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Biomedical subjects

A C Day

Publications and source records attributed to A C Day.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Early detection of arterial bleeding in acute pelvic trauma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of intravenous contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) in the detection of potentially life-threatening retroperitoneal hemorrhage in patients sustaining pelvic fractures, acetabular fractures or both. DESIGN: Retrospective review of sequential patients identified over a 1-year period by using a prospectively collected trauma database at two Level I trauma centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of patients admitted to one of two Level I trauma centers with pelvic or acetabular injuries between September 1, 1995, and September 30, 1996, was identified by using a prospectively collected trauma database. From this cohort, we selected those individuals who had undergone intravenous CECT scanning within 24 hours after admission and who had an Abbreviated Injury Score more than 3 because of their pelvic injury. Those individuals who required arterial embolization for uncontrolled hemodynamic shock were categorized as having "significant arterial bleeding" attributable to their pelvic injury. Individuals who regained hemodynamic ,stability without embolization were categorized as having "no significant arterial bleeding." Two observers who were blinded to clinical information and the results of angiography reviewed all injury radiographs and computed tomographic scans. The presence or absence of contrast extravasation on intravenous CECT was recorded. Each case was then categorized into a 2 x 2 table depending on the presence of contrast extravasation on CECT and the need for arterial embolization to determine the accuracy of the "contrast extravasation sign." RESULTS: Of the 192 eligible patients, 111 met the inclusion criteria. Eleven patients required an angiogram for ongoing hemodynamic instability. The sensitivity of extravasation on contrast enhanced computed tomography representing a significant arterial bleeding was 80%, and the specificity was 98%. The predictive value of a positive contrast "extravasation sign" was 80%, whereas the predictive value of a negative test was 98%. The likelihood ratio of a positive test was 40.4, and the likelihood ratio of a negative test was 0.204. CONCLUSION: The finding of contrast extravasation on CECT is highly suggestive of significant arterial bleeding that requires early angiographic embolization to restore hemodynamic stability.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1993

Grading asthma severity: using the APS component of the Apache II system.

OBJECTIVE: Measurement of severity is fundamental to the description and comparison of case series, treatment regimens and disease outcomes. This study examines the Acute Physiology Score (APS) as a severity measure of an acute "life-threatening" asthma attack. DESIGN: The APS in the emergency department (ED) and ICU, demographic, treatment and outcome variables were prospectively studied. Relationships between severity, treatment and progress were investigated. In addition, patients were stratified according to ED APS and differences between the participating hospitals were examined. SETTING: Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units of two New Zealand hospitals. PATIENTS: 64 admissions to the ICUs following an acute episode of asthma. INTERVENTIONS: Standard management of acute asthma as practised at the two participating hospitals. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Both the treatment delivered (intravenous salbutamol, sodium bicarbonate and IPPV) and the rate of improvement as defined by change in APS between the ED and the ICU were found to be strongly related to ED APS. Similarly, the length of stay in the ICU correlated with the ICU APS. Stratification on the basis of ED APS allowed small but significant differences in patient physiologic derangement, dose of salbutamol, use of IPPV and incidence of complications to be detected between patients at the two hospitals. CONCLUSION: This prospective study involving two hospitals validates the APS as a method for measuring the severity of an acute asthma attack. It demonstrates how correction for severity can be used to compare treatment and outcome variables in different case series.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Diagnostic peritoneal lavage: integration with clinical information to improve diagnostic performance.

Management of abdominal trauma requires both the detection of injuries sustained and an ability to distinguish patients who require operative repair from those who do not. In this prospective study of 200 patients receiving diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) following blunt trauma, relationships among DPL result, clinical features (information from initial patient assessment), and laparotomy outcome were investigated. The DPL result alone predicted requirement for laparotomy with an accuracy of 93%, a specificity of 96%, a sensitivity of 85%, a positive predictive value (PV-Positive) of 87%, and a negative predictive value (PV-Negative) of 95%. Combining clinical features with the DPL result reduced the number of unnecessary laparotomies (increased PV-Positive and specificity), but increased the number of missed necessary laparotomies (decreased PV-Negative and sensitivity). The best diagnostic performance was found by combining the DPL result with circulatory status, which, in this series of patients, predicted necessary laparotomy with an accuracy of 95%, a specificity of 99%, a sensitivity of 81%, a PV-Positive of 98%, and a PV-Negative of 94%.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed1990

Theophylline poisoning--a review of 64 cases.

Sixty-four cases of theophylline poisoning were reviewed. All but two cases represented international self poisoning. The majority of patients were young females who presented acutely after ingestion of sustained release preparations prescribed for asthma. Serum theophylline levels (mean 365 mumol/l, SD 177) indicated a high risk of toxicity. Electrolyte and metabolic abnormalities (hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypophosphataemia, hyperglycaemia, acid-base disturbances and leucocytosis) were common. Serum potassium, serum glucose, leucocyte count and length of stay in the intensive care unit all correlated strongly with maximum serum theophylline level (p less than 0.001). The low incidence of life-threatening manifestations of severe toxicity (hypotension, serious arrhythmias or seizures) and excellent outcome, contrasts with many previous reports. The results support the use of a management regimen which emphasizes intensive supportive therapy and restricts the use of charcoal haemoperfusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of cigarette smoking on postural muscle tremor.

In a study of the effect of smoking on postural reflexes--specifically postural muscle tremor--in man, amplitude of postural muscle tremor, when tested in 30 subjects, was increased to a significant degree immediately following the smoking of one cigarette. Tremor amplitude continued to be significantly increased one-half hour after smoking ceased. There was no significant change in the frequency of tremor. Measurement was made using a piezo crystal accelerometer attached to the third fingers of both hands. Effects were recorded with a Sanborn Twin Viso Recorder. The findings, that smoking does affect postural reflexes, have implications for the formulation of nursing therapies, particularly in areas such as rehabilitation nursing, where the use of postural reflexes is the primary mode of intervention.

Adult↗