Intravenous access in the critically ill trauma patient: a multicentered, prospective, randomized trial of saphenous cutdown and percutaneous femoral access.

Study Objective: To compare the speed of IV access and the rate of infusion for saphenous venous cutdown and percutaneous femoral catheterization.

Design: Prospective, randomized, multicentered trial. Patient enrollment occurred from September 1990 through September 1991.

Triple-contrast CT scans in penetrating back and flank trauma.

Triple-contrast CT scanning (3-CT) is a diagnostic modality that has been introduced recently for the work-up of patients with penetrating injuries to the back or flank. Triple-contrast CT consists of giving oral, intravenous (IV), and rectal contrast medium. Our hypothesis was that this test is an accurate predictor of the absence of a retroperitoneal injury requiring surgical repair.

Diagnostic peritoneal lavage: is an isolated WBC count greater than or equal to 500/mm3 predictive of intra-abdominal injury requiring celiotomy in blunt trauma patients?

A 5-year retrospective review of 3,503 diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) patients was conducted, identifying 48 (13%) blunt trauma patients who had a DPL WBC count greater than or equal to 500/mm3. The mean DPL WBC count was 1,646 +/- 2,275. Twenty (42%) of these patients were observed and discharged without subsequent operation or morbidity.