J Trauma
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Psychological distress is known to contribute to poor outcomes in orthopedic patients. Limited information exists concerning ethnic differences in psychological sequelae after musculoskeletal injury. This study examined ethnic variations in prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after musculoskeletal trauma. ⋯ Results indicate an ethnic difference in prevalence of PTSD symptomatology after musculoskeletal injury. Hispanic participants were nearly seven times more likely to be positive for PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, U.S. born Hispanic participants had a higher prevalence of PTSD symptomatology. Future research should explore factors contributing to these differences.
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Each year, many organ donation opportunities are missed because of the lack of familial consent. Occasionally, patients' consents for organ donation through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are posthumously overruled by their families. We assessed the number of potential opportunities for organ donation that are missed because of lack of familial consent despite previously expressed wishes for donation as registered with the state DMV. ⋯ DMV designation for organ donation increases the yield of consent for organ donation. However, despite prior DMV designations for donation, 20% of families ultimately denied consent for donation. This translated into 17 missed opportunities for potential transplant recipients during the 3-month study period.
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Comparative Study
Analysis of disaster response plans and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: lessons learned from a level I trauma center.
The purpose of this study was to compare disaster preparedness of a Level I Trauma Center with performance in an actual disaster. Previous disaster response evaluations have shown that the key to succeeding in responding to a catastrophic event is to anticipate the event, plan the response, and practice the plan. The Emergency Management Team had identified natural disaster as the hospital's highest threat. The hospital also served as the regional hospital for the Louisiana Health Resources and Service Administration Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. ⋯ Despite identifying the threat of a major hurricane, preparing a response plan, and exercising the plan, a major medical center can be overwhelmed by a catastrophic disaster like Hurricane Katrina. We offer our lessons-learned as an aid for other medical centers that are developing and exercising their plans.
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Trauma-induced coagulopathy is associated with an extremely high mortality. We have recently shown that survival can be improved by correction of coagulopathy through early, aggressive infusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). However, FFP is a perishable product, and its use is impractical in challenging environments such as a battlefield. Development of shelf-stable, easy to use, low volume, lyophilized, Freeze-Dried Plasma (FDP) can overcome the logistical limitations. We hereby report the development and testing of such a product. ⋯ Plasma can be lyophilized and freeze-dried to create a logistically superior product without compromising its hemostatic properties. This product may be suitable for use in austere environments, such as a battlefield, for the treatment of trauma-associated coagulopathy.