BACKGROUND: Regionalized approaches to trauma care improve patient outcomes. We developed and distributed a clinical reference poster to standardize the emergency department evaluation and management of patients with traumatic head injuries in hospitals throughout Nova Scotia. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE literature search to identify publications in the fields of prehospital and emergency management of head injuries. We reviewed and collated select studies to define contemporary standards of care. RESULTS: We derived a 3-tiered decision tool that summarizes the indications for resuscitation, radiography, specialty consultation and transfer of adult and pediatric patients with minor and major head injuries. A guideline poster was constructed and distributed to all provincial emergency departments upon approval by local trauma and critical care staff. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the evidence for a population-based, province-wide assessment and early management tool that was developed for health care personnel who treat patients with head traumas. Comparison of outcome data from pre- and postguideline eras will ultimately shed light on the use of regionalized approaches to managing brain injuries.
BACKGROUND: Regionalized approaches to trauma care improve patient outcomes. We developed and distributed a clinical reference poster to standardize the emergency department evaluation and management of patients with traumatic head injuries in hospitals throughout Nova Scotia. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE literature search to identify publications in the fields of prehospital and emergency management of head injuries. We reviewed and collated select studies to define contemporary standards of care. RESULTS: We derived a 3-tiered decision tool that summarizes the indications for resuscitation, radiography, specialty consultation and transfer of adult and pediatric patients with minor and major head injuries. A guideline poster was constructed and distributed to all provincial emergency departments upon approval by local trauma and critical care staff. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes the evidence for a population-based, province-wide assessment and early management tool that was developed for health care personnel who treat patients with head traumas. Comparison of outcome data from pre- and postguideline eras will ultimately shed light on the use of regionalized approaches to managing brain injuries.
Authors: S J Masters; P M McClean; J S Arcarese; R F Brown; J A Campbell; H A Freed; G H Hess; J T Hoff; A Kobrine; D F Koziol Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1987-01-08 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Andrew P Carlson; Pedro Ramirez; George Kennedy; A Robb McLean; Cristina Murray-Krezan; Martina Stippler Journal: Neurosurg Focus Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 4.047
Authors: Anjni Patel; Mateus Mazorra Coelho Vieira; John Abraham; Nick Reid; Tu Tran; Kevin Tomecsek; João Ricardo N Vissoci; Stephanie Eucker; Charles J Gerardo; Catherine A Staton Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-09-01 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Roselyn Appenteng; Taylor Nelp; Jihad Abdelgadir; Nelly Weledji; Michael Haglund; Emily Smith; Oscar Obiga; Francis M Sakita; Edson A Miguel; Carolina M Vissoci; Henry Rice; Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci; Catherine Staton Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-08-02 Impact factor: 3.240