Key Practice Points ▪ Because wounds are often contaminated with bacteria, there is a time limit (the “golden period”) between the laceration and closure with sutures. It varies between 6…
Key Practice Points ▪ Thorough wound cleansing and irrigation are the most important steps in repairing wounds and lacerations. ▪ Povidone-iodine solution (not scrub preparation) is the most effective skin,…
Key Practice Points ▪ The average laceration cared for by emergency caregivers is 1 to 3 cm in length, with 13% of lacerations considered significantly contaminated. ▪ The most common…
Key Practice Points ▪ To prevent unexpected syncope and to provide for patient comfort during wound care, the patient is placed in the supine position. Parents or friends, who want…
Key Practice Points ▪ Addressing the emotional needs of children and parents is as important as wound care. ▪ If the history is inconsistent with the wounds, physical abuse of…
Key Practice Points ▪ All lacerations produce scars. ▪ The function of a scar is to repair a wound with collagen, not to restore the original appearance of the injured…
Key Practice Points ▪ The most important layer of skin for wound closure is the tough dermis. It is the “anchor” for sutures. ▪ Proper and careful apposition of the…
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is common, occurring—if bicuspid aortic valve (AV) is excluded—in approximately 1% of all live births. The most common defects and the incidence of each are outlined…
In the ICU, transthoracic imaging is usually the first echocardiographic imaging modality performed and may yield sufficient clinical information without the need to proceed to TEE. TTE and TEE both…
Ultrasound waves are unable to penetrate aerated lung tissue. Historically, this has limited lung ultrasound almost exclusively to the evaluation of pleural effusions. More recently, the recognition that analysis of…
