Injury
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The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) recently updated recommendations for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The effect of ICP monitoring on outcomes is controversial, and compliance with BTF guidelines is variable. The purpose of this study was to assess both compliance and outcomes at level I trauma centers. ⋯ Compliance with BTF guidelines for ICP monitoring is low, even at level I trauma centers. In this study, ICP monitoring was associated with poor outcomes, and was found to be an independent risk factor for mortality. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal role of ICP monitoring in the management of severe TBI.
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The incidence of Blunt Carotid Artery and Vertebral Artery Injury (BCVI) is relatively low in modern trauma practice. However, these injuries may be associated with severe neurological consequences. Following the introduction of a Diagnostic Imaging Pathway in Department of Health of Western Australia, we hypothesized that this injury would be less likely to be missed, and accordingly diagnosed more frequently. ⋯ Our study reports a significant increase in the diagnosis of BCVI among major traumas after the introduction of a Diagnostic Imaging Pathway for the screening of this injury in 2007. The previously low incidence of BCVI compared with other centres' reports indicated possible previous under-screening and diagnosis of this injury.
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Trauma systems currently rely on imperfect and subjective tools to prioritize responses and resources, thus there is a critical need to develop a more accurate trauma severity score. Our objective was to modify the Rapid Emergency Medicine (REMS) Score for the trauma population and test its accuracy as a predictor of in-hospital mortality when compared to other currently used scores, including the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), the Injury Severity Score (ISS), the "Mechanism, Glasgow Coma Scale, Age and Arterial Pressure" (MGAP) score, and the Shock Index (SI) score. ⋯ In the trauma population, mREMS is an accurate predictor of in-hospital mortality, outperforming other used scores. Simple and objective, mREMS may hold value in the pre-hospital and emergency department setting in order to guide trauma team responses.
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Trauma quality improvement (QI) programs have been shown to improve outcomes and decrease cost. These are high priorities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 2,000,000 deaths due to survivable injuries occur each year. We sought to define areas for improvement in trauma QI programs in four LMICs. ⋯ M&M conferences are frequently practiced in the Andean region of Latin America but often lack methodologic rigor and thus effectiveness. Next steps in the maturation of QI programs include optimizing use of data from autopsies and registries, and systematic follow-up of M&M conferences with corrective action to ensure that these activities result in appreciable changes in clinical care.
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Review
Management of war-related vascular wounds in French role 3 hospital during the Afghan campaign.
To describe the management of war-related vascular injuries in the Kabul French military hospital. ⋯ This was the first French reported series of war-related vascular injuries during the last decade's major conflicts. The majority of injuries occurred in the limbs. Autologous vein graft remains the treatment of choice for arterial repair. Functional severity of these injuries justifies specific training for military surgeons.