How many of your patients have a CT scan during their ED evaluation? Many hospitals report rates of 20% or more. A significant number of these scans are of the abdomen and pelvis. It is important for the emergency physician to have the knowledge to view and interpret these images.
Prompt, accurate assessment of the severity of injury and early initiation of appropriate critical care — including adequate oxygenation, ventilation and correction of hypotension — is of crucial importance in preventing deaths in children with severe trauma. This article reviews the critical aspects of airway assessment and management in the pediatric trauma patient.
FDA warnings for existing drugs dominate pharmaceutical news this month. These warnings represent a new push by the FDA to regulate existing drugs for safety after they have been approved for marketing. It also comes at a time when the FDA is cleaning up its advisory committee processes, especially with regard to limiting potential conflict of interest by advisory committee members.
Whether it's new onset or established disease, the PCP has an arsenal of diagnostic tests available. The array of tests, however, can be quite daunting in identifying the right test to order, especially in light of sensitivity and specificity, not to mention cost. This issue provides the PCP with a comprehensive survey of the diagnostic tests available, a guide to selection, an estimate of cost, and limitations of each test.
