Air in the cavernous sinus may be due to venous cannulation.

The discovery of air in the cavernous sinus may cause some alarm. It may well, however, simply be a consequence of retrograde air embolism from venous cannulation. It rarely has any adverse effects and is self-limiting in nature.

Scottish urban versus rural trauma outcome study.

Background: Outcome following trauma and health care access are important components of health care planning. Resources are limited and quality information is required. We set the objective of comparing the outcomes for patients suffering significant trauma in urban and rural environments in Scotland.

Patients with a head injury who "talk and die" in the 1990s.

Background: Patients who "talk and die" after head injury may represent a group who suffer delayed and therefore potentially preventable complications after injury. We have compared the clinical and pathologic features of patients who talk and die with those who "talk and live" after head injury.

Methods: Data collected prospectively by the Scottish Trauma Audit Group were used to identify patients with a head injury and classify them according to verbal response at admission to hospital.