J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Incidence of adverse events during prehospital rapid sequence intubation: a review of one year on the London Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
To establish the incidence of hypoxemia and hypotension during prehospital rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in trauma patients attended by the London Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and to compare it with historical control data from published studies of both hospital and prehospital RSI. ⋯ Rates of hypoxemia and hypotension during prehospital RSI performed by London HEMS are relatively low. They are less than that found in previous studies of prehospital RSI and are similar to those reported in studies of in-hospital emergency RSI undertaken in the emergency department or ward setting. We therefore conclude that prehospital RSI has an acceptably low complication rate when performed by appropriately trained personnel.
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Historically, military surgical doctrine has mandated exploratory laparotomy for all penetrating fragmentation wounds. We hypothesized that stable patients with abdominal fragmentation injuries whose computerized tomography (CT) scans for intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal penetration disclosed nothing abnormal, can be safely observed without therapeutic laparotomy. ⋯ PE alone was unreliable in stable patients with abdominal fragmentation injuries. The clinical value of ultrasound results was limited, likely because the majority of these stable patients did not have injuries associated with the large accumulation of peritoneal fluid. CT scan safely and effectively analyzed nonoperative management of penetrating abdominal fragmentation injuries and should be the diagnostic study of choice in all stable patients without peritonitis with abdominal, flank, back, or pelvic combat fragmentation wounds.
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The expression of the beta chemokine RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed, and secreted) has previously been shown to be elevated after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in animal models, but it was unknown whether the plasma level of RANTES was predictive of TBI in critically injured trauma patients. ⋯ RANTES was a significant early marker of severe TBI in critically injured trauma patients, consistent with animal models. Future research on the role of RANTES in the pathogenesis of human TBI is warranted.
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US military burn casualties are evacuated to the US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center in San Antonio, TX. Patients are transported by US Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flight Teams, Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams, or routine aeromedical evacuation. This study characterizes the military burn casualties transported by each team and reports associated outcomes. ⋯ Burn casualties represent a group of patients with severe traumatic injuries. Our current system of selectively using specialty medical transport teams for the long-range transport of burn casualties is safe and effective.
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Previously we showed that tourniquets were lifesaving devices in the current war. Few studies, however, describe their actual morbidity in combat casualties. The purpose of this study was to measure tourniquet use and complications. ⋯ Morbidity risk was low, and there was a positive risk benefit ratio in light of the survival benefit. No limbs were lost because of tourniquet use, and tourniquet duration was not associated with increased morbidity. Education for early military tourniquet use should continue.