General
Separating emergency and elective surgical care - recommendations for practice
The Royal College of Surgeons have published a guide to assist clinicians and service planners to get the best configuration for the delivery of surgical services that are safe for the patient, efficient and provide value for money.
Guidelines for cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy
These guidelines, published by the European Society of Cardiology give recommendations on permanent pacing in bradyarrhythmias, syncope, and other specific conditions, and on ventricular resynchronization as an adjunct therapy in patients with heart failure, They aim to provide an up-to-date specialists' view of the field.
Safer management of controlled drugs: changes to record keeping requirements
This guidance covers the implementation of changes to record keeping requirements for controlled drugs (CDs), required by changes made to 'The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001' set out in SI 2006/1450 and SI 2006/2178.
Rapid response report : fire hazard with paraffin-based skin products on dressings and clothing
Bandages, dressings and clothing in contact with paraffin-based products are easily ignited with a naked flame or cigarette. This Rapid Response Report gives a series of actions for immediate implementation by the NHS, to apply to all patients in all settings being dispensed, or treated with, large quantities (100g or more) of paraffin-based products.
Guidelines for evaluation and management of urticaria in adults and children
These guidelines have been prepared for dermatologists on behalf of the British Association of Dermatologists. They present evidence-based guidance for treatment, with identification of the strength of evidence at the time of preparation of the guidelines.
Standards for assessing, measuring and monitoring vital signs in infants, children and young people
The vital signs covered in this publication include temperature, heart/pulse rate, respiratory rate and effort, and blood pressure. They will be of help in guiding local policies and procedures in relation to vital sign monitoring, performance improvement programmes and education programmes for registered nurses, nurses in training and health care assistants.
Healthcare Commission to launch investigation at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
The investigation is in response to data suggesting that the trust’s rates of mortality may be high, particularly in the area of emergency admissions. It will examine the ability of the trust's information systems to provide an accurate picture of mortality rates and identify potential problems so that swift action can be taken, wherever improvements need to be made.
Evidence-Based Medicine
BestBETS – Best Evidence Topics provide rapid evidence-based answers to real-life clinical questions, using a systematic approach to reviewing the literature. 2 new or modified BETS were added last month: Highlights include:
Does bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest increase the risk of mediastinitis?
Is internal massage superior to external massage for patients suffering a cardiac arrest after cardiac surgery?
Highlights from the Literature
Emergency Medicine Online, April 2008, vol. 25, issue 4
Non-invasive ventilation and continuous positive pressure ventilation in emergency departments: where are we now?
Morphine and outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure: an ADHERE analysis
Non-operative management in blunt splenic trauma
This bulletin is brought to you by the Knowledge and Information Service. It aims to keep you up-to-date with infection control issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.
This bulletin is brought to you by Library and Knowledge Services. It aims to keep you up-to-date with accident and emergency issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.
