J Trauma
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Inappropriate use of helicopter transport of trauma patients in urban areas increases costs, risk of injury, and unavailability for appropriate flights. We evaluated the effect of an emergency medical service (EMS) system audit of helicopter trauma scene flights (TSFs) on appropriateness of TSFs. ⋯ An EMS system audit with general awareness of audit criteria decreased the total number of TSFs and hence the number of INAPPRO TSFs in this urban trauma system population. However, the proportion of TSFs that were considered INAPPRO did not change. Criteria for urban TSFs should be based on markers of critical physiologic patient status matched to unique care that the helicopter personnel can provide (e.g., advanced airway management).
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Review Case Reports
Aortic dissection after trauma: case report and review of the literature.
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To determine the nature and causes of gun violence among urban young people. ⋯ Handgun availability and use are high among urban youth; gun carrying is mostly related to safety concerns and easy access, rather than to hunting or sport. This may be a cause of high handgun injury rates in this group. Gun injury prevention programs must address youth safety concerns along with handgun availability.
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Trauma victims with hypotension require a rapid and reliable localization of bleeding and expedient surgical triage. Our hypothesis is that emergent abdominal sonography (EAS) is a rapid and accurate test of the need for urgent laparotomy in blunt trauma victims with hypotension. ⋯ EAS is a rapid and accurate indicator of the need for urgent laparotomy in the hypotensive blunt trauma victim. Further, a negative EAS can hasten the search for other causes of hypotension. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage may become obsolete in centers with EAS capabilities.
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To review our experience with craniocerebral injuries caused by plastic bullets, and to delineate prognostic factors for outcome. ⋯ Plastic bullet-induced craniocerebral injuries carry a lower morbidity and mortality rate compared with other gunshot wounds. However, plastic bullets do incur a significant risk of injury. Their use should be carefully regulated.