Transcranial electrical evoked muscle potentials for pediatric neurosurgery: scoping review of stimulation techniques and success rates.

Purpose: The background of this scoping review is that pediatric neurosurgery in the vicinity of motor pathways is associated with the risk of motor tract damage. By measuring transcranial electrical evoked potentials in muscles (electromyogram) or from the spinal cord (epidural D-wave) functional disorders and impending damage can be detected during surgery and countermeasures can be initiated. The objective was to summarize stimulation techniques of transcranial electrical stimulation and the success rate of motor evoked potentials exclusively in children undergoing neurosurgery.

Primary healthcare provider-perceived barriers to implementing an evidence-based pathway for undifferentiated lower gastrointestinal tract symptoms: A qualitative inquiry.

Background: Primary healthcare providers play a critical role in diagnosing and managing digestive disorders. Standardized clinical care guidelines have been developed, but with limited and inconsistent implementation. An evidence-based gastroenterology clinical care pathway (GUTLINK) has been proposed in one region of Canada; however, little is known in the medical literature about potential barriers to pathway implementation within primary care.

Management of nonurgent common gastroenterology referrals using primary care clinical pathways: Clinical outcomes, health care use, and avoided costs.

Objective: To evaluate health system use, health outcomes, and avoided costs when patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions are managed in the medical home.

Design: A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted through a single-point-of-entry referral system.

Setting: Calgary, Alta.

Intestinal Ultrasound in Common Gastrointestinal Disorders: An Evidence-Based Approach.

Patients with abdominal symptoms are among the most common to present both urgently and non-urgently for medical evaluation. While intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is useful to aid management of these patients, it is not routinely taught, performed, or included as part of the core set of point-of-care ultrasound competencies. The authors present an approach to performing a systematic, but focused, IUS at the bedside and diagnostic accuracies for small bowel obstruction inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis, and diverticulitis.

International expert guidance for defining and monitoring small bowel strictures in Crohn's disease on intestinal ultrasound: a consensus statement.

Background: Diagnostic imaging using CT enterography, magnetic resonance enterography, and intestinal ultrasound are important tools in evaluating stricturing Crohn's disease. Definitions of strictures have been developed for CT enterography and magnetic resonance enterography. However, expert recommendations for definitions and treatment response of strictures on intestinal ultrasound are not available.