Added On : 29th April 2012Helicopter transport is associated with a small but real benefit, but it comes at a high cost.
To compare outcomes between air and ground transport for adult trauma patients with Injury Severity Scores >15, researchers reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2009. Only patients who arrived at level I and level II trauma centers alive and had complete data on transport and disposition were included in the analysis. The final study population comprised 62,000 patients transported by air and 162,000 patients transported by ground. Neither the care rendered during transport nor the type of clinician who rendered it was considered.
Added On : 28th May 2012Although nearly all intubations were successful, many patients experienced postintubation hypoxia and hypotension.
To characterize intubation practice in Scotland, researchers conducted a 4-month prospective observational study of urgent and emergent intubations performed outside the operating room and in the absence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Critical care physicians at 22 of the nation's 24 adult intensive care units (ICUs) recorded data on a standardized form for 2260 ICU patients who were intubated during their hospital stay; complete data were available for 710 patients (mean age, 54).
Added On : 9th June 2012CT Angiography Is More Likely to Be Negative for PE When Ordered for Defensive Reasons
Fear of missing pulmonary embolism was cited as a reason for ordering computed tomography pulmonary angiography in 55% of cases in this single-center Swiss study.