Emergency Salbutomal Inhaler

Author(s):  
Matthew Hill

Asthma is thought by most to be a benign health issue, but the statistics say otherwise. In Canada there are over 146 000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths each year from asthma. An estimated 80% are preventable. These hospital visits cost the Canadian government over $135 million a year. A solution is needed and that solution is the Emergency Salbutomal Inhaler. I have designed a small, easy­to­carry, two­  dose, dry­powder asthma inhaler, with patent pending. The device can easily be attached to a keychain or  necklace for carrying ease, and will be quickly accessible in the event of an asthma attack. When an  asthmatic has an attack and goes to a hospital, they are given a maximum of 2 doses of the rescue drug  Salbutomal. The device carries two doses. Thus, in a sense I have invented a hospital on a keychain for  asthmatics. During an asthma attack there is no time to fumble with an inhaler; my easy­to­use design  ensures relief will be provided.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Chafee-Bahamon ◽  
Frederick H. Lovejoy

A study was done to assess the necessity of hospital care for poisoning episodes in children less than 5 years old and to evaluate the impact of a regional poison center on the use of emergency rooms for pediatric poisonings. Of the pediatric patients seen in emergency rooms for acute poisonings, 63% did not require the services of a hospital; 95% did not contact the regional poison center before going to the hospital. When all poisoning episodes were considered, the regional poison center was found to reduce significantly pediatric visits to emergency rooms. Of parents who did not call the poison center, 44% went to an emergency room whereas less than 1% of parents who called the poison center went to a hospital (P < .001). Moreover, 28% of those who did not call made unnecessary visits to the hospital compared with only 0.5% of parents who called the poison center (P < .001). A regional poison center was found to be an effective means of decreasing unnecessary hospital visits for pediatric poisonings. Regional poison centers, however, need to further their impact by addressing outreach efforts to parents who do not call poison centers, emergency rooms, and pediatricians.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Currie ◽  
Erdal Tekin

We investigate the relationship between foreclosures and hospital visits using data on all foreclosures and all hospital and emergency room visits from four states that were among the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. We find that living in a neighborhood with a spike in foreclosures is associated with significant increases in urgent unscheduled visits, including increases in visits for preventable conditions. The estimated relationships cannot be accounted for by increasing unemployment, declines in housing prices, migration, or by people switching from out-patient providers to hospitals. (JEL D14, F12, R31)


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Guerrero Fernández de Alba ◽  
A Gimeno-Miguel ◽  
B Poblador Plou ◽  
K Bliek Bueno ◽  
J Carmona Pirez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is often accompanied by other chronic diseases, including mental diseases (MD). This work aimed at studying MD prevalence in T2D patients and analyse its impact on T2D health outcomes. Methods Retrospective, observational study of individuals of the EpiChron Cohort aged 18 and over with prevalent T2D at baseline (2011) in Aragón, Spain (n = 63,365). Participants were categorized by the existence or absence of MD, defined as the presence of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or substance abuse. MD prevalence was calculated, and a logistic regression model was performed to analyse the likelihood of the four studied health outcomes (4-year all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, T2D-hospitalization, and emergency room visits) based on the presence of each type of MD, after adjusting by age, sex and number of comorbidities. Results Mental diseases were observed in 19% of T2D patients, with depression being the most frequent condition, especially in women (20.7% vs. 7.57%). Mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with MD (odds ratio -OR- 1.24; 95% confidence interval -CI- 1.16-1.31), especially in those with substance abuse (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.84-2.57) and schizophrenia (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.50-2.21). The presence of MD also increased the risk of T2D-hospitalization (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.18-1.93), emergency room visits (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.21-1.32) and all-cause hospitalization (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.10-1.23). Conclusions The high prevalence of MD among T2D patients, and its association with health outcomes, underscores the importance of providing integrated, person-centred care and early detection of comorbid mental diseases in T2D patients to improve disease management and health outcomes. Key messages Comprehensive care of T2D should include specific strategies for prevention, early detection, and management of comorbidities, especially mental disorders, in order to reduce their impact on health. Substance abuse was the mental disease with the highest risk of T2D-hospitalization, emergency room visits and all-cause hospitalization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2311
Author(s):  
Eleonora Gaetani ◽  
Fabiana Agostini ◽  
Luigi Di Martino ◽  
Denis Occhipinti ◽  
Giulio Cesare Passali ◽  
...  

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) needs high-quality care and multidisciplinary management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most non-urgent clinical activities for HHT outpatients were suspended. We conducted an analytical observational cohort study to evaluate whether medical and psychological support, provided through remote consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic, could reduce the complications of HHT. Methods: A structured regimen of remote consultations, conducted by either video-calls, telephone calls, or e-mails, was provided by a multidisciplinary group of physicians to a set of patients of our HHT center. The outcomes considered were: number of emergency room visits/hospitalizations, need of blood transfusions, need of iron supplementation, worsening of epistaxis, and psychological status. Results: The study included 45 patients who received remote assistance for a total of eight months. During this period, 9 patients required emergency room visits, 6 needed blood transfusions, and 24 needed iron supplementation. This was not different from what was registered among the same 45 patients in the same period of the previous year. Remote care also resulted in better management of epistaxis and improved quality of life, with the mean epistaxis severity score and the Euro-Quality of Life-Visual Analogue Scale that were significantly better at the end than at the beginning of the study. Discussion: Remote medical care might be a valid support for HHT subjects during periods of suspended outpatient surveillance, like the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 45-46
Author(s):  
K Alazemi ◽  
M Alkhattabi ◽  
J C Gregor

Abstract Background EOE is an increasingly recognized gastrointestinal condition that causes significant morbidity ranging from dietary limitations to food impactions requiring emergency room visits. There are a variety of dietary, pharmacologic and endoscopic treatments available but most are more practically guided by a subspecialist familiar and experienced with the condition. There is a perception among some physicians that follow up is sporadic and may be related at least in part to patient compliance. Aims To assess the true rate of EOE patients follow up rate at Lodon Health Scince Center Methods We used a retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with EoE between July 2011 and June 2014 who met the traditional diagnostic criteria. As part of a quality improvement initiative, local follow up over the ensuing 5–7 years was tracked. The impact of follow up on subsequent healthcare utilization was analyzed. Results 123 patients with biopsy confirmed EoE were analyzed. Follow up appointments were made for 114/123 (92%) patients. 55/123 (45%) had repeat elective endoscopy booked. Only 10/114 (8.7%) of initial appointments went unattended but 15/55 (27.2%) of the patients offered ongoing follow up failed to attend. There were no complications (ie. perforation or bleeding) attributable to any of the procedures. 5/123 (4%) patients required repeat emergency room endoscopy for food impaction. Two patients required this on multiple occasions. 4/5 patients requiring repeat emergency room endoscopy for food impaction had received some sort of follow up, although 4/5 of these had at least one missed appointment. 2/5 patients having emergency room endoscopy required overnight admission. There were no perforations in the cohort. Conclusions Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of EOE do have a risk of requiring subsequent emergency endoscopy for food impaction although it is not clear that scheduled follow up significantly reduces that risk. Contrary to the perception of some physicians, patients with EoE are very likely to attend their first follow up visit although the attrition rate for subsequent scheduled visits is not insignificant. Funding Agencies None


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