Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Clinically Suspected Rib Fractures in Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine.

To describe the use of the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in the prehospital and retrieval environment including the ability to accurately identify those patients with thoracic trauma and clinically suspected rib fractures who would benefit from this procedure. This is a retrospective case series of all patients with thoracic trauma and clinically suspected rib fractures who received SAPB by a prehospital and retrieval medical team in New South Wales, Australia, between 2018 and 2021. The primary outcome was to identify the proportion of patients who received appropriate blocks based on the criteria of reporting moderate pain after receiving adequate pre-block analgesia.

The Effect of Limiting the Scan Range of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (to Reduce Radiation Exposure) on the Detection of Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the standard imaging test for the evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but it is associated with patients' exposure to radiation. Studies have suggested that radiation exposure can be reduced without compromising PE detection by limiting the scan range (the -axis, going from up to down); (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE on 17 July 2021. Studies were included if they enrolled patients who had undergone a CTPA and described the yield of PE diagnoses, number of missed filling defects and/or other diagnoses using a reduced -axis in comparison to a full-length scan.

COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA): An Australian case report.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has developed, concern for invasive fungal infections in critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has emerged. We describe a clinical case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) associated pulmonary aspergillus (CAPA) infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with a good clinical outcome, in a previously well, non-immunocompromised Australian woman.

Simultaneous contralateral breast reduction/mastopexy with unilateral breast reconstruction using free abdominal flaps.

Background: Successful breast reconstruction includes the creation of a natural breast mound in addition to achieving maximal symmetry of both breasts. This study investigated the patients' outcome and satisfaction of simultaneous contralateral balancing reduction/mastopexy with unilateral breast reconstruction using free abdominal flaps.

Methods: Between March 2000 and September 2009, 22 of 288 patients underwent unilateral breast reconstructions using a free abdominal flap with simultaneous contralateral breast reduction/mastopexy (group A).