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Biomedical subjects

A A Cwinn

Publications and source records attributed to A A Cwinn.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Prehospital care at a major international airport.

Medical emergencies at a major metropolitan airport have a significant impact on prehospital care capabilities for the rest of the community in which the airport is located. Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, is a facility that in 1985 had 14.4 million passengers and a static employee population of 12,000 to 15,000. In 1981, there were 1,182 ambulance trips to the airport, 40.4% of which did not result in the transport of a patient. The expense of sending an ambulance and fire engine out on such calls was great, and paramedics were out of service for approximately 300 hours on these nontransport cases. In order to improve prehospital services to the airport and the city, a paramedic has been stationed in the concourse at the airport 16 hours a day since 1982. The records for airport paramedic services for the 12 months ending September 1985 were reviewed. Paramedic services were requested for 1,952 patients. Of these, 696 (35.7%) were transported to hospital by ambulance; 115 (5.9%) went by private car; 284 (14.6%) refused any paramedic care or transport; and 857 (43.9%) were released, after base station contact, with instructions to seek definitive care at the final destination. Presenting complaints were classified into 55 categories and the frequencies and dispositions are described. The most common presentations resulting in transport were chest pain, 110 (5.6%); syncope, 60 (3.1%); psychiatric, 57 (2.9%); abdominal pain, 49 (2.5%); seizure, 36 (1.8%); fracture, 31 (1.6%); and cardiac arrest, 29 (1.5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ambulances

Toxic shock syndrome following diagnostic peritoneal lavage.

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who developed high fever, syncope, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, myalgia, pharyngitis, and a desquamating rash eight days after a diagnostic peritoneal lavage. The diagnostic peritoneal lavage wound was erythematous and tender. Incision of the site yielded 10 mL of exudate that cultured Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was treated with a first-generation cephalosporin and recovered without sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of toxic shock syndrome following diagnostic peritoneal lavage.

Abdominal Injuries

Peroneal retinaculum injury: an unusual cause of ankle pain.

A case of superior peroneal retinaculum injury is described. The patient's clinical presentation included tenderness at the peroneal groove and anterior subluxation of the peroneal tendons at the lateral malleolus. Radiographs of the ankle demonstrated an avulsion fracture from the lateral cortex of the lateral malleolus, pathognomonic for this injury. The patient wore a cast with the ankle in a neutral position for six weeks, following which she experienced repeated subluxation of the peroneal tendons. She subsequently required operative reconstruction of the retinaculum. Clinical findings and management of peroneal retinaculum injury are reviewed.

Adult

Prehospital advanced trauma life support for critical blunt trauma victims.

The ability of paramedics to deliver advanced trauma life support (ATLS) in an expedient fashion for victims of trauma has been strongly challenged. In this study, the records of 114 consecutive victims of blunt trauma who underwent laparotomy or thoracotomy were reviewed. Prehospital care was rendered by paramedics operating under strict protocols. The mean response time (minutes +/- SEM) to the scene was 5.6 +/- 0.27. On-scene time was 13.9 +/- 0.62. The time to return to the hospital was 8.0 +/- 0.4. On-scene time included assessing hazards at the scene, patient extrication, spine immobilization (n = 98), application of oxygen (n = 94), measurement of vital signs (n = 114), splinting of 59 limbs, and the following ATLS procedures: endotracheal intubation (n = 31), IV access (n = 106), ECG monitoring (n = 69), procurement of blood for tests including type and cross (n = 58), and application of a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) (n = 31). On-scene times were analyzed according to the number of ATLS procedures performed: insertion of one IV line (n = 46), 14.8 +/- 1.03 minutes; two IV lines (n = 28), 13.4 +/- 0.92; one IV line plus intubation (n = 7), 14.0 +/- 2.94; two IV lines plus intubation (n = 9), 17.0 +/- 2.38; and two IV lines plus intubation plus PASG (n = 13), 12.4 +/- 1.36. Of the 161 IV attempts, 94% were completed successfully. Of 36 attempts at endotracheal intubation, 89% were successful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Emergency Medical Services

Lightning injuries.

The physical properties of lightning are given, including a description of the different observed lightning forms. The wide variety of effects of lightning on humans is reviewed. In the prehospital care of those struck by lightning, emphasis is upon immediate resuscitation of those who appear unresponsive. Recommendations for emergency department evaluation, treatment, and disposition are given. Guidelines to prevent humans from being struck by lightning are discussed.

Adolescent