Test characteristics of focused assessment of sonography for trauma for clinically significant abdominal free fluid in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma.

Objectives: Focused assessment of sonography in trauma (FAST) has been shown useful to detect clinically significant hemoperitoneum in adults, but not in children. The objectives were to determine test characteristics for clinically important intraperitoneal free fluid (FF) in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) using computed tomography (CT) or surgery as criterion reference and, second, to determine the test characteristics of FAST to detect any amount of intraperitoneal FF as detected by CT.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of consecutive children (0-17 years) who required trauma team activation for BAT and received either CT or laparotomy between 2004 and 2007.

Comparison of the visual function index to the Snellen Visual Acuity Test in predicting older adult self-restricted driving.

Objective: In this observational study, a modified version of the Visual Function Index (VF-14) and the Snellen Visual Acuity Test were compared in how well they correlated with self-restricted driving habits in older adults. The VF-14 was originally designed to assess vision in cataract patients; however, in this study, a modified version (mVF-14) was evaluated as a tool for predicting self-restricted driving in older drivers.

Methods: During a 3-month period, 151 drivers over the age of 65 were screened at the local senior center.

Effect of a medical student emergency ultrasound clerkship on number of emergency department ultrasounds.

Objective: To determine whether a medical student emergency ultrasound clerkship has an effect on the number of patients undergoing ultrasonography and the number of total scans in the emergency department.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-blinded study of scanning by emergency medicine residents and attendings with and without medical students. Rotating ultrasound medical students were assigned to work equally on all days of the week.

Crowding and delivery of healthcare in emergency departments: the European perspective.

Emergency department (ED) crowding is a multifactorial problem, resulting in increased ED waiting times, decreased patient satisfaction and deleterious domino effects on the entire hospital. Although difficult to define and once limited to anecdotal evidence, crowding is receiving more attention as attempts are made to quantify the problem objectively. It is a worldwide phenomenon with regional influences, as exemplified when analyzing the problem in Europe compared to that of the United States.

Factors associated with complications in older adults with isolated blunt chest trauma.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of adverse events in elderly trauma patients with isolated blunt thoracic trauma, and to identify variables associated with these adverse events.

Methods: We performed a chart review of 160 trauma patients age 65 and older with significant blunt thoracic trauma, drawn from an American College of Surgeons Level I Trauma Center registry. Patients with serious injury to other body areas were excluded to prevent confounding the cause of adverse events.