Diagnostic Accuracy of Emergency Physician-Performed Ultrasound for Acute Appendicitis in a Remote Location.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative imaging for suspected acute appendicitis (AA), such as ultrasonography (US), was shown to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Criteria for diagnosis of AA by US are well established and reliable. In previous studies, US assessments were always performed by skilled radiologist physicians. However, a radiologist and computed tomography scanning equipment are not always available in the community hospitals or remote sites of developing countries. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess a diagnostic pathway using clinical evaluation, routine US performed by an emergency physician, and clinical re-evaluation for patients suspected of having AA. METHODS: Patients suspected of having AA admitted to the emergency department in a developing country were prospectively enrolled between November 2010 and January 2011. Clinical and US data were studied. A noncompressible appendix with a diameter ≥6 mm was the main US diagnosis criterion. RESULTS: Among the 104 included patients, surgery was performed on 28. Of the 25 patients with positive US, 22 actually had AA, matching the surgical report. The remaining 76 patients without US appendicitis criteria underwent clinical follow-up and had medical conditions. Sensitivity of US was 88%, specificity was 96%, positive predictive value was 88%, and negative predictive value was 96%. The likelihood ratios for our US assessment highlight the need for a test with enhanced diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnostic strategy using clinical evaluations, routine US performed by emergency physicians, and clinical re-evaluation of patients with acute abdominal pain is appropriate to provide positive results for the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis in remote locations.

Treatment of a ballistic wound of the common carotid artery revealed by a spontaneous carotid-jugular fistula.

The case reported is of a 30-year-old patient with a left internal carotid-jugular fistula secondary to the explosion of an improvised explosive device during the Afghan war. Carotid resection with arterial bypass using a venous allograft and internal jugular ligation were performed by left cervicotomy associated with sternotomy at a specialized center. The management of cervical arteriovenous fistulas that occur as a result of penetrating trauma faced during the war must be considered and it should be noted that, on battlefields, treatment is not always performed in specialized units.

Severe Vertex Epidural Hematoma in a Child: A Case Report of a Management without Expert Neurosurgical Care.

Vertex epidural hematomas (VEDHs) are an uncommon situation and difficulties may be encountered in their diagnosis and management. This is more complicated when the surgical management has to be performed by general surgeons, not specialized in neurosurgery, in a remote location. It was in this context that we were brought to care in charge a 2-year-old boy who required a neurosurgical emergency rescue for a severe VEDH in Djibouti. Through the description of this case, we want to emphasize the value of developing a network of teleconsultation for the benefit of remote and isolated locations and learning basic techniques of emergency neurosurgery.