J Trauma
-
Hypertonic saline treatment of hemorrhagic shock (HS) results in increased systemic blood pressure, cardiac output, and splanchnic blood flow. To determine whether this elevation in blood pressure and flow would augment blood loss from injured intra-abdominal vessels and thus enhance mortality rate, "controlled" HS was induced by bleeding of 20 ml/kg from an arterial cannula that was immediately occluded after hemorrhage, and "uncontrolled" HS was induced by incision of three major radicals of the ileocolic artery leading to continuous intra-abdominal blood loss. Seventy rats were divided into eight groups: Group I (n = 5) underwent carotid artery and jugular vein cannulation and was observed for 3 hr; in Group II (n = 10) "controlled" HS was induced by arterial hemorrhage of 20 ml/kg; in Group III (n = 7) "controlled" HS was treated by 5 ml/kg NaCl 0.9%; in Group IV (n = 8) "controlled" HS was treated by 5 ml/kg NaCl 7.5%; in Group V (n = 4) midline laparotomy and identification of the ileocolic artery was performed; in Group VI (n = 9) "uncontrolled" HS was induced by incision of three major branches of the ileocolic artery; in Group VII (n = 9) "uncontrolled" HS was treated by 5 ml/kg NaCl 0.9%, and in Group VIII (n = 18) "uncontrolled" HS was treated by 5 ml/kg NaCl 7.5%. In untreated "controlled" HS (Group II), mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell to 35 torr followed by a spontaneous rise to 62 torr (p less than 0.001) after 3 hr with a survival of 80% of the animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
-
Case Reports
Dum-dums, hollow-points, and devastators: techniques designed to increase wounding potential of bullets.
When considering the kinetic energy formula (KE = 1/2 MV2) to estimate wounding potential of bullets, bullet velocity has assumed the premier role as the determinant of wounding capability. Particular characteristics of the bullet such as mass have assumed positions of secondary importance or have been largely ignored. ⋯ Dum-dum bullets, hollow-points, shot shells, and explosive bullets have been designed so as to cause delivery of greater kinetic energy to the victim. Surgeons managing gunshot wounds must be familiar with these types of bullets in order to properly care for the victims and to ensure their own safety during the process.
-
The size and depth of burn and patient age are useful early prognostic indicators in burned patients, but have limited value in predicting which patients in a given cohort are likely to die. The objective of this study was to identify additional variables in the first 10 days of burn injury which could better predict patient outcome. Variables consisting of demographic information, routine laboratory data, and clinical observations on 89 burned patients (63 survivors and 26 nonsurvivors) were analyzed. ⋯ The regression analyses revealed that, as previously demonstrated, patient age and burn size were significant predictors of mortality on admission and throughout the first 10 days postburn. In addition, absolute monocyte count (AMC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), maximum daily temperature (Tmax), and BUN were also significant predictors (p less than 0.05). These data indicate that logistic regression models can identify simple prognostic variables in burned patients which may improve clinicians' ability to identify high-risk patients early in the course of their burn injuries.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Ketoconazole prevents acute respiratory failure in critically ill surgical patients.
Effective prophylaxis against acute respiratory failure (ARDS) has not been established. This study investigated whether or not ketoconazole could prevent ARDS in critically ill surgical patients. Seventy-one Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) patients without liver dysfunction received either ketoconazole (n = 35), 200 mg daily via the gastrointestinal tract, or placebo (n = 36), for 21 days or until discharge from the SICU, in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. ⋯ The incidence of ARDS was decreased among ketoconazole patients compared to placebo (6% vs. 31%; p less than 0.01), as was median SICU stay (7.0 days vs. 15.5 days; p less than 0.05), and median SICU cost (+5,600. vs. +12,400.; p less than 0.05). Mortality is increased with ARDS after trauma and surgery. We conclude that ketoconazole prevents ARDS, shortens SICU stay, and lowers hospital costs.
-
There is continuing controversy over the use of Advanced Life Support (ALS) in the treatment of multisystem injury. In this study, performed to define the role of ALS in the management of motor vehicle accidents (MVA), 538 ambulance run reports (ARR) and hospital records of patients involved in MVA in South Carolina for 1983 were examined. Of these, 248 were reviewed in depth by a trauma review committee (TRC). ⋯ Thirty-two per cent of ALS patients demonstrated an increased blood pressure en route compared to 12% of BLS patients. The TRC felt prehospital care was beneficial in 85% of cases, while 11.7% had inappropriate or inadequate care. Resuscitation and ALS in MVA appears to be beneficial in the treatment of multisystem trauma in a rural state.