The American surgeon
-
The American surgeon · Jan 2006
ReviewTransversalis, endoabdominal, endothoracic fascia: who's who?
In Terminologia Anatomica of 1998, the fasciae of the trunk are listed as parietal, extraserosal, and visceral. Parietal fascia is defined as the fascia located outside the parietal layer of a serosa (e.g., pleura, peritoneum) lining a body wall cavity. The parietal fascia of the thorax is endothoracic fascia, and that of the abdomen is endoabdominal fascia. ⋯ In the thoracic wall, muscle layers are not separated and no distinct investing fasciae are found on them. Furthermore, in the thorax extraserosal fascia does not exist. Therefore, only endothoracic fascia is found on the inner side of the innermost intercostal muscle, which is deprived of investing fascia, to separate this muscle from pleura.
-
The American surgeon · Jan 2006
Comparative StudySpinal clearance in the difficult trauma patient: a role for screening MRI of the spine.
Identifying spinal injuries in trauma patients with altered mental status can be difficult. CT scanning and clinical examination are the basis of our spinal clearance, but screening "trauma protocol" spinal MRI is used to exclude occult injuries. We sought to evaluate the sensitivity of CT scanning for spinal injuries compared with our MRI protocol. ⋯ Overall negative predictive value of CT scanning of the spine was 98 per cent, the positive predictive value was 78 per cent, and the sensitivity and specificity was 94 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively. CT scanning of the cervical and axial spine is sensitive for spinal trauma but not specific. MRI trauma protocol should be reserved for cases when initial CT scanning is suggestive of traumatic injury.
-
The American surgeon · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyThe trauma bay chest radiograph in stable blunt-trauma patients: do we really need it?
The current study evaluates the need for trauma bay chest radiographs (CXR) in stable blunt-trauma patients who are scheduled for chest computed tomography (CCT). A retrospective review of 157 randomly selected, stable, adult blunt-trauma patients who were admitted to a level I trauma center between 2000 and 2002, who underwent both CXR and CCT (GE Light-Speed Scanner), was performed. Stable patients were defined as unintubated, normotensive (SBP > 100 mm Hg), and without hypoxia (O2 saturation > 90%). ⋯ In 32 patients, CCT led to changes in management. CCT was more sensitive in diagnosing thoracic injuries and led to significant changes in management. We feel that CXR could be safely eliminated in favor of CCT in stable blunt-trauma patients.
-
The American surgeon · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyAre resident work-hour limitations beneficial to the trauma profession?
In July 2003, work-hour restrictions were implemented by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to limit resident duty hours. Attending surgeon work-hours have not been similarly reduced, and many trauma services have added emergency general surgery responsibilities. We hypothesized that trauma attending/resident work-hour disparity may disincentivize residents from selecting trauma careers and that trauma directors would view ACGME regulations negatively. ⋯ Seventy-one per cent feel residents will not select trauma surgery as a career as a result of changes in duty hours. Perceived trauma attending/ resident work-hour disparity may disincentive trainees from trauma career selection. TDs view resident duty-hour restrictions negatively.