J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Impact of culture and policy on organ donation: a comparison between two urban trauma centers in developed nations.
The similarities and differences in organ donation policies, consent rates, and number of organs transplanted from patients declared "brain dead" after traumatic injury in different countries has not been previously reported. ⋯ "Presumed" organ donation in Austria led to 4 organs transplanted per trauma brain-death at the LBH, as compared with 3.8 organs per brain-death at the STC. The greater number of patients with severe TBI at the STC accounts for a similar organ donation rate compared with the LBH, despite the fact that the consent at the STC is voluntary and at the LBH is "presumed." A higher organ donation rate in the United States would result in a greater number of organ transplants from patients who die after traumatic injury and a resultant increase in potential lives saved. There does not appear to be a significant difference in ethnicity between families who accept and those who refuse organ donation after traumatic brain death declaration at the STC.
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Primary abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a known complication of damage control. Recently secondary ACS has been reported in patients without abdominal injury who require aggressive resuscitation. The purpose of this study was to compare the epidemiology of primary and secondary ACS and develop early prediction models in a high-risk cohort who were treated in a similar fashion. ⋯ Primary and secondary ACS have similar demographics, injury severity, time to decompression from hospital admit, and bad outcome. 2 degrees ACS is an earlier ICU event preceded by more crystalloid administration. With appropriate monitoring both could be accurately predicted upon ICU admission.
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Fluid resuscitation of injured combatants in a tactical setting has special challenges which standard civilian protocols do not address. Over a period of a year, four conferences on combat fluid resuscitation were held. The purpose of these conferences was to develop a consensus regarding contemporary practice and to identify and energize a research agenda. ⋯ Food and Drug Administration regulations). A specific research agenda was defined. Since that time, these recommendations have been implemented in many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces and a variety of other activities have served to provide expert support and research focus for the special needs of injured combatants.
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Severe musculoskeletal soft tissue injury sustained after a closed fracture to the extremities significantly influences bone healing and determines the patient's prognosis. The present study was aimed at quantitatively assessing immediate microcirculatory changes in skeletal muscle and periosteum after standardized closed fracture. ⋯ This model permits for the first time direct in vivo visualization and quantification of fracture-induced microhemodynamic changes and cellular interactions within the surrounding soft tissue. It demonstrates that even simple fractures lead to profound microcirculatory disturbances in skeletal muscle and periosteum, and also at sites remote from the diaphyseal fracture site. It provides a useful approach for the development of therapeutic strategies to counteract fracture-induced microvascular dysfunction.