The American journal of emergency medicine
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We aimed to evaluate whether hepatic transaminase levels could predict the presence and severity of liver injury following abdominal trauma. ⋯ In patients with abdominal trauma, abnormal hepatic transaminase and LDH levels are associated with liver injury. Alanine aminotransferase ≤76 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase <130 U/L, and LDH ≤410 U/L are predictive of low-grade liver injury, and patients with serum liver levels below these levels can be managed conservatively.
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The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of stress echocardiography (SE) in patients evaluated in emergency department (ED) and to determine SE parameters that best predicted outcome. ⋯ Stress echocardiography showed an optimal prognostic value among ED patients evaluated for chest pain. The presence of an extensive asynergic area at peak stress was associated with an adverse prognosis.
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Hyperkalemia and acute renal failure are the life-threatening complications of crush injuries. Vigilant prehospital emergency care is vital to reduce the complications. We report and discuss 2 cases diagnosed as crush syndrome after earthquake, in order to illustrate the value of prehospital application of tourniquets to prevent hyperkalemia accompanying extremity crush injuries. ⋯ The prehospital tourniquet had been used to avoid uncontrollable hemorrhage and release of toxic metabolites into the circulation in case 2. Providers need to be fully aware of the risk of hyperkalemia in the field for patients with crush syndrome. Tourniquet application is strongly recommended in the prehospital setting for severe crush injuries.
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Observational Study
Computed tomography is not justified in every pediatric blunt trauma patient with a suspicious mechanism of injury.
Computed tomography (CT) has become an important tool for the diagnosis of intra-abdominal and chest injuries in patients with blunt trauma. The role of CT in conscious asymptomatic patients with a suspicious mechanism of injury remains controversial. This controversy intensifies in the management of pediatric blunt trauma patients, who are much more susceptible to radiation exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of abdominal and chest CT imaging in asymptomatic pediatric patients with a suspicious mechanism of injury. ⋯ The routine use of CT in asymptomatic pediatric patients with a suspicious mechanism of blunt trauma injury is not justified.
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The focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination has assumed the role of initial screening examination for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum in the patient with blunt abdominal trauma. Sonographic pitfalls associated with the examination have primarily been related to mistaking contained fluid collections with hemoperitoneum. We present a case in which an elongated left lobe of the liver was misdiagnosed as a splenic subcapsular hematoma. It is imperative that emergency physicians and trauma surgeons be familiar with this normal variant of the liver and its associated sonographic appearance on the perisplenic window in order to prevent nontherapeutic laparotomies or embolizations.