Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene - an observational study.

Background: Emergency medical services (EMS) were the first point of contact for many COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the non-conveyance decision of a COVID-19 patient was more frequently associated with a new EMS call than direct ambulance transport to the hospital.

Methods: All confirmed COVID-19 patients with an EMS call within 14 days of symptom onset were included in the study.

High-flow nasal cannula use in pediatric patients for other indications than acute bronchiolitis-a scoping review of randomized controlled trials.

The objective of the study is to summarize current literature on high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) use for different indications in pediatric patient excluding acute bronchiolitis and neonatal care. The study design is a systematic scoping review. Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched in February, 2023.

Insights on Competency and Knowledge Related to the Tracheostomy Care of Nurses at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Oman.

To assess the efficacy of current knowledge and competency of tracheostomy care providers in inpatient setting. A real-time questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 34 tracheostomy nursing care providers from different in patient settings. There were 50 questions in 8 sections, covering most of the aspects and steps of tracheostomy.

Decrease in paediatric emergency room visits during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: A population-based study.

Aim: To investigate paediatric emergency room (ER) visits to evaluate the immediate health effects of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on children.

Methods: We retrospectively examined paediatric ER visits in the Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) district during the first wave of the pandemic (1 March to 31 May 2020), and a 2-month period immediately before and after. These periods were compared to the corresponding time periods in 2015-2019 ('reference period').

Helium-oxygen in bronchiolitis-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Bronchiolitis is common reason for infant hospitalization. The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate helium-oxygen (heliox) in bronchiolitis.

Methods: We screened 463 studies, assessed 22 of them, and included six randomized controlled trials.

Ambulance crew-initiated non-conveyance in the Helsinki EMS system-A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Ambulance patients are usually transported to the hospital in the emergency medical service (EMS) system. The aim of this study was to describe the non-conveyance practice in the Helsinki EMS system and to report mortality following non-conveyance decisions.

Methods: All prehospital patients ≥16 years attended by the EMS but not transported to a hospital during 2013-2017 were included in the study.

A retrospective analysis of the duration of mechanical ventilation in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres.

Aim: Early extubation after cardiac surgery shortens paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay (LOS) and decreases complications from mechanical ventilation (MV). We explored the duration of MV in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the MV duration and PICU LOS of 696 children operated for atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in four Scandinavian centres in 2015-2016.

Association between first language and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, hospitalization, intensive care admissions and death in Finland: a population-based observational cohort study.

Objectives: Motivated by reports of increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in ethnic minorities of high-income countries, we explored whether patients with a foreign first language are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infections, more serious presentations, or worse outcomes.

Methods: In a retrospective observational population-based quality registry study covering a population of 1.7 million, we studied the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), admissions to specialist healthcare and the intensive care unit (ICU), and all-cause case fatality in different language groups between 27th February and 3rd August 2020 in Southern Finland.

Health service use and costs among migrants in an irregular situation: Cross-sectional register-based study from a voluntary-based clinic.

Background: As few data based on actual demand for healthcare services in vulnerable migrant populations exist, we studied service use and healthcare costs in a cohort of migrants in an irregular situation.

Methods: In this single-centre retrospective register study, we examined the reasons for encounter, diagnoses, service use and costs of healthcare among patients at a voluntary clinic for migrants in an irregular situation in Helsinki, Finland. ICPC-2 classification and national unit costs for primary healthcare were used for the cost estimation.

Paediatric prehospital emergencies and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.

Background: Children are less vulnerable to serious forms of the COVID-19 disease. However, concerns have been raised about children being the second victims of the pandemic and its control measures. Therefore, we wanted to study if the pandemic, the infection control measures and their consequences to the society projected to paediatric prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) contacts.

Out-of-hospital deaths among children during COVID-19 pandemic: indicator of collateral damage?

We aimed to investigate the out-of-hospital mortality, and the actual prevalence of COVID-19 in children requiring paediatric emergency department (ED) care for infectious symptoms. There were four emergency medical services (EMS) responses concerning children (age 0-15 years) leading to death on-scene in 2 months during the pandemic, and eight during the previous 12 months in the Helsinki University Hospital area, although the number of EMS missions decreased by 18%. The prevalence of COVID-19 in children contacting a paediatric ED for any infectious symptoms during the epidemic peak was only 2.

New-onset type 1 diabetes in Finnish children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Viral infections may trigger type 1 diabetes (T1D), and recent reports suggest an increased incidence of paediatric T1D and/or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To study whether the number of children admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for DKA due to new-onset T1D increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether SARS-CoV-2 infection plays a role.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study comprises two datasets: (1) children admitted to PICU due to new-onset T1D and (2) children diagnosed with new-onset T1D and registered to the Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Registry in the Helsinki University Hospital from 1 April to 31 October in 2016-2020.

Investigating the use of physical restraint of children in emergency departments: A Scandinavian survey.

Aim: The aim of the study is to describe the current frequency of physical restraint and the use of analgesics and sedatives for treating pediatric pain in emergency departments (EDs) in Scandinavia.

Methods: We performed a nation-wide electronic survey asking nurses in the emergency departments in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden about their experience treating children in pain.

Results: Responses from 103 Danish, Norwegian and Swedish nurses were included (79% response rate).

Overlooking the Obvious during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Dyspnoea with Asymmetric Breath Sounds in a Toddler.

Background: Paediatric healthcare specialists are concerned about the secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. We report a case of acute respiratory distress in a healthy toddler whose healthcare providers were sidetracked from the correct diagnosis by suspicion of COVID-19. .

Why do infants need out-of-hospital emergency medical services? A retrospective, population-based study.

Background: The challenges encountered in emergency medical services (EMS) contacts with children are likely most pronounced in infants, but little is known about their out-of-hospital care. Our primary aim was to describe the characteristics of EMS contacts with infants. The secondary aims were to examine the symptom-based dispatch system for nonverbal infants, and to observe the association of unfavorable patient outcomes with patient and EMS mission characteristics.

Pediatric traumas and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics: A population based study.

Background: Identifying pediatric populations at risk for traumas would enable development of emergency medical services and emergency departments for children. Elucidation of the nature of socioeconomic differences in the incidence of pediatric out-of-hospital emergencies is needed to overcome inequities in child health.

Methods: We retrieved all ambulance contacts during 17.

Out-of-Hospital Seizures in Children: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: Seizures seem to represent a frequent cause for pediatric emergency medical (EM) and emergency room (ER) contacts, but few population-based data are available. Our aim was to study the incidence, prehospital and ER treatment, and outcomes of pediatric seizures necessitating out-of-hospital care.

Methods: We studied the out-of-hospital evaluation procedures, ER treatment, diagnostics and 2-year prognosis of all cases of pediatric (0-16 years) seizures encountered by the emergency medical services (EMS) in Helsinki, Finland, in 2012 (population 603,968, pediatric population 92,742); 251 patients were encountered by the EMS, of which 220 seen at the ER.

Outcomes in children evaluated but not transported by ambulance personnel: retrospective cohort study.

Background: Not all children with an out-of-hospital emergency medical contact are transported by ambulance to the emergency department (ED). Non-transport means that after on-scene evaluation and possible treatment, ambulance personnel may advise the patient to monitor the situation at home or may refer the patient to seek medical attention by other means of transport. As selecting the right patients for ambulance transport is critical for optimising patient safety and resource use, we studied outcomes in non-transported children to identify possible risk groups that could benefit from ambulance transport.

Implementation of an evidence-based practice to decrease surgical site infection after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study was performed to evaluate evidence-based practice and structured problem-solving to reduce SSI after CABG.

Methods: An infection control strategy including supervised chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) showers was implemented from January 2017 to March 2018 for 119 patients undergoing CABG.

Children in disadvantaged neighbourhoods have more out-of-hospital emergencies: a population-based study.

Objective: We wanted to study whether the socioeconomic status of a neighbourhood can predict the incidence of paediatric out-of-hospital emergencies.

Methods: We conducted a population-based prospective study with all paediatric (0-15 years) out-of-hospital emergencies in Helsinki, Finland, in 2012-2013. We compared the geographical distribution of the emergencies in the paediatric population with those of mean income, unemployment level and educational level.

Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection among Healthcare Personnel.

Healthcare settings can amplify transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but knowledge gaps about the epidemiology of transmission remain. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among healthcare personnel in hospital units that treated MERS-CoV patients. Participants were interviewed about exposures to MERS-CoV patients, use of personal protective equipment, and signs and symptoms of illness after exposure.

Out-of-hospital paediatric emergencies: a prospective, population-based study.

Background: We wanted to study the incidence, distribution and characteristics of paediatric out-of-hospital emergency care on a population level. This knowledge could ameliorate the design and education of emergency medical services and their personnel.

Methods: We studied all (n = 1863) emergency medical services responses and the patient records for paediatric patients (age 0-16 years) in Helsinki, Finland (population 603,968, paediatric population 92,742) during a 12-month period (2012).

Itemizing the bundle: achieving and maintaining "zero" central line-associated bloodstream infection for over a year in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background: "Zero" central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) have not been reported from Asian countries, which usually have predominance of difficult to curtail gram negative infections. It also remains unclear whether lowering CLABSI rates below National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) benchmarks in such countries is even possible. In this study, we evaluated effects of a quality improvement initiative to achieve "Zero CLABSI" in our intensive care unit.

Squarylium-triazine dyad as a highly sensitive photoradical generator for red light.

New dyads, based on squarylium dye and substituted-triazine, were synthesized that exhibit an intramolecular photodissociative electron-transfer reaction. The compounds were used as a red-light photoradical generator. The photochemical activity of the dyad was compared to the corresponding unlinked systems (S+T) by determining the rate constant of electron transfer.

Ticagrelor improves peripheral arterial function in patients with a previous acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The novel P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor inhibits adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation more potently than clopidogrel and reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction and total death in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Furthermore, ticagrelor inhibits adenosine reuptake and increases coronary flow reserve during adenosine infusion in man. We wanted to determine whether ticagrelor improves peripheral arterial function in patients with a previous ACS compared to patients treated with aspirin, clopidogrel, or prasugrel.