Paediatric trauma patients and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: correlation and significance.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma is one of the leading reasons for emergency department (ED) visits in children. Hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsiveness may contribute to injury proneness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and role of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with trauma. METHODS: Trauma patients aged 3-17 attending the ED were included in the study group. Parents were informed after medical care had been given to their children, and demographic data and information about the trauma were collected. Later, parents were asked to complete the Conners' Parent Rating Scales-Revised questionnaire for ADHD symptoms. The control group consisted of children of similar age and sociocultural characteristics who attended the hospital for reasons other than trauma. Cases in which the child apparently had no active role in the trauma or where the parents did not complete the Conners' Parent Rating Scales-Revised questionnaire were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Fifty-five children were included in the study group (mean age 7.49 (range 3-14; SD 3.3); 33 (60%) were male). The control group was statistically similar to the study group. The most common trauma mechanism was falls (n=31, 56.4%). All the subscale scores were significantly higher in the study group, and previous trauma-related ED visits were associated with significantly higher subscale scores. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that children who make repeated trauma-related ED visits have a predisposition to ADHD, and they may benefit from screening for this disorder while in the ED.

The Diagnostic Role of Adiponectin in Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a frequent disease with difficult diagnosis and high mortality. Misdiagnosis occurs in 2/3 patients and mortality rates reach up to 30%. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of adiponectin used in emergency service in diagnosis of PTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 95 patients with suspected PTE included in the study. Plasma adiponectin and D-dimer levels were measured and chest X-ray and multidetector row computed tomography scan obtained. Diagnosis was supported by vascular filling defect on tomography. Control group consisted of patients with suspected PTE and normal chest computed tomography findings. RESULTS: Mean D-dimer level was 4241.66 ± 1082.98 ng/mL in patients and 2211.21 ± 1765.53 ng/mL in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Mean adiponectin level was 5.46 ± 4.39 µg/mL in patients and 7.68 ± 4.67 µg/mL in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Wells and Geneva scores were higher in patients compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, we conclude that lower adiponectin levels have an important role in the diagnosis of PTE.