Showing 12 results for "Trauma"
Chest Tube Location
Can POCUS make it safer?
By Michael Prats on 06/22/20 05:00 AM
Placing a tube thoracostomy (aka chest tube) is a very useful procedure but can have complications of injuring the diaphragm or intraabdominal organs. Traditionally, the location for placement is selected using anatomic landmarks to find the correct intercostal space. This study questions the safety of this traditional location by using point-of-care ultrasound to visualize diaphragm movement during respirations. Is this the start of ultrasound-assisted chest tubes? https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/94 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32333800/
POCUS in the Reduction of Distal Radius Fractures
Picking up the pieces?
By Michael Prats, MD on 04/15/19 06:00 AM
Fractures of the distal radius are pretty common among people who choose not to break their fall with their face. Sure - it's not hard to see these on xray, but is there a better way? Ultrasound is great for finding fractures, but what about being able to guide the reduction? This has been shown to be useful in a pediatric population, but this study looks at a population of adult patients in the emergency department to see just how accurate ultrasound is for determining if the pieces have been put back together. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30191190
FAST for Hemorrhage from Pelvic Fracture
Should we talk about REBOA?
By Michael Prats, MD on 12/10/18 06:00 AM
The FAST exam is tried and true for trauma, but in the past it hasn't been super useful for patients with isolated pelvic fractures. This study teases out a very sick subset of this population - patient who have significant hemorrhage associated with their fracture. The question is how well can the FAST identify intraabdominal hemorrhage in these people. The authors' idea is that if the FAST can find intraperitoneal blood, it might help determine who would benefit from REBOA instead of laparotomy.