Comparison of the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED) and the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Score (NEDOCS) to measure emergency department crowding: pilot study.

Introduction: There is uncertainty about the best way to measure emergency department crowding. We have previously developed a consensus-based measure of crowding, the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED). We aimed to obtain pilot data to evaluate the ability of a shortened form of the ICMED, the sICMED, to predict senior emergency department clinicians' concerns about crowding and danger compared with a very well-studied measure of emergency department crowding, the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Score (NEDOCS).

Initial validation of the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED) to measure emergency department crowding.

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) crowding is recognised as a major public health problem. While there is agreement that ED crowding harms patients, there is less agreement about the best way to measure ED crowding. We have previously derived an eight-point measure of ED crowding by a formal consensus process, the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED).

Mind the fistula.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) with aorto-oesophageal fistula formation is an uncommon but fatal cause of haematemesis. A case is presented of a previously healthy 63-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with syncope and haematemesis. He had no history of heavy alcohol intake and was previously well.