Retrievable inferior vena cava filters are rarely removed.

There has been an increasing nationwide trend of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement over the past 3 years. Most of these have been the newer, removable variety. Although these are marketed as retrievable, few are removed.

Outcomes of blunt head trauma without intracranial pressure monitoring.

Although guidelines exist for intracranial pressure (ICP)-guided treatment after head trauma, no conclusive data exist that support routine ICP monitoring. A retrospective case series was reviewed of all patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of blunt head trauma between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2004. None of the patients in the final analysis had ICP monitoring.

Diagnosis and management of laryngotracheal trauma.

Laryngotracheal trauma is life-threatening. We identified 23 patients between 1992 and 1998 with laryngeal (12), tracheal (8), and combined injuries (3). Nineteen patients had penetrating trauma (gunshot wound, 12; stab wound, 7), and four patients had blunt injury.