Mild traumatic brain injury: are ED providers identifying which patients are at risk?

Objective: To identify patients with specific ED discharge diagnoses reporting symptoms associated with a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), compare frequency/severity of MTBI symptoms by discharge diagnosis, investigate head injury education provided at ED discharge, and learn about changes made by MTBI patients after injury.

Methods: The Post Concussion Symptom Scale, a demographic questionnaire, and open-ended questions about the impact the injury had on patients' lives were completed by 52 ED patients, at least 2 weeks after injury, discharged with concussion/closed head injury, head laceration, motor vehicle crash (MVC), or whiplash/cervical strain diagnoses.

Results: Between 1 and 23 MTBI symptoms were reported by 84.

Peripheral intravenous catheters started in prehospital and emergency department settings.

The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of phlebitis in trauma patients according to where the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) was inserted in a prehospital setting or in an emergency department setting. Variables investigated also included where the catheter was anatomically placed, the gauge of the catheter, and the patients' Injury Severity Score. The overall phlebitis rate was 5.