J Trauma
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Maintenance of an airway in the air medically transported patient is of paramount importance. The purpose of this study is to compare preflight versus en route rapid sequence intubation (RSI)-assisted intubations and to determine the value of air medical use of RSI. ⋯ Air medical intubations, both preflight and en route, for both scene calls and interhospital transports, can be done with a very high success rate. Rapid sequence intubation may improve the success rate. For scene calls, there was a significant decrease in ground time, and there was a trend toward fewer multiple intubation attempts when the patient was intubated en route instead of preflight.
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Comparative Study
Treatment of clavicular aseptic nonunion: comparison of plating and intramedullary nailing techniques.
The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate and compare the effects of plating and intramedullary nailing in the treatment of clavicular aseptic nonunion. ⋯ Intramedullary nailing may have a higher union rate with a lower complication rate than plating (p > 0.05). At least in common situations, it is not inferior to plating. Whenever possible, therefore, intramedullary nailing should be used preferentially to treat clavicular aseptic nonunion without previous operative treatment. Nevertheless, both techniques have relatively higher nonunion rates in the treatment of clavicular nonunion than in the treatment of other long-bone nonunions. Gentle handling of surrounding soft tissues to reduce bony fragments should be strictly executed.
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Hypothermia is considered harmful in trauma patients. In surgery, hypothermia is occasionally used to reduce metabolism and protect the brain. Recent studies in animals have also shown protective effects of hypothermia in hemorrhagic shock. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic and endocrine effects of induced hypothermia in hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ In porcine hemorrhagic shock, induced hypothermia increases arterial oxygen tension and stabilizes serum levels of potassium and catecholamines.
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Changes in the management of torso gunshot wounds (TGSWs) have evolved in recent years as a result of differences between military and civilian injuries and increasing interest in avoiding nontherapeutic invasive procedures. The objective of this study was to establish the utility and accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of selected patients with TGSWs. ⋯ CT of selected TGSW patients is safe and may reduce the incidence of invasive diagnostic procedures. A prospective evaluation of CT for TGSW patients is warranted.
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To study the viability, reliability, and validity of the Spanish version of the Burn-Specific Health Scale. ⋯ The Spanish version of the Burn-Specific Health Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for use in the Spanish population, and its results are perfectly comparable with those obtained in the original English version.