J Emerg Med
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Trauma patients are exposed to potentially high levels of low-dose radiation during radiologic studies. ⋯ In this study, CED was 14.56 mSv per patient. CT scans accounted for 21% of radiologic studies and 93% of CED. There was a higher CED rate in patients with ISS > 9 and longer LOS.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent, serious disease that is under-recognized and under-treated. It results from a combination of increased pharyngeal collapsibility and impaired compensatory pharyngeal muscle dilator activity. OSA causes serious morbidity and mortality. OSA is also a public health problem in that it is an independent cause of car crashes, at great cost to society in dollars and lives. OSA is conservatively estimated to affect 2-4% of Americans; however, recent estimates are much higher. ⋯ OSA is a common disease in the United States that is under-recognized and under-treated. ED patients who do not regularly see a primary care provider or have no primary care provider are particularly at risk for undiagnosed OSA. Emergency physicians can play an important role in recognizing patients at risk for OSA, referring them for further diagnostic work-up, and offering recommendations from the ED.