J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Hospital factors associated with splenectomy for splenic injury: a national perspective.
The management of patients with splenic injury has shifted from routine splenectomy to attempts at splenic salvage. Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS), we assessed the patterns of care for splenic trauma. We hypothesized that the processes of care in urban and rural hospitals would differ. ⋯ The management of patients with splenic injury differs among urban teaching, urban nonteaching, and rural hospitals. Surgeons at urban teaching hospitals appear more willing to attempt splenic salvage by means of nonoperative management.
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Comparative Study
The use of the 3-mm K-Wire to supplement reduction of humeral supracondylar fractures in children.
Most children with humeral supracondylar fractures can be treated with simple closed reduction and cross-fixation with Kirschner (K)-wires. However, in a small proportion of cases, an acceptable closed reduction cannot be obtained, and open reduction becomes necessary. An alternative to open reduction is the use of a temporary 3-mm K-wire to manipulate and reduce the distal fragment. This report introduces the method of manipulation, as well as indications, and draws comparisons with complete close reduction cases. ⋯ The closed reduction method should be used for children with humeral supracondylar fractures, whenever possible. The 3-mm K-wire manipulation method reduces the probability that open reduction will be required in some severe cases. This is a simple method without complications. The prognosis is the same as for closed reduction cases.
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Computed tomography (CT) of the head is the current standard for diagnosing intracranial pathology following blunt head trauma. It is common practice to repeat the head CT to evaluate any progression of injury. Recent retrospective reviews have challenged the need for serial head CT after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study intends to prospectively examine the value of routine serial head CT after TBI. ⋯ Serial head CT is common after TBI. Most repeat head CT scans are performed on a routine basis without neurologic change. Few patients with TBI have their management altered after repeat head CT, and these patients have neurologic deterioration before the repeat head CT. The use of routine serial head CT in patients without neurologic deterioration is not supported by the findings of this study.
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Comparative Study
Exogenous nitric oxide donor and related compounds protect against lung inflammatory response after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.
Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock triggers an inflammatory response characterized by upregulation of cytokine and adhesion molecule expression, increased leukocyte activity, and accumulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in a variety of tissues. This study investigated the capability of an exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor, sodium nitroprusside (NP); a NO substrate, L-arginine; and an inducible NO synthase inhibitor, L-N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine (L-NIL) to reduce lung injury in an animal model of mixed controlled and uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ These data suggest that limiting inducible NO synthase-generated NO availability with the exogenous NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, may reduce lung injury after severe hemorrhage, possibly, among other effects, by downregulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines. L-arginine and L-NIL also had a beneficial effect on lung function and structure.