Ulus Travma Acil Cer
-
Ulus Travma Acil Cer · Mar 2017
Importance of diagnostic laparoscopy in the assessment of the diaphragm after left thoracoabdominal stab wound: A prospective cohort study.
Stab wounds in the left thoracoabdominal region may cause diaphragmatic injury. The aim of the present study was to determine incidence of diaphragmatic injury and role of diagnostic laparoscopy in detection of injury in patients with left thoracoabdominal stab wound. ⋯ It is important to evaluate the diaphragm in left thoracoabdominal stab injuries, and diagnostic laparoscopy is still the safest and most feasible method.
-
Ulus Travma Acil Cer · Mar 2017
Variations in otological presentation of lightning strike victims: Clinical report of 3 patients.
Lightning strike can cause fatal or nonfatal injuries. Some nonfatal injuries are associated with otological symptoms and findings. Conductive hearing loss due to rupture of the tympanic membrane is the most common audiovestibular lesion of lightning strike. ⋯ First patient had mid-frequency hearing loss in right ear and high frequency sensorineural hearing loss in left ear. Second patient had high frequency sensorineural hearing loss in left ear, and the third had peripheral facial palsy with perilymphatic fistula on same side. This is the first documented case of mid-frequency hearing loss occurring after lightning strike.
-
Ulus Travma Acil Cer · Mar 2017
Can we make an early 'do not resuscitate' decision in severe burn patients?
The present study was conducted to examine topic of issuing early do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order at first diagnosis of patients with severe burn injuries in light of current law in Turkey and the medical literature. DNR requires withholding cardiopulmonary resuscitation in event of respiratory or cardiac arrest and allowing natural death to occur. It is frequently enacted for terminal cancer patients and elderly patients with irreversible neurological disorders. ⋯ At present in Turkey, it is not possible to give DNR order for patient with severe burns that are incompatible with survival due to legal interdiction. This subject should be discussed at high-level meetings with participation of doctors, legal experts, economists, and theologians.
-
Clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis is based primarily on symptoms and physical findings. However, diagnosis of appendicitis is not always straightforward. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the diagnostic effectiveness of ultrasonography (US) in these cases in combination with white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. ⋯ WBC count and CRP level were higher in patients with acute appendicitis, but these findings alone were insufficient for definitive diagnosis. US findings were effectual both in diagnosis and demonstration of severe inflammation. US should be combined with laboratory tests and used as standard initial imaging in diagnostic pathway of patients with clinically suspected appendicitis. The authors of this study believe that this diagnostic pathway will reduce negative appendectomy rate.
-
Ulus Travma Acil Cer · Mar 2017
Correlation between Ranson score and red cell distribution width in acute pancreatitis.
Ranson's criteria are widely used to evaluate severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been demonstrated to be useful marker to predict mortality in these patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlation between Ranson score and RDW in patients with AP. ⋯ Although there is no single, ideal method to assess severity of AP, RDW level at admission can be helpful in earlier prediction of AP severity, especially in first-line centers, taking into consideration disadvantages of multifactorial scoring systems.