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Effect of prehospital hypotension ▸
This large multicentre study set out to establish whether non-traumatic out of hospital hypotension (systolic blood pressure<90 mm Hg), confers an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Of 10 807 consecutive patients, there was a 9% incidence of out of hospital hypotension. Out of hospital hypotension was associated with a mortality rate of 32% compared with 11% in patients without recorded hypotension. The effect was more even pronounced when sustained hypotension occurred. The next important question is whether prehospital practitioners can improve outcomes by interventions aimed at preventing hypotension.
Does anyone know how to treat anaphylaxis? ▸
This brief report, comprising 14 adults and 46 children, identified an alarming lack of knowledge among patients and their parents of both the indications for administering auto-injectable adrenaline (epinephrine) and how to use the devices. Only 14% of adults and 35% of parents knew how and when to administer injectable adrenaline. In addition, of 50 general practitioners interviewed, only one knew how to operate an adrenaline device and none instructed the patients on how or when to use these devices. Most delegated these duties to the practice nurse. Fifty two per cent of general practitioners did not consider it necessary for the patient to attend hospital after administering adrenaline. Further education is needed in all quarters regarding the indications for adrenaline and how to operate the devices.
Laryngeal mask airway for chemical and biological incidents ▸
The threat posed by chemical and biological warfare has prompted researchers in Israel to compare the ease and success rates of securing an airway while wearing special protective clothing. They identified that non-anaesthetic doctors may be as successful …