Altered Mental Status and Coma
Altered Mental Status and Coma J. Stephen Huff and Marcus L. Martin Viewed from a physiologic perspective, consciousness is the sum of the activities and interactions of the reticular activating…
Trauma in Older Adults
Trauma in Older Adults Timothy F. Platts-Mills and Sasha D. Adams The increase in the number of active and independent older US adults has led to an unfortunate corresponding increase…
Penetrating Abdominal Trauma
Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Michael J. Breyer Penetrating trauma to the abdomen continues to be a major cause of trauma and mortality in the United States. Death resulting from trauma is…
Ballistics
Ballistics Jason Imperato and Leon D. Sanchez Ballistics is the scientific study of the characteristics of projectiles, how they move in flight, and how they impart tissue damage. The majority…
Blunt Abdominal Trauma
Blunt Abdominal Trauma Eric L. Legome and Joseph P. Freedman Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) accounts for a minority of all traumatic deaths but represents an important source of morbidity. The…
Chest Pain
Chest Pain Judd E. Hollander Chest pain is the second most common chief complaint in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). However, when combined with other symptoms that potentially…
Peripheral Vascular Injuries
Peripheral Vascular Injuries Maria E. Moreira and Peter T. Pons Prompt recognition and management of peripheral vascular injuries is crucial to limb salvage and preservation of function. A vascular injury…
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of Breath C. Keith Stone Shortness of breath refers to difficult, labored, or uncomfortable breathing. Shortness of breath results when ventilatory demand exceeds respiratory function. A mismatch between supply…
