Development and Utilization of 3D Printed Material for Thoracotomy Simulation.

Medical simulation is a widely used training modality that is particularly useful for procedures that are technically difficult or rare. The use of simulations for educational purposes has increased dramatically over the years, with most emergency medicine (EM) programs primarily using mannequin-based simulations to teach medical students and residents. As an alternative to using mannequin, we built a 3D printed models for practicing invasive procedures. Repeated simulations may help further increase comfort levels in performing an emergency department (ED) thoracotomy in particular, and perhaps this can be extrapolated to all invasive procedures. Using this model, a simulation training conducted with EM residents at an inner city teaching hospital showed improved confidence. A total of 21 residents participated in each of the three surveys [(1) initially, (2) after watching the educational video, and (3) after participating in the simulation]. Their comfort levels increased from baseline after watching the educational video (9.5%). The comfort level further improved from baseline after performing the hands on simulation (71.4%).

Accuracy of optic nerve sheath diameter measurement by emergency physicians using bedside ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US) measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been utilized as an indirect assessment of intracranial pressure. It is usually performed by trained ultrasonographers. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether or not emergency physicians (EP) are capable of measuring the ONSD accurately by US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective measurement of ONSD was conducted on computed tomography (CT) scans of the head or facial bones. These patients had undergone ocular US performed by EPs prior to CT scanning. The CT scan measurements of ONSD read by a board-certified radiologist were compared with that of the US read by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer. A difference in measurements of the ONSD ≥ 0.5 mm between the two modalities was considered as significant for this study. RESULTS: The ONSD measurements were performed with CT scan and compared to that of the US. Of the 61 patients studied, 36 (59%) were male and 25 (41%) were female. The average age was 56 ± 17 years. All but 4 patients had ONSD measurements that were between 5 and 6 mm [Corrected]. Discrepancy in measurements of the ONSD between US and CT for both groups fell within our predetermined value (0.5 mm) for the majority of cases. None of the measurements were above 6 mm. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.9 (95% confidence interval 0.8846-0.9303). CONCLUSION: Emergency physicians were capable of accurately measuring the ONSD using bedside US. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are recommended to validate these findings.

Follow up for emergency department patients after intravenous contrast and risk of nephropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) greater than 25% or ≥0.5 mg/dL within 3 days of intravenous (IV) contrast administration in the absence of an alternative cause, is the third most common cause of new acute renal failure in hospitalized patients. It is known to increase in-hospital mortality up to 27%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of outpatient follow up and the occurrence of CIN in patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) and were discharged home after computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis (AP) with IV contrast. METHODS: We conducted a single center retrospective review of charts for patients who required CT of AP with IV contrast and who were discharged home. Patients' clinical data included the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty six patients underwent CT of AP with IV contrast in 2011 and were discharged home. Diabetes mellitus was documented in 96 patients (18%). Hypertension was present in 141 patients (26.3%), and 82 patients (15.3%) were on angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI). Five patients (0.9%) had documented CHF and all of them were taking furosemide. Seventy patients (13%) had a baseline SCr >1.2 mg/dL. One hundred fifty patients (28%) followed up in one of the clinics or the ED within one week after discharge, but only 40 patients (7.5%) had laboratory workup. Out of 40 patients who followed up within 1 week after discharge, 9 patients (22.5%) developed CIN. One hundred ninety patients (35.4%) followed up in one of the clinics or the ED after 7 days and within 1 month after discharge, but only 71 patients (13.2%) had laboratory workup completed. Out of 71 patients who followed up within 1 month, 11 patients (15%) developed CIN. The overall incidence of CIN was 15.3% (17 out of 111 patients). CONCLUSION: There was a poor outpatient follow up after CT of AP with IV contrast and biochemically CIN appears to be present in some patients. Unlike previous reports that CKD is the major risk factor for CIN, our results demonstrated that risk factors such as advanced age, DM and hypertension seem to predispose patients to CIN rather than abnormal baseline SCr. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(3):276-281.].

Correlation of optic nerve sheath diameter measurements by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, intracranial pressure is measured by direct ventriculostomy, which is invasive. Noninvasive measures such as bedside ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have been advocated and utilized recently to assess the intracranial pressure. The role of this study is to determine the degree of agreement between measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive patients who had both MRI and CT scan of the head from January 1, 2011, until March 31, 2013, at our center was performed. A discrepancy of 0.2 mm between the 2 measurements was set as acceptable difference. The measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) were compared for agreement between the 2 modalities using the method by Bland and Altman. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients with both MRI and CT scan of the head were selected. Of these 100 patients, 24 were male and 76 were female. The average age was 63 years. No ONSD abnormality was detected in any of the patients. The discrepancy in measurements of the ONSD between CT and MRI in transverse plane was less than the predetermined cut-off value of 0.2 mm. Within-subject variance was estimated at 0.0058 for both CT and MRI. CONCLUSION: Comparable results without significant discrepancy as predetermined by the study groups were obtained from CT scan. Measurement of ONSD by CT scan can be used to indirectly asses the intracranial pressure in addition to clinical assessment and other signs of increased intracranial pressure on CT scan.