Essentials 1 Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics, often used most effectively in combination, are the first-line drugs for sedation of the aroused patient. 2 As much information as possible should be collected before the patient is sedated. 3 The risks involved in…
Essentials 1 In the age of community mental health treatment, emergency departments have become major sites for the assessment of patients with psychosis. 2 An important responsibility of the emergency department clinician is to exclude delirium and ‘organic’ causes of…
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Essentials 1 Deliberate self-harm is a frequent presentation to emergency departments and is a symptom of diverse underlying problems, be they biological, social or psychological. 2 Patients with deliberate self-harm form a heterogeneous group, most of whom do not have…
Essentials 1 Morbidity and health costs are reduced by distinction of medical from psychiatric causes of mental disorder presentations to emergency departments. 2 Always ask if any medical condition exists in addition to the psychiatric complaints. This will identify most…
Essentials 1 The number of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with mental health problems is increasing. 2 Regardless of diagnosis and presentation, an initial assessment must be performed within the first few minutes of an individual’s arrival in…
Essentials 1 Perform a rapid assessment of any pregnant patient arriving in labour at the emergency department to decide the most appropriate site for management. 2 Emergency department staff must be prepared to provide newborn resuscitation following an emergency delivery.…
Essentials 1 Pre-eclampsia is hypertension with organ-system dysfunction unique to the second half of pregnancy. 2 Maternal and foetal demise are inevitable and can only be stopped by pregnancy termination. 3 Early diagnosis is crucial as the rate of deterioration…
Essentials 1 Up to 5% of pregnant women will have significant bleeding after 20 weeks’ gestation. 2 Resuscitation of the mother followed by ultrasound localization of the placenta are the priorities of management for patients with heavy vaginal bleeding after…
Essentials 1 Approximately 25% of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies are associated with bleeding in the first 12 weeks, of which approximately 50% of cases will be due to a failed pregnancy. 2 Ectopic pregnancy occurs at a rate of around…