J Trauma
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Antipersonnel landmine protective footwear relies on blast deflection or on exaggerated standoff between the foot and the explosive. Neither design has been tested for clinical effectiveness. ⋯ Development of protective footwear against landmine blast is feasible. From medium mines up to charges of 100 g TNT limb salvage may be possible.
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Although the traditional role of radiology in trauma care has been diagnostic, therapeutic interventional radiology (IR) techniques have now become essential in the management of many injuries. We hypothesized that IR has evolved at our institution over the last decade from a largely diagnostic to a more therapeutic role in the care of the injured patient. ⋯ Axial imaging studies are being used more frequently to screen trauma patients for injury. Concurrently, diagnostic APs are less frequently performed but are more frequently positive. In addition, IR studies are increasingly focused on therapeutic intervention. IR program development and support is an integral aspect of modern trauma care. These findings have prompted our institution to equip the IR suite to function as an active resuscitation area similar to the trauma bay and intensive care unit.
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This study aimed to determine quality of life after injury and identify factors potentially associated with outcome. ⋯ Adequate information, sufficient pain management and follow-up by trauma specialist teams are needed. Certain factors can help identify patients in need of additional help and support.
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Recent work has suggested that women are more at risk of impaired outcome after traumatic injuries. This would suggest that resources should be targeted at female trauma patients to optimize their outcomes. We wished to explore the physical and psychological outcomes of women treated in our trauma unit. ⋯ From our study, women do not appear to have impaired recovery after trauma as compared with men. Larger scale studies are required to assess the need to target specific resources toward the treatment of female trauma victims.
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Airway pressure-release ventilation (APRV) is a pressure-limited, time-cycled mode of mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our initial experience with the use of APRV in acutely injured, ventilated patients. ⋯ APRV significantly improved oxygenation by alveolar recruitment and allowed for a reduction in peak airway pressures. This relatively new modality had favorable results and appears to be an effective alternative for lung recruitment in traumatically injured patients at risk for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.