upstate hand shake

“One finger in the throat and one in the rectum......"

When a neurological oriented member of a trauma 1 team checks gag reflex and performs a digital rectal examination simultaneously. This is usually performed on trauma patients to determine extent of abdominal, pelvic, and neurological injuries. New evidence shows the procedure is unnecessary but it's still performed and some have become fond of it's diagnostic powers.

"Espsoito et al (2005) found that none of 512 patients would have had a significant injury missed had the DRE been omitted." (Life In The Fast Lane)."Adding insult to injury?"

I just tried the ole Upstate Hand shake on the patient in room 2. Nurse, we're gonna need some restraints and sedation because they're fighting us for some reason!