Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
Accurate patient weight estimation is critical for safe and effective drug dosing in emergency and critical care settings. Inaccurate estimates exceeding a 10% deviation from true weight can result in significant dosing errors in time-sensitive treatments such as thrombolysis for stroke or urgent sedation. In situations where direct weight measurement is impractical, reliable alternative estimation methods are essential. We propose a three-dimensional (3D) depth-camera system that employs a convolutional neural network (CNN) pipeline to automatically estimate total body weight (TBW), ideal body weight (IBW), and lean body weight (LBW) from volumetric features derived from a single supine patient image. Our approach was evaluated in a prospective pilot study to assess feasibility and accuracy. CNNs were selected because of their ability to extract spatial features from complex image data, outperforming regression and tree-based models in preliminary comparisons. The results demonstrated that our 3D camera system was more accurate than conventional techniques, including clinician visual estimation (Mean Absolute Percentage Error [MAPE]: 12%), tape-based methods (±8.5%), and anthropometric formulas (±9.2%), achieving a mean error of ±5.4%. Future work will extend this technology to pediatric populations, support integration with automated dosing systems, and explore prehospital applications to further reduce medication errors and enhance patient safety....
Background/objectives: The effectiveness of emergency medical procedures administered to a patient in a life-threatening condition depends, to a large degree, on the knowledge and skills of medical response team personnel. Their competencies can be developed through participation in training and then verified during emergency medicine championships. Methods: The research was conducted on the basis of one of the tasks carried out during the ‘16th International Winter Championships in Emergency Medicine’. The task was completed by 28 Polish emergency response teams from ambulance stations across the country. The teams carried out a simulated scenario related to procedures with a patient with hypoglycaemia. The teams’ interventions were assessed in accordance with European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines by judges selected from among academic lecturers and ERC instructors. Results: The research showed that 86% of the teams obtained the maximum number of points for adhering to safety procedures. Further, 61% of the teams obtained the maximum of 6 points for the initial assessment, with the average number of points obtained by the teams being 5.54. The average number of points for the physical examination was 21.04, with only one team obtaining the maximum result of 26 points. Additionally, 57% of the teams obtained the maximum number of 6 points for the medical consultation, with the average obtained by the teams being 5.43. The teams obtained, on average, 8.18 points for the correct treatment of hypoglycaemia, with 68% of the teams obtaining the maximum of 9 points. The research demonstrated a positive correlation between the quality of patient examination and the collection of medical data, and the effectiveness of hypoglycaemia treatment. It was also shown that if the team leader had completed an ALS course, they obtained higher scores for the treatment of hypoglycaemia, although this finding is specific to this scenario. Conclusions: The teams demonstrated generally high performance in a simulated hypoglycaemia scenario. More complete assessment and history-taking were associated with higher treatment scores. Correct treatment was achieved in 79% of ALS-led teams versus 44% of non-ALS teams, although this observation is specific to this simulation and should not be generalised....
Background: The acute care surgery (ACS) model employs a 24/7 multidisciplinary team— surgeons, nurses, and residents—supported by an electronic consultation system to optimize emergency The acute care surgery (ACS) model provides 24/7 multidisciplinary management of emergency surgical patients. This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) under general surgery, identify the most common presenting complaints and operative procedures, and determine which general surgery subspecialties were most frequently consulted at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at KAMC, Riyadh (MNGHA), from September 2022 to November 2023. A total of 384 ED patients admitted under general surgery were included. Data were extracted from the BestCare electronic medical record and analyzed for demographics, presenting complaints, operative procedures, and subspecialty consultations. Results: Of 384 patients, 204 (53.1%) were male and 180 (46.9%) were female. The largest age group was 30–45 years (n = 112, 29.2%), followed by <30 years (n = 98, 25.5%). Leading presenting complaints were abdominal pain (n = 243, 63.3%), fever with nausea/vomiting (n = 68, 17.7%), and rectal pain/bleeding (n = 44, 11.5%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was the most common procedure (n = 123, 32.0%), followed by laparoscopic appendectomy (n = 57, 14.8%). ACS received most consultations (n = 231, 61.8%), with additional referrals to colorectal surgery (n = 86, 23.0%) and upper gastrointestinal surgery (n = 40, 10.7%). Nearly all consult requests originated in the ED (n = 355, 98.9%). Conclusions: Abdominal pain was the predominant ED complaint prompting surgical referral, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendectomy were the most frequently performed procedures. ACS was the primary subspecialty consulted, underscoring its central role in emergency surgical care at KAMC....
Introduction In situ simulation (ISS) is a popular teaching method which uses simulated scenarios occurring in the actual clinical work environment of the learners. Our study aimed to compare the feasibility, safety, and identification of latent safety threats (LSTs) of two types of ISS in the Emergency Department (ED): announced and unannounced. Methods We conducted a mixed method study at a Level-1 trauma center ED, using announced and unannounced ISS sessions. Research Assistants conducted semi-structured individual interviews to measure acceptability, implementation, and practicality. We also assessed implementation and patient safety using quantitative parameters (number of cancelled ISS sessions, ED wait times, patients who left without being seen, latent safety threats). We performed thematic content analyses for the qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear mixed-effects modelling. Results In total, 84 emergency professionals participated in 18 simulations; 5 were unannounced and 13 were announced. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: the positive impact of ISS on patient safety, the preference for announced ISS, and the stress induced by ISS. The comparison of safety parameters showed no differences between both ISS modalities except for an increased number of patients leaving without being seen after unannounced ISS. Conclusion Our study found that both announced and unannounced in situ simulations are safe and practical for emergency medicine. They do not affect patient safety, or the number of latent safety threats. However, unannounced simulations were less feasible during a pandemic....
Background: Comorbidities and acute illnesses often result in adverse outcomes in emergency departments (EDs), which present specific challenges as the population ages. For effective treatment and resource planning, it is vital to identify mortality predictors for older patients admitted through the emergency department. Objective: To identify the clinical and demographic features, comorbidities, and mortality predictors of elderly patients admitted through the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Somalia. Methods: A retrospective analysis included 654 individuals over 60 years old who were hospitalized in the emergency department between January and December 2022. We reviewed hospital databases to obtain information on diagnoses, treatments, outcomes, clinical presentations, comorbidities, and sociodemographics. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 23. Result: A study showed that 61.9% of the people were men, and the average age was 72.3 years, with a variance of 5.3 years. Diabetes mellitus (31.2%) and hypertension (49.1%) were the two most common comorbidities. Fever (37.3%), dyspnea (36.4%), and altered mental status (35.5%) were some of the most common reasons people visited the hospital. Heart failure (10.1%), sepsis (17.1%), and stroke (21.4%) were the most prevalent diagnoses. The percentage of deaths in the hospital was 15.9%. Sepsis, stroke, malignancy, respiratory failure, altered mental status, trauma, and the need for intensive therapies (dialysis, vasopressors, intubation) were all separate factors associated with mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The mortality rate in Somalia is elevated due to the significant incidence of multiple comorbidities and acute critical situations among older patients referred via the emergency department. Malignancy, stroke, sepsis, and the necessity for urgent therapies are all major indicators of poor outcomes. To reduce mortality in this vulnerable population, early identification and prompt intervention for these high-risk illnesses are crucial....
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