J Trauma
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Efficacy of circulation depends on interactions between the heart and the vascular system. Ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) has been described as an important determinant of cardiovascular function during resuscitation from shock. However, no prospective studies examining VAC and systemic perfusion have been performed. VAC is measured by the ratio of afterload (aortic input impedance [E ]) to contractility (end-systolic elastance [E ]). Lowering E /E is associated with better VAC and improved myocardial work efficiency. Our hypothesis was that optimizing VAC during resuscitation results in improved myocardial work efficiency while simultaneously improving systemic perfusion. ⋯ Improved ventricular-arterial coupling during resuscitation is associated with improved myocardial efficiency and systemic tissue perfusion. Perfusion can be improved at lower energy cost to the heart by focusing on thermodynamic principles during resuscitation.
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Comparative Study
Systemic hypothermia, but not regional gut hypothermia, improves survival from prolonged hemorrhagic shock in rats.
Extracorporeal blood perfusion of the gut or enterectomy can improve survival during hemorrhagic shock (HS), suggesting that the gut may be of primary importance in resuscitation. We hypothesized that cooling the gut alone could improve survival in a rat HS model and avoid potential deleterious effects of systemic hypothermia. ⋯ Cooling the gut alone does not improve acute survival from HS, suggesting that early deaths are not secondary to gut ischemia. Mild systemic hypothermia allowed 100% survival from prolonged HS.
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Deer hunting is a popular activity in much of the United States. In West Virginia, over 350,000 people each year actively hunt deer. Although injuries and deaths caused by shooting-related incidents have declined, hunting injuries caused by falls from deer stands have not. We present a retrospective study from January 1994 through December 1999 to determine the number of and trauma resulting from deer stand-related incidents in West Virginia. ⋯ Injuries from deer stand falls are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this state. This is the largest series of hunting-related deer stand injuries reported in the current literature. Other states have successfully implemented prevention programs that have resulted in a reduction of these types of injuries. Our data emphasize the need to establish and promote preventative education programs for hunters using tree stands.
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We have evaluated our recent experience as a Level I trauma center to test the hypothesis that preinjury anticoagulation adversely affects the morbidity and mortality of trauma patients with an intracranial injury. ⋯ These data indicate that the trauma patient with preinjury anticoagulation such as warfarin or even aspirin who has an intracranial injury has a four- to fivefold higher risk of death than the nonanticoagulated patient. The efficacy of reversing the anticoagulant effect at the time of hospital admission remains to be evaluated.
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Little controversy surrounds the treatment of hemodynamically unstable patients with transmediastinal gunshot wounds (TMGSWs). These patients generally have cardiac or major vascular injuries and require immediate operation. In hemodynamically stable patients, debate surrounds the extent and order of the diagnostic evaluation. These patients can be uninjured, or can have occult vascular, esophageal, or tracheobronchial injuries. Evaluation has traditionally often included angiography, bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, esophagography, and pericardial evaluation (i.e., pericardial window) for all hemodynamically stable patients with TMGSWs. Expansion of the use of computed tomographic (CT) scanning in penetrating injury led to a modification of our protocol. Currently, our TMGSW evaluation algorithm for stable patients consists of chest radiograph, focused abdominal sonography for trauma, and contrast-enhanced helical CT scan of the chest with directed further evaluation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of contrast-enhanced helical CT scan for evaluating potential mediastinal injuries and to determine whether patients can be simply observed or require further investigational studies. ⋯ Contrast-enhanced helical CT scanning is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for evaluating hemodynamically stable patients with mediastinal gunshot wounds. Positive CT scan results direct the further evaluation of potentially injured structures. Patients with negative results can safely be observed in a monitored setting without further evaluation.