Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2009
Optimizing Outcomes in the Jehovah's Witness Following Trauma: Special Management Concerns for a Unique Population.
The objective of this study was to describe the management of the Jehovah's Witness (JW) in an intensely active level I trauma center and review the modern therapeutic options available for the trauma care of these patients. ⋯ Although our experience was limited, we found no significant difference in the mortality or morbidity between JW patients who received or abstained from transfusion following major trauma. We should keep in mind that the population was small, in order to extract safe conclusions regarding whether we should transfuse or not transfuse trauma patients. We can, however, see interesting insights on the value of trauma resuscitation.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2009
Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life in Major Pediatric Trauma: A Pilot Study.
Major trauma is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children of developed countries. Little research has been done about the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in these children. The aim of the current research is to describe the HRQL of children in the long term after major trauma and to compare it with healthy peers. ⋯ The results on HRQL in children in the long term after major trauma are inconclusive. Special attention should be given to teenagers with spinal cord or severe cerebral injury who reported the lowest HRQL.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2009
Low probability of Significant Intra-Abdominal Injury in Stable Patients with Abdominal ''Seat Belt Sign''.
Our aim was to determine the diagnostic significance of the association between the abdominal skin bruise from a seat belt and the presence of intraabdominal injury. ⋯ Despite the widely accepted view that patients with an abdominal seat belt sign are more likely to have serious intraabdominal injuries, the results of our investigation showed no such association in a group of hemodynamically stable patients.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2009
Focused Echocardiography in Life Support: The Subcostal Window : What the Surgeon Should Know for Critical Care Applications.
Focused echocardiography evaluation in life support (FEEL) for emergency and critical caremedicine is an innovative approach to introducing limited-in-scope echocardiography in a timely fashion into periresuscitation care. FEEL is an advanced life support-conformed concept and a simple procedure that can be readily used in shock roomor pre-hospital scenarios as an extension of focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST). The subcostal window plays a pivotal role in this context, because it can easilybe applied inthesupine position, and is usually better than other windows in patients with mechanical ventilation or during resuscitation maneuvers. Most information can be obtained at a glance. ⋯ As the FAST exam was not developed for implementation in resuscitation or cardiac arrest procedures, herewedescribe an accurate and easymethod that allows non-cardiologists to add FEEL to the FAST exam. As a result, it conforms to actual resuscitation guidelines. To perform the FEEL procedure and the subcostal window, a specific training seems to bemandatory. The aim of this paper is to set special emphasis on the use of the subcostal window.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Aug 2009
Minimal Invasive Fixation of Hamate Hook Fractures Through a Dorsal Percutaneous Approach Using a Mini Compression Screw: An Experimental Feasibility Study.
Isolated fractures of the hamate hook can be treated by conservative or surgical means. Because nonoperative treatment is associated with high nonunion rates, surgical treatment with open reduction and internal fixation through a palmar approach is often preferred. The aim of this study was to refine surgical treatment of hamate hook fractures using a cannulated mini compression screw through a dorsal percutaneous approach. ⋯ Minimal invasive repair of isolated hamate hook fractures through a dorsal percutaneous approach is feasible. The special properties of the cannulated mini compression screw allow optimal screw positioning and stable fixation without risk of diplacement or disruption of the hook fragment.