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Healthcare Utilization

Abnormal Arterial Blood Gas and Serum Lactate Levels Do Not Alter Disposition in Adult Blunt Trauma Patients after Early Computed Tomography

Introduction: Arterial blood gas and serum lactate (ABG / SL) values have been shown to be markers for occult shock and poor outcome following blunt trauma. However, the utility of ABG / SL in blunt trauma patients who also receive computed tomographies (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (CT C&A) remains unknown.
Conclusion: We found that abnormal ABG / SL results do not change management or discharge disposition in patients without clinical or radiographic evidence of traumatic injury on CT C&A. Among patients who receive CT C&A, the routine measurement of arterial blood gas and lactate may be an unnecessary source of additional cost, patient discomfort, and delay in care.

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Analysis of Urobilinogen and Urine Bilirubin for Intra-Abdominal Injury in Blunt Trauma Patients

  Author Affiliation Shahram Paydar, MD Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Trauma Research Center, Shiraz, Iran Roohollah Salahi, MD Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Trauma Research Center, Shiraz, Iran Shahram Bolandparvaz, MD Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Trauma Research Center, Shiraz, Iran Hamid Reza Abbasi, MD Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Trauma Research Center, Shiraz, […]

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Leukocytosis as a Predictor of Severe Injury in Blunt Trauma

  Author Affiliation Claudia A. Santucci, MD Kern Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine Thomas B. Purcell, MD Kern Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine Carlo Mejia Kern Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine ABSTRACT Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine if the white blood cell count can predict severity of injury […]

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WestJEM/ Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Irvine Health

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Orange, CA 92868, USA
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Email: editor@westjem.org

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WestJEM
ISSN: 1936-900X
e-ISSN: 1936-9018

CPC-EM
ISSN: 2474-252X

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Emergency Medicine is a specialty which closely reflects societal challenges and consequences of public policy decisions. The emergency department specifically deals with social injustice, health and economic disparities, violence, substance abuse, and disaster preparedness and response. This journal focuses on how emergency care affects the health of the community and population, and conversely, how these societal challenges affect the composition of the patient population who seek care in the emergency department. The development of better systems to provide emergency care, including technology solutions, is critical to enhancing population health.