The Clinical Evaluation of Alcohol Intoxication Is Inaccurate in Trauma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Discharging patients from emergency centers based on the clinical features of intoxication alone may be dangerous, as these may poorly correlate with ethanol measurements. OBJECTIVE: We determined the feasibility of utilizing a hand-held breath alcohol analyzer to aid in the disposition of intoxicated trauma patients by comparing serial breathalyzer (Intoximeter, Alco-Sensor FST, St. Louis, Missouri, USA] data with clinical assessments in determining the readiness of trauma patients for discharge. METHODS: A total of 20 legally intoxicated (LI) patients (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >80 mg/dL) brought to our trauma center were prospectively investigated. Serial breath samples were obtained using a breathalyzer as a surrogate measure of repeated BAC. A clinical exam (nystagmus, one-leg balance, heel-toe walk) was performed prior to each breath sampling. RESULTS: The enrollees were 85% male, age 30±10 (range 19-51), with a body mass index (BMI) of 29±7. The average initial body alcohol level (BAL) was 245±61 (range 162-370) mg/dL. Based on breath samples, the alcohol elimination rates varied from 21.5 mg/dL/hr to 45.7 mg/dL/hr (mean 28.5 mg/dL/hr). There were no significant differences in alcohol elimination rates by gender, age, or BMI. The clinical exam also varied widely among patients; only seven of 16 (44%) LI patients demonstrated horizontal nystagmus (suggesting sobriety when actually LI) and the majority of the LI patients (66%) were able to complete the balance tasks (suggesting sobriety). CONCLUSION: Intoxicated trauma patients have an unreliable clinical sobriety exam and a wide range of alcohol elimination rates. The portable alcohol breath analyzer represents a potential option to easily and inexpensively establish legal sobriety in this population.

Predicting and enhancing American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination performance: does writing questions really help?

BACKGROUND: The generative learning model posits that individuals remember content they have generated better than materials created by others. The goals of this study were to evaluate question generation as a study method for the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) and determine whether practice test scores and other data predict ABSITE performance. METHODS: Residents (n = 206) from 6 general surgery programs were randomly assigned to one of the two study conditions. One group wrote questions for practice examinations. All residents took 2 practice examinations. RESULTS: There was not a significant effect of writing questions on ABSITE score. Practice test scores, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores, and previous ABSITE scores were significantly correlated with ABSITE performance. CONCLUSIONS: The generative learning model was not supported. Performance on practice tests and other data can be used for early identification of residents at risk of performing poorly on the ABSITE.

A Comparison of Teaching Modalities and Fidelity of Simulation Levels in Teaching Resuscitation Scenarios.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study was to examine the ability of novices to learn selected aspects of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) in training conditions that did not incorporate simulation compared to those that contained low- and high-fidelity simulation activities. We sought to determine at what level additional educational opportunities and simulation fidelity become superfluous with respect to learning outcomes. METHODS: Totally 39 medical students and physician assistant students were randomly assigned to 4 training conditions: control (lecture only), video-based didactic instruction, low-, and high-fidelity simulation activities. Participants were assessed using a baseline written pretest of ACLS knowledge. Following this, all participants received a lecture outlining ACLS science and algorithm interpretation. Participants were then trained in specific aspects of ACLS according to their assigned instructional condition. After training, each participant was assessed via a Megacode performance examination and a written posttest. RESULTS: All groups performed significantly better on the written posttest compared with the pretest (p < 0.001); however, no groups outperformed any other groups. On the Megacode performance test, the video-based, low-, and high-fidelity groups performed significantly better than the control group (p = 0.028, p < 0.001, p = 0.019). Equivalence testing revealed that the high-fidelity simulation condition was statistically equivalent to the video-based and low-fidelity simulation conditions. CONCLUSION: Video-based and simulation-based training is associated with better learning outcomes when compared with traditional didactic lectures only. Video-based, low-fidelity, and high-fidelity simulation training yield equivalent outcomes, which may indicate that high-fidelity simulation is superfluous for the novice trainee.

Development and construct validity of a low-fidelity training platform for driving large and small suture needles.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe and validate a novel training platform for driving large and small suture needles, which can ultimately be used for elemental vascular surgical training. METHODS: We developed a novel trainer and proficiency-based training curriculum that provides a platform for practice with handling fine vascular tools and needles as well as precision in suture targeting. The trainer comprises 2 concentric circles printed on cotton fiber material with 8 evenly spaced targets on each circle. The first exercise was designed for practice with Castroviejo needle drivers and a fine needle such that the needle is passed through all targets in sequential order. A second, larger figure serves the same function but is designed for conventional needle drivers and a larger needle. A total of 5 attending surgeons from vascular and trauma surgery were recruited to serve as "expert" participants. These surgeons completed 3 repetitions of each task, which were used to develop proficiency timing and quality standards for practice. The curriculum was validated by recruiting 10 senior surgical residents and 12 surgical interns. Senior residents completed 3 repetitions of each task. Each first-year resident completed a proctored pretest, trained to proficiency by self-paced practice on the trainer according to standards set by the attending surgeons, and completed a proctored posttest. RESULTS: First-year residents performed significantly worse on the pretest compared with senior residents and faculty surgeons on both exercises (small figure = 58.9 vs 174.2 vs 201.3, p < 0.001; large figure = 112.1 vs 202.9 vs 198.1, p < 0.001). After proficiency-based practice, first-year residents improved significantly from pretest to posttest (small figure = 216.0 vs 58.9, p < 0.001; large figure = 211.7 vs 112.1, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The vascular trainer platform demonstrated construct validity for self-paced elemental vascular surgical practice.

Natural history and clinical implications of nondepressed skull fracture in young children.

BACKGROUND: Head injury is the most common cause of neurologic disability and mortality in children. Previous studies have demonstrated that depressed skull fractures (SFs) represent approximately one quarter of all SFs in children and approximately 10% percent of hospital admissions after head injury. We hypothesized that nondepressed SFs (NDSFs) in children are not associated with adverse neurologic outcomes. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for all children 5 years or younger with SFs who presented to our Level I trauma center during a 4-year period. Data collected included patient demographics, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at admission, level of consciousness at the time of injury, type of SF (depressed SF vs. NDSF), magnitude of the SF depression, evidence of neurologic deficit, and the requirement for neurosurgical intervention. RESULTS: We evaluated 1,546 injured young children during the study period. From this cohort, 563 had isolated head injury, and 223 of them had SF. Of the SF group, 163 (73%) had NDSFs, of whom 128 (78%) presented with a GCS score of 15. None of the NDSF patients with a GCS score of 15 required neurosurgical intervention or developed any neurologic deficit. Of the remaining 35 patients with NDSF and GCS score less than 15, 7 (20%) had a temporary neurologic deficit that resolved before discharge, 4 (11%) developed a persistent neurologic deficit, and 2 died (6%). CONCLUSION: Children 5 years or younger with NDSFs and a normal neurologic examination result at admission do not develop neurologic deterioration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological study, level III.

Recombinant factor VIIa to correct coagulopathy in patients with traumatic brain injury presenting to outlying facilities before transfer to the regional trauma center.

Timely correction of coagulopathy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves mortality. Recombinant, activated factor VII (VIIa) has been identified as an effective method to correct coagulopathy in patients with TBI. We performed a retrospective study (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2009) of all patients with TBI and coagulopathy (international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.5) transferred to our Level I trauma center. Twenty-three patients with coagulopathy and TBI were transferred to our trauma center, 100 per cent sustained a fall, and 100 per cent were taking warfarin at the time of injury. Ten patients received VIIa to correct coagulopathy before transfer, whereas 13 did not. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients who received VIIa with those who did not. When comparing the VIIa group with the no-VIIa group there was no difference in age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale score, injury severity score, transfer time, or INR at outlying facility. Both groups received one unit of plasma before arrival at our trauma center; patients in the VIIa group received a single 1.2 mg dose of VIIa at the outlying facility. Upon arrival to our trauma center the VIIa group had a lower INR (1.0 vs 3.0, P = 0.02) and lower mortality (0% vs 39%, P = 0.03). In coagulopathic patients with TBI presenting to outlying institutions with limited resources to quickly provide plasma, VIIa efficiently corrects coagulopathy before transfer to definitive care at the regional trauma center. More rapid correction of coagulopathy with VIIa in this patient population may improve mortality.