Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011

Mentor:                       Anne C. Fischer, MD, PhD 
Department:               Pediatric Surgery
Room number:           CMC B3250
Mail Code:                 B3250
Phone number:          214-456-2528
E-mail:                        Anne.Fischer@childrens.com        
Project title:                The Radiation Footprint on a Pediatric Trauma patient

Human subjects IRB approved project number:    092010-206

Project Type patient-based research,

Brief Description of Project:
There is increasing data that the amount of radiation used in medical workups is over utilized and directly correlates with a risk of cancer per even one CT.  The FDA has now gotten involved to regulate certain studies and there is an abundance of data that children are more seriously impacted by such an exposure at a young age in development. In order to provide optimal care with a minimum amount of exposure and a study such as this will raise the awareness of the providers ordering the diagnostic imaging.  It may raise a controversial trend in trauma to rule out injuries in order to discharge and thus the convenience and cost of studies is prioritized as opposed to the patient’s long term health. Trauma studies should be aimed at identifying injuries which are symptomatic or can be treated by an intervention as opposed to just identifying injuries. 

The student will work with the research team amassing data thru record review, using  ICD9 codes associated with trauma injuries and acute appendicitis as a standard comparable.  Requested information will include the following admission data: date of injury, age, weight, gender, race, insurance, outside hospital imaging and imaging at Dallas CMC.  The factors assessed are mechanism, level of activation, ISS score, hemodynamic status, neurological status (intubated versus GCS), indication or rationale for imaging, number of films, type of imaging, dose of imaging, and need for intervention based on imaging.  Then we will follow disposition, admission to ICU versus floor, LOS, Operative versus IR intervention, and hospital cost for admission and imaging. The student will learn to develop a database, correlate relevant clinical outcomes to a hypothesis, and develop a familiarity with electronic medical records and radiology.  

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Brookfield, K.F., Cheung M.C., Koniaris L., Sola J., and Fischer A.C.  A Population-Based Analysis of 1,037 Malignant Ovarian Tumors in the Pediatric Population, Journal of Surgical Research, 2009 J Surg Res. 2009 Sep;156(1):45-9.
Vasudevan V, Cheung M.C., Yang R., Zhuge Y., Fischer A.C., Koniaris L.G., Sola J.E. Pediatric Solid Tumors and Second Malignancies: Characteristics and Survival Outcomes,  Journal of Surgical Research, 2009, Jun 21.