medicine and disaster management? Euro 2008 and the "Orange wonder of Berne"]

The 2008 European Football Championship 2008 (Euro 08) is the largest sporting event ever organized in Switzerland. One million visitors came to the city of Berne during the event and the local airport in Bern/Belp registered 261 extra flights. For each football game there were 33,000 fans in the stadium and 100,000 fans in the public viewing zones.The ambulance corps and the Department of Emergency Medicine (ED) at Inselspital, University Hospital Berne, were responsible for basic medical care and emergency medical management. Injuries and illnesses were analyzed by a standardized score (NACA score). The preparation strategy as well as costs and patient numbers are presented in detail.A total of 30 additional ambulance vehicles were used, 4,723 additional working days (one-third medical professionals) were accumulated, 662 ambulance calls were registered and 240 persons needed medical care (62% Swiss, 28% Dutch and 10% other nationalities). Among those needing treatment 51 were treated in 1 of the 4 city hospitals. No injuries with NACA grades VI and VII occurred (NACA I: 4, NACA II: 17, NACA III: 16, NACA IV: 10 and NACA V: 4 patients). The city of Berne compensated the Inselspital Bern with a total of 112,603 Euros for extra medical care costs. The largest amount was spent on security measures (50,300 Euros) and medical staff (medical doctors 22,600 Euros, nurses 29,000 Euros). Because of the poor weather and the exemplary behavior of the fans, the course of events was rather peaceful.

Geriatric urolithiasis in the emergency department: risk factors for hospitalisation and emergency management patterns of acute urolithiasis

Urolithiasis is one of the most common conditions seen in emergency departments (ED) worldwide, with an increasing frequency in geriatric patients (>65 years). Given the high costs of emergency medical urolithiasis treatment, the need to optimise management is obvious. We aimed to determine risk factors for hospitalisation and evaluate diagnostic and emergency treatment patterns by ED physicians in geriatric urolithiasis patients to assist in optimising treatment.

Swiss Rescue System – Ein Personenrettungssystem für Hochhäuser und Spezialbauten

Die Grundidee der Personenevakuierung mittels eines Vertikalförderers ist nicht neu, allerdings wird mit dem Swiss Rescue System (SRS) ein komplett neuer Weg beschritten. Die Innovation des Systems liegt in einer Fülle von kleinen Erfindungen, die in der Summe einen komplett neuen Weg der Vertikalförderung ermöglichen.

Dual dispatch early defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a mixed urban–rural population

Aims The effects of a system based on minimally trained first responders (FR) dispatched simultaneously with the emergency medical services (EMS) of the local hospital in a mixed urban and rural area in Northwestern Switzerland were examined. Methods and results In this prospective study 500 voluntary fire fighters received a 4-h training in basic-life-support using automated-external-defibrillation (AED). FR and EMS were simultaneously dispatched in a two-tier rescue system. During the years 2001–2008, response times, resuscitation interventions and outcomes were monitored. 1334 emergencies were included. The FR reached the patients (mean age 60.4 ± 19 years; 65% male) within 6 ± 3 min after emergency calls compared to 12 ± 5 min by the EMS (p < 0.0001). Seventy-six percent of the 297 OHCAs occurred at home. Only 3 emergencies with resuscitation attempts occurred at the main railway station equipped with an on-site AED. FR were on the scene before arrival of the EMS in 1166 (87.4%) cases. Of these, the FR used AED in 611 patients for monitoring or defibrillation. CPR was initiated by the FR in 164 (68.9% of 238 resuscitated patients). 124 patients were defibrillated, of whom 93 (75.0%) were defibrillated first by the FR. Eighteen patients (of whom 13 were defibrillated by the FR) were discharged from hospital in good neurological condition. Conclusions Minimally trained fire fighters integrated in an EMS as FR contributed substantially to an increase of the survival rate of OHCAs in a mixed urban and rural area.

Empowering Medical Professionals to Help Victims of Trafficking

Purpose: to provide commentary of two review articles that discuss the role of medical professionals in combating human trafficking: “Health Care Providers' Training Needs Related to Human Trafficking: Maximizing the Opportunity to Effectively Screen and Intervene” by Isaac, Solak, and Giardino, and “Human Trafficking: What is the Role of the Health Care Provider?” by Crane and Moreno. Findings: Both articles provide a good introduction and explanation of the psychosocial and medical issues faced by many trafficking victims; however, they succeed only to varying degrees in describing all the gaps in the medical system and the vital next steps forward. Conclusion: The key next steps in the fight against human trafficking include: multidisciplinary teams need to improve coordination on all forms of human maltreatment; schools for all medical professions and social work need to significantly strengthen their curriculum on diagnosing and treating human maltreatment; and groups that provide training on human trafficking should partner with other agencies and organizations that provide training on child maltreatment and domestic violence.

What is New and Innovative in Emergency Neurosurgery? Emerging Diagnostic Technologies Provide Better Care and Influence Outcome: A Specialist Review

The development of emergency medical services and especially neurosurgical emergencies during recent decades has necessitated the development of novel tools. Although the gadgets that the neurosurgeon uses today in emergencies give him important help in diagnosis and treatment, we still need new technology, which has rapidly developed. This review presents the latest diagnostic tools, which offer precious help in everyday emergency neurosurgery practice. New ultrasound devices make the diagnosis of haematomas easier. In stroke, the introduction of noninvasive new gadgets aims to provide better treatment to the patient. Finally, the entire development of computed tomography and progress in radiology have resulted in innovative CT scans and angiographic devices that advance the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of the patent. The pressure on physicians to be quick and effective and to avoid any misjudgement of the patient has been transferred to the technology, with the emphasis on developing new systems that will provide our patients with a better outcome and quality of life.

Assessing the need and options available for trauma physician funding in Texas

Efforts have been made to provide supplemental funding to emergency departments to offset the costs of uncompensated medical care. But a problem exists within the trauma system in Texas that has largely been overlooked by the state. This project will focus on the lack of funding available to physicians and on-call specialists who contract with hospitals to provide emergency care. ^ A lack of funding and reimbursement for emergency care is directly influencing the number of medical specialists willing to provide emergency treatment in hospitals on a contractual basis. A shortage of emergency physicians has an impact on the public health of all Texans who may need trauma care in a hospital. Specifically, a shortage of emergency physicians can lead to a complete denial of specialty emergency health care, a delay in patient treatment, and increased ambulance diversions. Quality and access barriers to emergency services undoubtedly threaten the stability of the trauma care system in Texas and the health status of its citizens. ^ In 2003, Texas took a significant step towards addressing the issue of uncompensated care provided by the trauma system and passed House Bill 3588, creating the Trauma Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Fund (“the Trauma Fund”). However, the primary shortfall to this legislation is that the Trauma Fund is only available to emergency medical service providers and hospitals. The Trauma Fund does little to help offset the cost incurred by contracting physicians and on-call specialists who provide emergency services to the uninsured. ^ This paper addresses how funding shortages for emergency department physicians negatively impact the trauma care system in Texas and the policy options available to create physician funding to offset the cost of uncompensated trauma care. Ultimately this paper concludes that although creating a new funding stream similar to the actions taken in other states would be a dramatic step towards addressing the problem, the political process in Texas may slow implementation of this option. Consequently, modifying existing legislation, although the weaker of the options, may be more attractive to those looking for immediate action. ^

THE DECLINE OF ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE MORTALITY IN TEXAS: HEALTH PLANNING IMPLICATIONS

This is a report on an empirical study of the decline of ischemic heart disease mortality in the State of Texas. The study period was from 1970 to 1977. The data was collected and analyzed at three different levels of analysis: state, health service area (HSA), and county. The study was designed to test five main hypotheses. They serve to test the role of the medical care system as a possible factor associated with the changing ischemic heart disease mortality trends.^ The principal findings of the study were that a reasonable relationship could be found between the number of emergency medical care personnel, the number of icu-ccu beds, the number of medical specialists and the percent of hospitals with icu-ccu and the decline in ischemic heart disease mortality for the State of Texas. However, non significant relationships were found between variables in the medical care system and ischemic heart disease mortality trends, at the health service area level of analysis. More specifically, the number of coronary care unit beds was found to be negatively correlated with the decline in ischemic heart disease mortality at the county level.^ While being limited in its scope, the study suggests that certain factors (emergency medical service, icu-ccu beds, percent of icu-ccu units, and medical specialists) have been shown to be associated with the observed decline in ischemic heart disease mortality. The study also suggests many avenues of future research that need to be explored. ^

Impacto da vacinação contra rotavírus nas consultas de pronto-socorro e internações por doença diarreica aguda em crianças menores de cinco anos de idade

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença diarreica aguda é a segunda causa de morte em crianças abaixo de 5 anos de idade. No Brasil, entre 2003 e 2009, a diarreia aguda foi responsável por cerca de 100.000 internações por ano, e por 4% das mortes em crianças abaixo de 5 anos de idade. O rotavírus é a principal etiologia de diarreia aguda grave no mundo todo, sendo responsável por 40% das internações por diarreia aguda, e 29% de todas as mortes por diarreia aguda. A vacina monovalente (RV1) contra o rotavírus foi introduzida no Programa Nacional de Imunizações em 2006. OBJETIVOS: Verificar o impacto da vacina monovalente contra rotavírus nas consultas de pronto-socorro e internações por doença diarreica aguda em crianças menores de 5 anos de idade, verificar a positividade do exame \"pesquisa de rotavírus nas fezes\", e verificar a presença ao ausência de imunidade de rebanho. METODOLOGIA: Foi realizado um estudo ecológico retrospectivo no Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo. O período foi dividido em pré-vacina (2003 a 2005) e pós-vacina (2007 a 2009). Foram incluídas todas as crianças abaixo de 5 anos que passaram em consulta no pronto-socorro e verificado o diagnóstico do atendimento e internação através de registro eletrônico. Foram obtidas as taxas de consultas no pronto-socorro e internações por doença diarreica aguda, foram selecionadas as crianças não vacinadas para cálculo da imunidade de rebanho, e verificado se houve coleta do exame pesquisa de rotavírus nas fezes. A redução nas taxas foi obtida através da fórmula: redução (%) = (1 - odds ratio) x 100. RESULTADOS: No período pré-vacina a taxa de consultas por diarreia aguda foi de 85,8 consultas por 1.000 consultas gerais, no período pós vacina a taxa de consultas por diarreia aguda foi 80,9 por 1.000, e a redução foi 6% (IC 95%, 4% a 9%, p < 0,001), chegando a 40% (IC 95%, 36% a 44%, p<0,001) nos meses de maio e junho. A taxa de internação por diarreia aguda era 40,8 internações por 1.000 e caiu para 24,9 por 1.000, redução de 40% (IC 95%, 22% a 54%, p < 0,001), chegando a 82% (IC 95%, 62% a 92%, p < 0,001) nos meses de maio e junho. Nas crianças não vacinadas não houve redução na taxa de consultas de pronto-socorro (IC 95%, -4% a 5%, p=0,903), e não se pode afirmar se houve redução ou aumento das internações por diarreia aguda (IC 95%, -212% a 35%, p=0,381). Houve queda da positividade do exame pesquisa de rotavírus em 2009 (redução de 70%, IC 95%, 26% a 88%, p=0,007). CONCLUSÕES: Após a introdução da vacina contra rotavírus (RV1) houve uma redução de 6% nas consultas por diarreia aguda no pronto-socorro, de 40% nas internações por diarreia aguda e de 70% na positividade do exame pesquisa de rotavírus nas fezes. Não foi detectada imunidade de rebanho

Identificação do risco de deterioração fisiológica no pré-hospitalar

Enquadramento – A Early Warning Scores é uma escala de alerta, baseada num sistema de atribuição de pontos (scores) aos parâmetros vitais e deterioração do SNC, sendo a sua principal finalidade a identificação precoce do risco de deterioração fisiológica do doente. Objetivos – Determinar os parâmetros da escala que foram avaliados; identificar a periodicidade de avaliação dos parâmetros da escala; determinar as situações identificadas como risco de deterioração fisiológica; avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da escala Early Warning Scores (validade e fiabilidade). Material e Método – Estudo quantitativo e descritivo-correlacional, cuja população alvo consistiu nos doentes vítimas de acidente ou doença súbita, submetidos a atendimentos por parte de enfermeiros afetos ao INEM, nomeadamente nas ambulâncias de Suporte Imediato de Vida, mediante ativação via 112. O instrumento de avaliação utilizado consiste na Escala Early Warning Scores. Resultados – Verificou-se que o índice de fiabilidade se traduziu num valor de alfa de Cronbach, para a globalidade da escala, fraco (α=0.462). Concluiu-se que houve uma redução progressiva dos scores, em termos de risco, indicando a ocorrência de uma deteção precoce da degradação clínica dos 214 doentes, o que se traduziu numa atuação mais eficaz no pré-hospitalar. Conclusão - A redução progressiva dos scores, em termos de risco ao longo dos três momentos de avaliação com a Early Warning Scores, sugere que houve uma deteção precoce da degradação clínica dos doentes, resultando numa atuação mais eficaz no pré-hospitalar. Palavras-chave: Pré-hospitalar; Risco de deterioração fisiológica; Early Warning Scores.

Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens : precautions for emergency responders.

"OSHA 3130."

Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens : precautions for emergency responders.

Shipping list no.: 93-0447-P.

Emergency room procedures in chemical hazard emergencies : a job aid.

Mode of access: Internet.

Health moblilization program for emergency hospital management.

Material prepared for a training course held at Eastern Instructor Training Center, Brooklyn, N.Y., December 4-9, 1960.