Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie
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Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) using high plasma and platelet ratios for exsanguinating trauma patients are increasingly popular. Major liver injuries often require massive resuscitations and immediate hemorrhage control. Current published literature describes outcomes among patients with mixed patterns of injury. We sought to identify the effects of an MTP on patients with major liver trauma. ⋯ The implementation of a formal MTP using high plasma and platelet ratios resulted in a substantial increase in abdominal wall approximation. This occurred concurrently to a decrease in the delivered volume of crystalloid fluid.
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The consolidation of acute care surgery (ACS) services at 3 of 6 hospitals in a Canadian health region sought to alleviate a relative shortage of surgeons able to take emergency call. We examined how this affected patient access and outcomes. ⋯ Consolidation enabled the region to ensure adequate surgical coverage without harming patients. The need to transfer patients who presented at nonreferral hospitals led to longer waits.
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Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common surgical treatment for arthritis. In the event of bilateral knee symptoms, a patient may elect for bilateral TKA (BTKA) under 1 anesthetic or 2 separate unilateral TKAs (UTKA). Controversy exists in the literature regarding the safety of BTKA versus UTKA. We compared the rate of major intraoperative and postoperative complications for BTKA versus UTKA at a high-volume community hospital. ⋯ Bilateral TKA was not associated with statistically greater rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications than UTKA, barring the proportion of patients requiring transfusion. Our results support the use of BTKA to treat bilateral knee arthritis in a high-volume community hospital setting.