Tag Archives: procedures

EZ-IO outperformed B.I.G

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Cliff Reid

A small randomised trial of adult emergency department patients showed faster insertion and higher success rates with the EZ-IO compared with the Bone Injection Gun (B.I.G). This is in keeping with my own experience and that of several services I … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged intraosseous, procedures | Leave a comment

Alternative toothless mask position

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Cliff Reid

An alternative position for holding the facemask when bag-mask ventilating edentulous patients is described and evaluated. 49 patients with inadequate seal and air leak during two-hand positive-pressure ventilation had significantly improved ventilation as measured by reduced air leak and increased … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged airway, anaesthesia, procedures | Leave a comment

Pre-hospital chest escharotomy

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Cliff Reid

Two cases are described in Pre-hospital Emergency Care of severely burned patients who were impossible to adequately ventilate after tracheal intubation until they underwent escharotomy by a pre-hospital physician. The review that follows reminds us of some intersting escharotomy facts: … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged burns, procedures | Leave a comment

Pre-hospital intubation experience and outcomes

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Cliff Reid

Hospitals and medical personnel performing high volumes of procedures demonstrate better patient outcomes and fewer adverse events. The relationship between rescuer experience and patient survival for out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation is unknown. An American study analysing 3 statewide databases with 26,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged airway, education, pre-hospital, procedures, RSI | Leave a comment

Spine immobilisation in penetrating trauma

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Cliff Reid

In a retrospective study of 45,284 penetrating trauma patients, unadjusted mortality was twice as high in the 4.3% of patients who underwent spine immobilisation, compared with those who were not immobilised. An accompanying editorial comments: ‘The number needed to treat with … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged penetrating, pre-hospital, procedures, spine, Trauma | Leave a comment

Intubation harder on the floor or in an ambulance

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Cliff Reid

An abstract from the The National Association of EMS Physicians® 2010 Scientific Assembly published in a Supplement of Prehospital Emergency Care describes a study comparing cadaveric intubation success rates by paramedics in different positions: on the floor, on an elevated … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged airway, pre-hospital, procedures | Leave a comment

Is defibrillation an electric threat for bystanders?

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Cliff Reid

No rescuer or bystander has ever been seriously harmed by receiving an inadvertent shock while in direct or indirect contact with a patient during deﬁbrillation. New evidence suggests that it might even be electrically safe for the rescuer to continue … Continue reading →

Posted in General PH&RM | Tagged ACLS, defibrillation, procedures | Leave a comment