Search

The genesis of this project is a direct result of the fact that there is no substantive textbook that addresses the full-spectrum of surgical emergencies. Even in a?eld in which there is a plethora of excellent textbooks on a variety of surgical topics (including trauma), there is no one reference book with a dedicated emphasis on both traumatic and nontraumatic conditions potentially necessitating surgical int- vention in the acute setting.This project became even more unique when its st- wise development paralleled the evolution of a new specialty–acute care surgery. This was far from a serendipitous link.On the contrary,my editorial colleagues and I, along with many of the contributors, have recently been part of a major effort to build the foundation for this new specialty.As with any proposed new specialty, there have been a few rough interfaces with some of the other surgical specialties regarding the scope of practice of the acute care surgeon. Fortunately, the key to this con?ict resolution will revolve around what is best for the patient. However, irrespective of these dynamics,there is a worsening crisis in acute care in this nation.

Why write a book on emergency radiology? In many coun- decline. There is an increasing trend towards the use of tries, hospital emergency departments have become a MDCT to evaluate traumatic injuries and non-traumatic major part of the healthcare safety net. In the last decade emergencies. The use of workstations for reporting and for economically-driven structural changes in health care further image reconstruction becomes standard practice. delivery have caused a dramatic increase in emergency On the occasion of the European Congress of Radiology department visits. In response to capacity and staffing (ECR) 2003 and 2004 a Categorical Course on “Emergency pressures, hospitals are developing and implementing a Radiology”has been organized to assess current devel- variety of strategies designed to improve patient flow and ments and concepts in this rapidly growing field. reduce overcrowding in the emergency department. Numerous radiologists,all outstanding and international- Several factors are considered critical for success, such as ly renowned experts in their field,have made superb c- having the right multidisciplinary teams in place and opti- tributions in an ECR syllabus. These authors have now mizing the use of imaging tests. For a critical care physi- made a second effort and updated their contributions for cian it is paramount to obtain the images quickly and for this book. The chapters in the book mirror the topics p- them to be interpreted accurately. sented in the ECR course, encompassing imaging ap- To accomplish this, the emergency radiology division proaches as well as interventional aspects.