W Indian Med J
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Comparative Study
Role of routine chest radiographs in the evaluation of patients with stable blunt chest trauma--a prospective analysis.
The study sought to assess the test performance characteristics of clinical judgement in the evaluation of stable blunt chest trauma patients compared with chest radiography (CXR) in the determination of significant intra-thoracic injury. ⋯ The majority ofpatients who sustained blunt chest injuries and were assessed as stable patients do not require CXR routinely. This study revealed that physicians in the local Emergency Department may be over-utilizing CXRfor patients who have stable blunt chest trauma.
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The aetiology of febrile diseases in tropical countries often remains poorly characterized. We aim to describe the aetiology and outcome of febrile illnesses at the Emergency Department (ED) in Curaçao. ⋯ A high mortality rate of 7.9% was observed. We found a high prevalence of bacterial infections, with pneumonia and urinary tract infections as the most common causes of fever. One in 20 patients did not have an infectious disease.
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The development of minimally invasive techniques for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and the establishment of specialized centres have resulted in improved patient outcomes. This study examines open AAA repair at a non-specialized centre where advanced techniques are not practised. ⋯ Mortality rates for open aneurysm repair at the UHWI are consistent with findings in the current literature. Open AAA repair remains a safe treatment option in this environment. Continued improvements need to be made with respect to minimizing blood loss and operation duration, particularly in repairs of unruptured aneurysms.