LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAYS DISTORT ANATOMY

Laryngeal mask airways displace sternocleidomastoid and the common carotid artery, making the carotid pulse more difficult to palpate. That is the message from a paper in

) . Ultrasonography was used to compare the relative overlap of the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein before and after laryngeal mask airway placement. Laryngeal mask insertion increased overlap in all cases and in some, complete overlap resulted. Here is another reason to support ultrasound guidance for central venous catheter insertion.

DO HIP PROTECTORS PROTECT?

Padding worn around the hip in an attempt to prevent hip fracture seems a neat idea. Early reports of the use of hip protectors in the elderly to prevent femoral neck fractures following a fall were quite encouraging. However, a systematic review published in the

) examines the available evidence and questions their effectiveness.

DISTRACTING INJURY IN CERVICAL SPINE ASSESSMENT

Identifying potential cervical spine injury and the need for neck radiography is a key concern for the resuscitating team managing patients with multiple injuries. Researchers from North Carolina investigate the extent to which it is possible to clinically exclude significant …