Journal of emergencies, trauma, and shock
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J Emerg Trauma Shock · Oct 2011
Designing, managing and improving the operative and intensive care in polytrauma.
Polytrauma is a leading cause of mortality in the developing countries and efforts from various quarters are required to deal with this increasing menace. ⋯ There is an urgent need for proper implementation ofpre-hospital and advanced trauma life support measures at grass-root level. Analyzing the profile of polytrauma victims at a national level and simultaneously improving the trauma care services at every health center are very essential to decrease the mortality and morbidity. The improvement can be augmented further by strengthening the rural health infrastructure, strict traffic rules, increasing public awareness and participation and coordination among the various public and private agencies in dealing with polytrauma.
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J Emerg Trauma Shock · Oct 2011
C-clamp and pelvic packing for control of hemorrhage in patients with pelvic ring disruption.
Exsanguinating hemorrhage is the major cause of death in patients with pelvic ring disruption. ⋯ Pelvic packing in addition to the C-clamp fixation effectively controls severe hemorrhage in patients with pelvic ring disruption. Early sequential measurements of blood lactate levels can be used to estimate the severity of shock and the response to the shock treatment.
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J Emerg Trauma Shock · Oct 2011
Damage control in severely injured trauma patients - A ten-year experience.
This study reviews our 10-year institutional experience with damage control management and investigates risk factors for early mortality. ⋯ Several risk factors for early mortality such as severe head injury and the lethal triad (coagulopathy, acidosis and hypothermia) in patients undergoing damage control procedures were identified and should trigger the trauma surgeon to maintain aggressive resuscitation in the intensive care unit.
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J Emerg Trauma Shock · Oct 2011
Indications for brain computed tomography scan after minor head injury.
Minor head injury (MHI) is a common injury seen in Emergency Departments (ED). Computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain is a good method of investigation to diagnose intracranial lesions, but there is a disagreement about indications in MHI patients. We surveyed the post-traumatic symptoms, signs or past historical matters that can be used for the indication of brain CT scan. ⋯ WE SUGGESTED THAT ABNORMAL BRAIN CT SCAN RELATED TO THE TRAUMA AFTER MHI CAN BE PREDICTED BY THE PRESENCE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING RISK INDICATORS: Headache, vomiting, LOC or amnesia, and alcohol intoxication. Thus, if any patient has these indicators following MHI, he must be considered as a high-risk MHI.