J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Safety of performing a delayed anastomosis during damage control laparotomy in patients with destructive colon injuries.
Recent studies report the safety and feasibility of performing delayed anastomosis (DA) in patients undergoing damage control laparotomy (DCL) for destructive colon injuries (DCIs). Despite accumulating experience in both civilian and military trauma, questions regarding how to best identify high-risk patients and minimize the number of anastomosis-associated complications remain. Our current practice is to perform a definitive closure of the colon during DCL, unless there is persistent acidosis, bowel wall edema, or evidence of intra-abdominal abscess. In this study, we evaluated the safety of this approach by comparing outcomes of patients with DCI who underwent definitive closure of the colon during DCL versus patients managed with colostomy with or without DCL. ⋯ Performing a DA in DCI during DCL is a reliable and feasible approach as long as severe acidosis, bowel wall edema, and/or persistent intra-abdominal infections are not present.
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Comparative Study
Intubation patterns and outcomes in patients with computed tomography-verified traumatic brain injury.
Studies evaluating traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients have shown an association between prehospital (PH) intubation and worse outcomes. However, previous studies have used surrogates, e.g., Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤8 and Abbreviated Injury Severity Scale (AIS) score ≥3, which may overestimate the true presence of TBI. This study evaluated the impact of PH intubation in patients with PH GCS score ≤8 and radiographically proven TBI. ⋯ Patients with PH GCS score ≤8 and proven TBI had a high overall rate of intubation (>90%). PH intubation seems to be a marker for more severe injury and conveyed no increased risk for mortality over ED intubation.
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To evaluate the operative method and clinical outcome for the treatment of posttraumatic equinus deformity and concomitant soft tissue defect of the heel. ⋯ This study showed that posttraumatic equinus deformity accompanied by soft tissue defect of the heel can be treated effectively with Achilles tendon lengthening, reversed sural fasciocutaneous island flap transfer, and a hinged Ilizarov technique.
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Comparative Study
Blunt pulmonary contusion: admission computed tomography scan predicts mechanical ventilation.
Blunt pulmonary contusion (BPC) evolves over 12 to 24 hours, and the initial plain radiographs fail to reliably identify patients at risk of clinical deterioration. Admission computed tomography (CT) may offer accurate characterization of BPC and early prediction of the need for mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ A simple score derived by the initial chest CT, in combination with GCS and the number of fractured ribs, can predict the need for MV early. In the presence of these predictors, patients should be admitted to a high level of monitoring.
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Evidence suggests that there may be an association between transfer status (direct admission or interhospital transfer) and outcomes in trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the current evidence of the association between transfer status and outcomes for patients. ⋯ Available evidence suggests there is no difference in mortality between transfer and direct admissions. However, the significant heterogeneity across studies precludes deriving any definitive conclusions regarding the impact of interhospital transfer on mortality after major trauma. Moreover, most studies excluded patients dying at outlying hospitals, which may underestimate the association of transfer status with mortality. Prospective studies that address the limitations of the current evidence, including use of population-based trauma registries, are warranted to establish whether the process of interhospital transfer to higher level care when compared with direct admission to a trauma center negatively impacts clinical outcomes for trauma patients.