Educational video-assisted versus conventional informed consent for trauma-related debridement surgery: a parallel group randomized controlled trial.

Background: We investigated whether, in the emergency department (ED), educational video-assisted informed consent is superior to the conventional consent process, to inform trauma patients undergoing surgery about the procedure, benefits, risks, alternatives, and postoperative care.

Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial, with superiority study design. All trauma patients scheduled to receive trauma-related debridement surgery in the ED of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital were included.

Development and pilot testing of an informed consent video for patients with limb trauma prior to debridement surgery using a modified Delphi technique.

Background: Ensuring adequate informed consent for surgery in a trauma setting is challenging. We developed and pilot tested an educational video containing information regarding the informed consent process for surgery in trauma patients and a knowledge measure instrument and evaluated whether the audiovisual presentation improved the patients' knowledge regarding their procedure and aftercare and their satisfaction with the informed consent process.

Methods: A modified Delphi technique in which a panel of experts participated in successive rounds of shared scoring of items to forecast outcomes was applied to reach a consensus among the experts.

Urinary tract infection in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a burden of health care globally. However, data on epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of urinary tract infection (UTI) in this population are scarce. This study aims to retrospectively review such data.

Association of head, thoracic and abdominal trauma with delayed diagnosis of co-existing injuries in critical trauma patients.

Background: Management of critically injured patients is usually complicated and challenging. A structured team approach with comprehensive survey is warranted. However, delayed diagnosis of co-existing injuries that are less severe or occult might still occur, despite a standard thorough approach coupled with advances in image intervention.

Early predictors of narcotics-dependent patients in the emergency department.

It is not unusual that narcotics-dependent patients fulfill their medical requirements in the emergency department (ED). The behavior of these patients varies, and their manifestations and predictors are still not fully studied. We performed this retrospective study by prospectively collecting data on patients with suspected drug dependence who were undiagnosed at first and then treated for some kind of reported pain at the ED.

Building an ethical environment improves patient privacy and satisfaction in the crowded emergency department: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention in improving emergency department (ED) patient privacy and satisfaction in the crowded ED setting.

Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted. A multifaceted intervention was implemented in a university-affiliated hospital ED.

Surgeon commitment to trauma care decreases missed injuries.

Study Objective: Missed injuries sustain an important issue concerning patient safety and quality of care. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of surgeon commitment to trauma care on missed injuries. We hypothesised that surgeons committed to the trauma service has less missed injuries than surgeons not committed to the trauma service would have.

Less is more? The impact of trauma volume on the positive rate of head computed tomography scans in head trauma patients.

Objective: Few studies have assessed the impact of trauma volume on the operational efficiency of emergency departments. Herein, we evaluate the association between trauma volume with the positive rate of head computed tomography scans in head trauma patients in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort review involving all head trauma patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital.

Conductor-assisted nasal sonography: an innovative technique for rapid and accurate detection of nasal bone fracture.

Background: Nasal bone is frequently involved in craniofacial trauma. We sought to investigate the role of conductor-assisted nasal sonography (CANS) in patients with nasal trauma.

Methods: In all, 71 patients sustaining midfacial trauma who underwent CANS examination with simultaneous facial computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed.

Neck collar used in treatment of victims of urban motorcycle accidents: over- or underprotection?

Background: Cervical collar brace protection of the cervical spine at the scene of the incident is the first priority for emergency medical technicians treating patients who have sustained trauma. However, there is still controversy between over- or underprotection. The objective of this study was to survey the cervical spine injury of lightweight motorcycle accident victims and further evaluate the neck collar protection policy.

Combination of white blood cell count with liver enzymes in the diagnosis of blunt liver laceration.

Background: It is sometimes difficult to decide whether to perform abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scans for possible liver laceration in patients who have sustained less severe or minor blunt abdominal trauma. This study was conducted to find out whether the basic laboratory workup could provide information of possible liver laceration in blunt abdominal trauma patients and act as an indication for CT scans.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, we included 289 patients who had sustained blunt abdominal injury for which they received abdominal CT scans in our emergency department.

Management of motorcycle accident-related blunt hepatic injury-a different strategy.

Background: In motorcycle accidents, especially in an urban area with lightweight motorcycles, the belly of the motorcyclist is not protected, and this makes this type of trauma a cause of blunt hepatic injuries. This study investigated the effect and safety of using nonoperative management and selective early angioembolization to treat patients with blunt liver injuries as a result of motorcycle accident.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of the hepatic injuries sustained by motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents.

Protrusion of a migrated fish bone in the neck.

Uningested fish bone swallowing is common, but protrusion of the unswallowed fish bone from the neck is very rare. We report a 3-cm fish bone, which was not diagnosed during the patient first visit at emergency room, resulting in a protrusion out of the patient's neck skin 21 days later after ingurgitation of the bone. The migrated fish bone was safety pulled out directly after obtaining computed tomography of the neck to make sure no soft tissue or major artery involved.

Effects of the Emergency Trauma Training Course on the confidence of final-year medical students dealing with trauma patients.

Trauma is an important issue that has been neglected in the training of medical students. This study evaluated the effects of the Emergency Trauma Training Course (ETTC), after completion of standard medical training, on seventh-year medical students. The ETTC was designed in Taiwan by the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine to train physicians and registered nurses who care for trauma patients in the emergency department (ED).

Neck hyperflexion causing isolated thyroid cartilage fracture--a case report.

Isolated thyroid cartilage fracture is very rare, and most cartilage fractures are caused by direct impact to the laryngotracheal complex of the neck. Isolated thyroid cartilage fracture caused by hyperflexion of the neck has not been reported before. We present a case where an unrestrained front seat car passenger struck his forehead on the windshield during a motor vehicle accident.