Pharmacokinetics of sternal intraossesous atropine administration in normovolemic and hypovolemic swine.

Objective: Characterize and compare the pharmacokinetics of atropine administered via the sternal intraosseous (IO) route in a normovolemic and hypovolemic swine model.

Design: Prospective, experimental study.

Setting: Vivarium.

Interhospital patient transport by rotary wing aircraft in a combat environment: risks, adverse events, and process improvement.

Background: Helicopter transport of injured or ill patients in Operation Iraqi Freedom is a necessary but often high-risk endeavor. Our facility initiated a thorough process improvement and standardization initiative after several adverse outcomes. This report describes the results after this initiative, and evaluates the applicability of a civilian transport risk assessment tool to the combat environment.

Using 'cling film' to protect lower limb plaster casts in babies with club foot.

Clubfoot or congenital talipes equinovarus is a common condition affecting babies and non-surgical treatment involves serial manipulation and plaster casting for many weeks. The casts are susceptible to soiling during this time, which makes management and child care even more challenging. The authors report initial experience in a typical district general hospital clubfoot clinic where the parents of a baby used conventional cling film to cover the casts and provide a low-cost, effective and well-tolerated method of protection.