African Journal of Emergency Medicine This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Prospective assessment of patients with stroke in Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
This study aimed to describe risk factors for stroke and clinical presentation of patients presenting to the emergency centre with stroke.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study conducted from August 2015 to January 2016 in an urban tertiary care centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between stroke types and stroke risk factors, and delayed presentation and clinical indicators. P-values less than .05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 104 patients were included. The mean age was 53 years, and 56%...
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Emergency centre diagnosis and treatment of purulent pericarditis: A case report from Tanzania
ConclusionPericardiocentesis, pericardial lavage, and the initiation of broad spectrum antibiotics are the mainstay of early treatment of purulent pericarditis. This treatment can be done safely in an emergency centre with little specialised equipment aside from point-of-care ultrasound. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

An unusual cause of recurrent laryngospasm: A case report
We present an unusual case of recurrent laryngospasm following cervical spine trauma.Case reportA 41-year-old pedestrian was hit by a car sustaining several spine fractures including a comminuted fracture of C1. These were initially unrecognised, and his cervical spine was not immobilised. During this time the patient experienced three episodes of laryngospasm requiring intubation. On day 11 his fractures were identified, and a Philadelphia collar was placed. He made a full recovery without any neurological sequelae.DiscussionLaryngospasm is a recognised complication of anaesthesia and intubation. This case illustrates tha...
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Challenges relating to the inter-facility transport of high acuity paediatric cases
DiscussionThere are significant challenges experienced by members of the healthcare team with regard to inter-facility transport of high acuity paediatric and neonatal cases in Johannesburg, South Africa. Whilst we acknowledge the African context and resource constrained setting, health systems managers need to explore the feasibility of establishing dedicated and suitably resourced retrieval teams who specialise in the transfer of high acuity paediatric and neonatal patients in order to improve quality of care and overall patient outcomes in this population. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

A pilot study on the management and outcomes of self-poisoning in a rural Ugandan Emergency Centre
DiscussionIn resource-limited settings where antidotes and resuscitative capabilities are scarce, decontamination needs to be studied further. Repeat atropine use without indication may lead to depletion of an essential antidote. Future directions include a public health education programme and an algorithm to help guide clinical decisions. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Qualitative inquiry into Registered General Nurses’ experiences in the emergency centre
This study explored lived experiences of Registered General Nurses working in emergency centres.MethodsThis study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Purposive sampling was used in selecting hospitals and participants for study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 Registered General Nurses who worked in emergency centres. Data analysis was performed through content analysis.ResultsDemographic results revealed that only one respondent used knowledge of critical care nursing to practice emergency care in an emergency centre. Four thematic categories emerged after qualitative data analysis: ...
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

A one year audit of patients with venous thromboembolism presenting to a tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa
ConclusionVenous thromboembolism presentation to the emergency centre is not common, but the risks associated with the morbidity and mortality related to it makes it important despite its relative scarcity. The prevalence of HIV infection amongst patients with VTE is concerning – not only related to the frequency of the pathology but also due to HIV not being factored into the common VTE risk stratification scores. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation by Emergency Medical Services in South Africa: Barriers to achieving high quality performance
ConclusionOverall knowledge and skill performance was below standard. This study suggests that theoretical knowledge has a small but notable role to play on some components of skill performance. Demographic variables that affected both knowledge and skill may be used to improve training and the overall quality of Basic Life Support CPR delivery by EMS personnel. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Views of emergency care providers about factors that extend on-scene time intervals
This study focused on describing the perceptions of a sample of emergency care providers regarding the impact of environmental, clinical and systemic factors with respect to their on-scene time intervals.MethodThe study was descriptive and prospective in nature making use of a self-designed questionnaire. Basic descriptive methods were used during the analysis of the participants’ responses to 16 close-ended questions. A further review of the limited narrative elicited by two open-ended questions allowed for the reporting of additional views and opinions.ResultsThirty-three (92%) participants agreed that extended time on...
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

The association between hospital arrival time, transport method, prehospital time intervals, and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients presenting to Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town
DiscussionMethod of transport, hospital arrival time and prehospital transport time intervals did not have a substantially measurable effect on in-hospital mortality. More studies with larger samples are suggested due to the small event rate. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Head injury burden in a major referral hospital emergency centre in Botswana
This study describes the demographics, aetiology, emergency centre diagnosis and severity indicators of patients with head injuries presenting to the largest referral hospital emergency centre in Botswana.MethodsCross-sectional retrospective data was collected from July 2015 to September 2015 for all emergency centre head injury presentations at Princess Marina Hospital. Information was extracted from emergency centre records regarding patient demographics, mechanism of injury, clinical observations, diagnosis, and treatment.ResultsThree-hundred and sixty head injury patients presented to the emergency centre in the three ...
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

A description of the self-perceived educational needs of emergency nurses in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
DiscussionThe study emphasises the need for support systems for educational development of emergency nurses. Further training in specific skills and competencies may enhance emergency care provided. There is a growing need for ongoing educational development of emergency nurses in South Africa. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

A low fidelity eye model for lateral canthotomy training
Publication date: Available online 5 May 2018Source: African Journal of Emergency MedicineAuthor(s): Rodrigo Kong, Dersim Pascal Kaya, Eric Cioe-Pena, Josh GreensteinAbstractWe introduce a low-fidelity, low-cost, reusable training model for the lateral canthotomy procedure. We believe that this trainer has the potential to improve clinicians’ knowledge and skill of the procedure, especially when cost or access to higher-fidelity trainers is prohibitive. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

The burden of intentional self-poisoning on a district-level public Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
DiscussionIntentional self-poisoning patients place a significant burden on emergency centres. The high percentage of low-grade acuity patients managed in a high-acuity area is of concern and should be investigated further. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

A cross-sectional survey of burnout amongst doctors in a cohort of public sector emergency centres in Gauteng, South Africa
DiscussionThe results indicate that a large proportion of the doctors who work in these emergency centres are at moderate to high risk of burnout. Based on our findings we recommend that interventions be introduced at the work place to reduce burnout in doctors and improve their mental well-being. This will ensure better service delivery to patients with emergencies. Further research into the causes of occupational burnout should be explored. (Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research