The journal of trauma and acute care surgery
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyUtility of a point-of-care device for rapid determination of prothrombin time in trauma patients: a preliminary study.
Rapid and accurate determination of prothrombin time in trauma patients may help to faster control of bleeding induced coagulopathy. The goal of this prospective observational study was to investigate the accuracy of bedside measurements of prothrombin time by the mean of a point-of-care device (INRatio) in trauma patients. ⋯ INRatio may be a useful device in the management of trauma patients with ongoing or suspected coagulopathy that may help to save at least 60 minutes in the process of obtaining a prothrombin time result. It may allow earlier detection of coagulopathy and, together with vital sign and hemoglobin, may help to guide fresh frozen plasma transfusion.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2012
Comparative StudyBarriers to compliance with evidence-based care in trauma.
We have preciously demonstrated that trauma patients receive less than two-thirds of the care recommended by evidence-based medicine. The purpose of this study was to identify patients least likely to receive optimal care. ⋯ II.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBacteria on external fixators: which prep is best?
There are no established guidelines for the surgical prep of an external fixator in the operative field. This study investigates the effectiveness of different prep solutions and methods of application. ⋯ Although there was no increase in bacteria counts after the simulated external fixator adjustment, it did expose additional bacteria previously unseen. Although there was no difference in surgical prep solution or method of application, consideration must be given to performing an additional surgical prep of the newly exposed surface after loosening of each individual external fixator component as this may further minimize potential bacteria exposure.
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J Trauma Acute Care Surg · Mar 2012
Comparative StudySafety of prehospital intravenous fentanyl for adult trauma patients.
Little is known about the safety of intravenous fentanyl for adult trauma patients in the prehospital setting. Our objective was to study the hemodynamic effect of prehospital intravenous fentanyl in initially normotensive adult trauma patients. ⋯ III.