title: Is the 'tunnel of death' a suitable modality for investigating the severely traumatized child?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The child who has suffered severe physical trauma and is physiologically unstable can often present a diagnostic dilemma to the clinician in the emergency room.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an attempt to clarify the situation there is often a decision made to perform computed tomographic scanning in such children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This is an extremely dangerous investigation in this situation given that the child has to have a GA as well as being unstable from the injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound is easier, less expensive, can be performed in the emergency room and can be performed by relatively inexperienced operators with good diagnostic accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Mater Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. athol.mackay@hcn.net.au
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D002666:Psychology, Child; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000523:psychology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology