European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
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Gunshot injuries of the posterior fossa are rare and may follow a fatal course. In posterior fossa gunshot injuries, cerebellar hematoma, contusion, obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation by the shrapnel, and intracranial hypertension caused by autoregulation loss lead to mortality in the early stage. ⋯ Due to the small volume of the posterior fossa, acute pathologies may lead to rapid neurological deterioration and death. Early surgical intervention and close postoperative follow-up after penetrating shrapnel injuries of the posterior fossa play a significant role in reducing mortality and morbidity.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
Role 2 military hospitals: results of a new trauma care concept on 170 casualties.
In recent military conflicts, military surgeons encounter more high-energy injuries associated with explosives. Advances in the field care and shorter evacuation time increased survival. However, casualties still incur severe injuries especially to the extremities. We present wound patterns, anatomical distribution and severity of injuries in a Role 2 hospital. ⋯ Casualty care should be assessed within the context of the capabilities present at a hospital and the cause, type and severity of the wounds. The NATO description of Role 2 care only requires an integrated surgical team for damage control surgery with limited diagnostic and infrastructural capabilities.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
Review Historical ArticleContemporary wars and their contributions to vascular injury management.
Man's inhumanity for man still knows no boundaries, as we continue as a species as a whole to engage in war. According to Kohn's Dictionary of Wars [1], of over 3,700 years of recorded history, there have been a total of 3,010 wars. One is hard pressed to actually find a period of time in which here has not been an active conflict in the globe. The world has experienced two world wars: WWI (1914-1918) and WWII (1939-1945). The total number of military casualties in WWI was over 37 million, while WWII so far, has been the deadliest military conflict in history with over 60 million people killed accounting for slightly over 2.5% of the world's population. ⋯ Contemporary wars of the XX-XXI centuries gave birth, defined and advanced the field of vascular injury management.