Articles: adult.
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Regionalized systems of trauma care and level verification are promulgated by the American College of Surgeons. Whether patient outcomes differ between the 2 highest verifications, Levels I and II, is unknown. In contrast to Level II centers, Level I centers are required to care for a minimum number of severely injured patients, have immediate availability of subspecialty services and equipment, and demonstrate research, substance abuse screening, and injury prevention. We compare risk-adjusted mortality outcomes at Levels I and II centers. ⋯ In this cohort of patients treated at urban and suburban trauma centers, treatment at a Level II trauma center was associated with overall risk-adjusted reduced mortality relative to that at a Level I center. In the subset of penetrating trauma, no differences in mortality were found. Further study is warranted to determine optimal trauma system configuration and allocation of resources.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Aug 2017
Preventable and potentially preventable deaths in severely injured patients: a retrospective analysis including patterns of errors.
Analyzing preventable and potentially preventable deaths is a well-known procedure for improving trauma care. This study analyzes preventable and potentially preventable deaths in German trauma patients. ⋯ Preventable and potentially preventable errors still occur in the treatment of severely injured patients. Errors in hemorrhage control and airway management are the most common human treatment errors. The knowledge of these errors could help to improve trauma care in the future.
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Smokers on chronic opioid therapy (COT) for noncancer pain use prescription opioids at higher dosages and are at increased risk for opioid misuse and dependence relative to nonsmokers. The current study aims to assess whether smoking is associated with problems and concerns with COT from the perspective of the patient. ⋯ This study contributes to an understanding of perceived problems and concerns with COT among current, former, and never smokers with chronic noncancer pain. Results suggest that current and former smokers may be a difficult population to target to decrease COT, given that they perceive fewer problems with prescription opioid use, despite higher odds of having an opioid use disorder (males and females) and greater opioid doses (males only).
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Journal of neurosurgery · Aug 2017
Pineal cysts and other pineal region malignancies: determining factors predictive of hydrocephalus and malignancy.
OBJECTIVE Cystic lesions of the pineal gland are most often uncomplicated benign lesions with typical MRI characteristics. The authors aimed to study pineal lesion characteristics on MRI to better distinguish benign pineal cysts from other pineal region malignancies as well as to determine which characteristics were predictive of the latter malignancies. They also aimed to study risk factors predictive of hydrocephalus or malignancy in patients harboring these lesions. ⋯ In addition, contrast enhancement on MRI (OR 8.8, 95% CI 2.0-38.6, p = 0.004) and hemorrhage (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.1-40.5, p = 0.036) were predictive of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS Although cystic abnormalities of the pineal gland are often benign lesions, they are frequently monitored over time, as other pineal region pathologies may appear similarly on MRI. Patients with growing lesions, contrast enhancement, and hemorrhage on MRI are more likely to develop hydrocephalus and have malignant pathology on histological examination and should therefore be followed up with serial MRI with a lower threshold for neurosurgical intervention.
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Critical care nurse · Aug 2017
Editorial Case ReportsLevamisole-Adulterated Cocaine Leading to Fatal Vasculitis: A Case Report.
Cocaine is often "cut" with various additives to increase the profitability of the drug. One of the most common additives on today's market is levamisole, an anthelmintic medication used to destroy and expel parasitic worms in animals. ⋯ Treatment is generally supportive, and symptoms typically abate with complete cessation of cocaine use. However, symptoms may recur with subsequent cocaine use and, as this case illustrates, severe neutropenia and extensive vasculitis may lead to overwhelming sepsis and death.