Benefits of emergency department routine blood test performance on patients whose allocated triage category is not time critical: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Emergency department clinicians, and particularly nurses in triage, frequently perform routine blood tests on patients whose allocated triage category is not time critical (triage categories 3, 4 and 5 of the Australasian Triage Scale). Some observers have questioned the utility of routine blood testing in these acute healthcare settings given the cost and workload implications.

Methods: A quantitative method using retrospective observational design was utilised guided by STROBE checklist.

Acknowledgement and use of advance care directives and goals of care by emergency department staff: a mixed method post intervention study.

Introduction: Advance Care Planning (ACP) refers to a process that includes Advance Care Directives (ACD) and Goals of Care (GOC), a practice widely used for over three decades. Following the findings of an audit and a cross-sectional study in 2019 and 2021 respectively, we implemented several educational and other interventional strategies aimed at enhancing staff awareness and emphasizing the importance of recognizing and documenting of ACD/GOC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acknowledgement and use of ACD and GOC by Emergency Department (ED) staff following these interventions.

Long-Term Echocardiographic and Clinical Outcomes After Invasive and Non-Invasive Therapies for Sub-Massive and Massive Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Aim: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cause of mortality in the hospital setting. The objective of this study was to outline the long-term outcomes after surgical and non-surgical management for patients with massive and submassive PE.

Methods: Population cohort observational study evaluating all patients who presented to three tertiary hospitals in the state of Western Australia with access to cardiothoracic services over 5 years (2013-2018).

The use of honey in the perioperative care of tonsillectomy patients-A narrative review.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in childhood. While generally safe, it often is associated with a difficult early recovery phase with poor oral intake, dehydration, difficult or painful swallowing, postoperative bleeding, infection and/or otalgia. Better pain management and the availability of more child friendly medications are within the top consumer priorities in perioperative medicine, highlighting the importance of alternative pain treatments.

Are multiple projections necessary when assessing umbilical venous catheter placement in neonates? A retrospective study.

Introduction: There is variability in clinical practice regarding the number of radiographic views required to accurately determine umbilical venous catheter (UVC) tip position. Some units prefer performing a single anteroposterior (AP) view and others do both AP and lateral views. The aim of this study was to compare the need for one versus two radiographical views to accurately determine UVC tip position.