J Trauma
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Postinjury multiple organ failure (MOF) remains the leading cause of morbidity and late mortality after severe trauma. Our previous work consistently identified an association between thrombocytopenia and progression to MOF. In addition, recent studies suggest that platelets play a critical role in postinjury hyperinflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that postinjury thrombocytopenia is a marker for progression to MOF. ⋯ Early postinjury thrombocytopenia is an independent risk factor for MOF, death, and other complications. Following platelet count dynamics over the first several days postinjury can help predict which high-risk patient will develop these adverse outcomes.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Does the rural trauma team development course shorten the interval from trauma patient arrival to decision to transfer?
The Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC) was developed by the ad hoc Rural Trauma Committee of the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma to address the increased mortality of the rural trauma patient. The effectiveness of the RTTDC in shortening the interval from patient arrival to decision to transfer and the effect on the transfer process of communication training emphasizing team building is the focus of this study. ⋯ The RTTDC alone and with the embedded communication module significantly reduce delays in the transfer process of the rural trauma patient.
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Multicenter Study
Defining the limits of resuscitative emergency department thoracotomy: a contemporary Western Trauma Association perspective.
Since the promulgation of emergency department (ED) thoracotomy>40 years ago, there has been an ongoing search to define when this heroic resuscitative effort is futile. In this era of health care reform, generation of accurate data is imperative for developing patient care guidelines. The purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to identify injury patterns and physiologic profiles at ED arrival that are compatible with survival. ⋯ Resuscitative thoracotomy in the ED can be considered futile care when (a) prehospital CPR exceeds 10 minutes after blunt trauma without a response, (b) prehospital CPR exceeds 15 minutes after penetrating trauma without a response, and (c) asystole is the presenting rhythm and there is no pericardial tamponade.
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Clinical Trial
Is early venous thromboembolism prophylaxis safe in trauma patients with intracranial hemorrhage.
Patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are at high risk for venous thromboembolic sequelae; however, prophylaxis is often delayed because of the perceived risk of intracranial hemorrhagic exacerbation. The goal of this study was to determine whether enoxaparin for early venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is safe for hemodynamically stable patients with TBIs. ⋯ We found no evidence that early VTE prophylaxis increases the rate of IHI progression in hemodynamically stable patients with TBIs. The natural rate of IHI progression observed is comparable with previous studies. Although not powered to detect differences in the incidence of DVT and pulmonary embolism, the data trend toward increased proportions of both VTE outcomes in the late group.
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Cervical spine (CS) clearance in obtunded blunt trauma patients (OBTPs) remains controversial. When computed tomography (CT) of the CS is negative for injury, debate continues over the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Use of MRI in OBTPs is costly, time-consuming, and potentially dangerous. Our study evaluated the safety of a protocol to discontinue the cervical collar in OBTPs based on CT scan alone. ⋯ Removal of CS precautions in OBTPs with gross movement of all extremities is safe and efficacious if CT CS is negative for injury. Supplemental MRI CS is not needed in this patient population.