Articles: trauma.
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Ulus Travma Acil Cer · Mar 2014
Case ReportsCatastrophic necrotizing fasciitis after blunt abdominal trauma with delayed recognition of the coecal rupture - case report.
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare bacterial infection with dramatic course, characterized by widespread necrosis of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and superficial fascia which can often lead to death. We present a case of a 27-year-old male with NF. One day after experiencing blunt abdominal trauma caused by falling over bike handlebars, the patient was admitted to a regional hospital and treated for diffuse abdominal pain and large hematoma of the anterior abdominal wall. ⋯ Despite all resuscitation measures including fluids, blood transfusions, and parenteral nutrition, lung infection and MODS caused death 42 days after initial operation. Blunt abdominal trauma can cause the rupture of intestine, and if early signs of peritoneal irritation should present, emergency laparotomy should be performed. Disastrous complication are rare but lethal.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 2014
Review Meta AnalysisClinical Outcomes, Predictors, and Prevalence of Anterior Pituitary Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.
To assess the clinical outcomes, predictors, and prevalence of anterior pituitary disorders following traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Approximately one third of traumatic brain injury patients have persistent anterior pituitary disorder. Older age, traumatic brain injury severity, and skull fractures predict anterior pituitary disorders, which in turn may be associated with higher ICU mortality. Further high-quality studies are warranted to better define the burden of anterior pituitary disorders and to identify high-risk patients.
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Ocular trauma is recognized as the leading cause of unilateral blindness. However, few studies to date have focused on the clinical features of hospital-based ocular emergencies. Effectiveness of trauma centers in treating ocular emergencies was compared with treatment in traditional community hospital emergency departments. Demographics, causes, and nature of ocular emergencies, as well as visual outcome in community hospitals emergency departments and trauma centers, were also examined. ⋯ The middle-aged, white men are more vulnerable to ocular injuries caused mainly by motor vehicle accidents. The ability of trauma centers to provide comparable increases in vision outcomes, despite treating more severe ocular emergencies, demonstrates the effectiveness of trauma centers. Patients diagnosed as having orbital contusions or who have fall injuries deserve careful evaluation because they are more likely to have more severe sight-threatening injuries.
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Ther Hypothermia Temp Manag · Mar 2014
ReviewTherapeutic Hypothermia in Children and Adults with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Great expectations have been raised about neuroprotection of therapeutic hypothermia in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by analogy with its effects after heart arrest, neonatal asphyxia, and drowning in cold water. The aim of this study is to review our present knowledge of the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on outcome in children and adults with severe TBI. A literature search for relevant articles in English published from year 2000 up to December 2013 found 19 studies. ⋯ The difference between body temperature and temperature set by the biological thermostat may cause stress-induced worsening of the circulation and oxygenation in injured areas of the brain. These mechanisms may counteract neuroprotective effects of therapeutic hypothermia. We conclude that we still lack scientific support as a first-tier therapy for the use of therapeutic hypothermia in TBI patients for both adults and children, but it may still be an option as a second-tier therapy for refractory intracranial hypertension.
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Trauma registries are used worldwide to coordinate patient care as well as provide data for audit and research purposes. National registries collect this data, producing research opportunities, outcome standards and a means by which to benchmark trauma centre performance. The Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) is the UK national registry, with data upload being mandatory from all major trauma centres (MTCs), a process which is manual and time and resource intensive. ⋯ The wide range of software options and their lack of integration with the hospital electronic patient records results in the duplication of data as well as requiring time and resources. This may also be due to the difference in data required for coordinating on-going patient care and that required for upload to the TARN. Whilst some of these programmes do have the capabilities for automatic data upload, further efforts must be made to provide a cohesive system that provides the required integration and customisability in order to improve efficiency and ultimately trauma care.