The journal of trauma and acute care surgery
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyAirway, breathing, computed tomographic scanning: duplicate computed tomographic imaging after transfer to trauma center.
Trauma patients imaged at community hospitals often receive duplicate computed tomographic (CT) imaging after transfer to regional trauma centers (RTCs). CT scanning is expensive, is resource intensive, and has acknowledged radiation risk to the patient. The objective of this study was to review and evaluate the frequency, indications, impact on patient management, as well as associated radiation and charges for duplicate CT imaging of trauma patients transferred to our RTC from outside hospitals (OSH). ⋯ Care management study, level III.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyComplications in acute phase hospitalization of traumatic spinal cord injury: does surgical timing matter?
Optimal timing of surgery after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most controversial subjects in spine surgery. We assessed the relationship between surgical timing and the occurrence of nonneurologic postoperative complications during acute hospital stay for patients with a traumatic SCI. ⋯ Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic/care management study, level IV.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAnalysis of radiation exposure among pediatric trauma patients at national trauma centers.
Injured children undergo radiologic studies as part of trauma evaluations. Children are more sensitive than adult patients to the effects of ionizing radiation. Few studies have described the radiation exposure to pediatric patients during trauma evaluations. We sought to describe the rate of use of radiology studies and to estimate the effective dose of radiation delivered to pediatric trauma patients presenting to trauma centers within the United States. ⋯ Epidemiologic study, level III.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyInitial inferior vena cava diameter on computed tomographic scan independently predicts mortality in severely injured trauma patients.
In the trauma population, patients with physiologic compromise may present with "normal" vital signs. We hypothesized that the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter could be used as a surrogate marker for hypovolemic shock and predict mortality in severely injured trauma patients. ⋯ Prognostic study, level III.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2013
Comparative StudyChanges in the epidemiology and prediction of multiple-organ failure after injury.
The epidemiology of multiple-organ failure (MOF) after injury has been changing, questioning the validity of previously described prediction models. This study aimed to describe the current epidemiology of MOF. The secondary aim was development of a prediction model that could be used for early identification of patients at risk of MOF. ⋯ Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.