J Trauma
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Comparison of volume control and pressure control ventilation: is flow waveform the difference?
To examine the hypothesis that a decelerating inspiratory flow waveform is responsible for improvements in gas exchange during pressure control ventilation for acute lung injury. ⋯ Both pressure control ventilation and volume control ventilation with a decelerating flow waveform provided better oxygenation at a lower peak inspiratory pressure and higher mean airway pressure compared to volume control ventilation with a square flow waveform. The results of our study suggest that the reported advantages of pressure control ventilation over volume control ventilation with a square flow waveform can be accomplished with volume control ventilation with a decelerating flow waveform.
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We report on a case of blunt thoracic trauma that resulted in complete disruption of the right main bronchus. Due to massive loss of respiratory volume during thoracotomy, sufficient ventilation could not be maintained via the orotracheal tube. Transthoracic intubation of the left main bronchus via the right bronchial defect was the ultima ratio procedure that allowed reanastomosis of the disrupted right main bronchus.
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The clinical features and successful management of a patient with right main bronchus disruption after blunt chest trauma are described. The presentation was one of bilateral tension pneumothoraces. A high index of suspicion, coupled with appropriate airway management at presentation, was vital for the successful treatment of this patient. Surgical resection using a sleeve lobectomy, an operation rarely used in trauma patients, was highly effective in this patient, and the technique is described in this report.
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To review the results of surgical management of heterotopic ossification about the elbow in burned patients. ⋯ Surgery for both limited range of motion as well as ulnar nerve compression is effective in cases of heterotopic ossification about the elbows of burned patients. Early operative intervention is indicated in progressive disease, particularly ulnar nerve palsy, if soft-tissue quality is adequate. Complications with 25% of elbows suggest that use of olecranon osteotomy for joint access may warrant review.
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Trauma center resource management could be facilitated by a readily available indicator of resource consumption. This marker should identify patients more likely to require transfusion and intensive care services and to develop complications. Base deficit (BD) has been shown to be a valuable indicator of shock, abdominal injury, fluid requirements, efficacy of resuscitation, and to be predictive of mortality after trauma. This study was performed to determine whether BD could be used to identify which patients were likely to require blood transfusion in the first 24 hours of hospitalization, and to develop shock-related complications and increased intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. ⋯ Admission BD identifies patients likely to require early transfusion and increased ICU and hospital stays, and be at increased risk for shock-related complications. Patients with BD < or = -6 should undergo type and cross-match rather than type and screen. The use of ISS and BD category probability curves may identify candidates for early invasive monitoring.