Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis Risk Factors, Associated Morbidity and Mortality in Trauma Patients.

Background: The literature on upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) is not as abundant as that on lower extremities. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for UEDVT, associated mortality and morbidity in trauma patients and the impact of pharmacological prophylaxis therein.

Methods: A 3-year retrospective review of patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center was conducted.

Re-evaluation of liver transaminase cutoff for CT after pediatric blunt abdominal trauma.

Purpose: Current guidelines for computed tomography (CT) after blunt trauma were developed to capture all intra-abdominal injuries (IAI). We hypothesize that current AST/ALT guidelines are too low leading to unnecessary CT scans for children after blunt abdominal trauma (BAT).

Methods: Patients who received CT of the abdomen after blunt trauma at our Level I Pediatric Trauma Center were stratified into a high risk (HR) (liver/spleen/kidney grade ≥III, hollow viscous, or pancreatic injuries) and low risk (LR) (liver/kidney/spleen injuries grade ≤II, or no IAI) groups.

Doxycycline Sclerotherapy Is Superior in the Treatment of Pediatric Lymphatic Malformations.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy of sclerotherapy with doxycycline versus sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) for treatment of macrocystic and mixed lymphatic malformations (LMs).

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective review identified 41 children (17 boys; 24 girls; age range, 1 month to 15.4 y) who underwent sclerotherapy with doxycycline (n = 32) or STS (n = 9) for macrocystic (n = 31) or mixed (n = 10) LMs.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy as a tool in the rapid diagnosis of biliary atresia: a pilot study.

Introduction: Biliary atresia (BA) is a neonatal obstructive cholangiopathy requiring rapid intervention to prevent end-stage liver failure and death. Low bile acid levels in stool, detectable with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, may reflect extrahepatic biliary obstruction in cholestasis.

Hypothesis: Stool bile acid content can differentiate BA from non-BA forms of cholestasis.

Bile acids regulate intestinal cell proliferation by modulating EGFR and FXR signaling.

Bile acids (BAs) are synthesized in the liver and secreted into the intestine. In the lumen, enteric bacteria metabolize BAs from conjugated, primary forms into more toxic unconjugated, secondary metabolites. Secondary BAs can be injurious to the intestine and may contribute to disease.

Admission hematocrit predicts the need for transfusion secondary to hemorrhage in pediatric blunt trauma patients.

Background: Pediatric trauma uses a substantial amount of resources. Quick and cost-effective measures that can be used to identify children with clinically relevant injuries are essential to resource allocation and optimization of patient care. Admission hematocrit is rapid and inexpensive, causes minimal harm, and can potentially aid in critical decision making.