Der Unfallchirurg
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The early clinical treatment of severely injured patients of today is based on modern technical resources as well as on refined therapeutic strategies involving a multidisciplinary team. In the meantime the requirements for and expectations towards best major trauma care have both increased considerably. In spite of a decline in mortality after major trauma during the last two decades still clinical deviations from actual treatment guidelines with proven influence on negative outcome are to be found. ⋯ Furthermore, by transferring the QM-system to another trauma center, we were able to show that the effects of the system in major trauma care are reproducible. Besides the internal efforts for quality optimization an external quality assessment comparing the own treatment results with other trauma centers should take place. For this purpose joining a multicentered trauma registry (i.e. the trauma registry of the German Society of Trauma Surgery for the German speaking countries) is recommended.
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A prospective study of 24 operative procedures involving minimal invasive techniques and fluoroscopic guidance was undertaken in order to measure the radiation exposure to the primary surgeon. Radiation was monitored with the use of high sensitive thermoluminescent dosimeters. At the spots of dosimetry (eyes, thyroid gland, hand and genitals under lead apron) the dose was uniformly low and ranged from 0.6 muSv at the eyes to 259.3 muSv at the hand. ⋯ On the basis of our results there is no likelihood of exceeding the limits of safety regulations even in a very busy operative environment, although a statistically increased incidence of thyroid cancer or a radiation-induced glaucoma is present. In vitro measurements with irradiation of a phantom resulted in the following recommendations: 1) fluoroscopy should be performed using the magnification-mechanism of the x-ray apparatus, 2) during lateral fluoroscopy the primary surgeon should be positioned close to the image intensifier. At least the surgeon should be familiar with the technique of closed reduction and instrumentation to reduce the duration of fluoroscopy which proved to be the most important factor for the amount of the radiation exposure.
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Bilateral carotid artery dissection is a rare and unusual complication of blunt cervicofacial trauma. The diagnosis of a carotid injury is rarely suspected in trauma patients with neurological deficits. ⋯ Angiography should be considered in trauma patients with hemiplegia and a normal mental status and in patients with blunt cervical trauma with an abnormal neurological examination. Initial heparinisation can prevent arterial thrombosis and neurological deterioration.
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The prehospitaly initiated endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation, is especially in multi-system-trauma cases, recognized to be the "gold standard". Thus especially in view of the increasing demands being placed upon the quality of prehospital emergency treatment in general, the quality of such prehospital induced ventilation, is becoming of increasing importance. Thereby we must take into consideration the limited possabilities, which are afflicted with a high degree of uncertainess, which we have at our disposal to effectively evaluate the efficiency of emergency ventilation. The purpose of our study within a collective of severely traumatized patients, was to determine the quality of prehospitaly induced ventilation with regards to the adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation and as a result of our findings, to identify areas for procedural optimization. ⋯ In summary it is evident, that as a rule, even very severe traumatized patients can prehospitaly be adequately oxygenated and that such oxygenation can with the assistance of pulse oxymetric monitoring be effectively controlled. Remaining problem is the emergency physicians ability to evaluate and control ventilation. The prehospital determination of minute volume (MV) in accordance with the presently valid recommendation: MV = 100-150 ml/kg body weight, in the majority of trauma cases results in inadequate ventilation. The introduction of an objectifying monitoring method is therefore urgently required.