Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Jun 2012
The influence of coagulation and inflammation research on the improvement of polytrauma care.
Treatment guidelines and management principles of polytrauma patients are largely derived from experience, supplemented by the results of few clinical studies. Their clinical impact on survival outcome is rarely scientifically evaluated. Hence, research algorithms need to be developed which enable a rapid and profound reevaluation of the current treatment strategies in polytrauma care and which provide a solid basis for the assessment of future treatment options. ⋯ Many of these ideas moved from previous basic science activities to clinical studies but in many cases the direct effects of basic science on clinical trials or even clinical management strategies often remain elusive. Nevertheless, the knowledge which is created on a daily basis by basic science studies acts as an invaluable data pool, which can be accessed and combined for the clinical researcher to develop and address clinically relevant questions, providing them with a comprehensive pool of information to carefully plan and conduct their clinical trials. This may then subsequently lead to the development of new management principles for polytrauma patients.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Jun 2012
Traditional weight-based vancomycin dosing is inadequate in critically ill trauma patients.
Our aim was to evaluate our institution's compliance with weight-based vancomycin dosing recommendations for pneumonia in critically ill injured patients and to assess the success rate in achieving therapeutic serum vancomycin levels. Additionally, we sought to assess the incidence of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. ⋯ When prescribing commonly used dosing regimens, appropriate weight-based administration of vancomycin occurred in only approximately one-third of patients. Those patients who did receive weight-based vancomycin dosing were more likely to achieve therapeutic levels, both initially (33 vs. 5.6%) and overall (58 vs. 33%).
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The organization of trauma care has different perspectives that depend on regional aspects. Among these, geographical peculiarities, historical developments regarding development of medical subspecialties and resident education appear to be the most relevant factors. ⋯ This manuscript deals with the differences of several trauma systems in certain European countries, the USA and Australia. It aims to provide an overview of the peculiarities and influences of these systems on the clinical management. However, the effect of differences in organization in different countries on patient outcome is difficult to assess. There appears to be consensus on the fact that structured treatment for acute trauma care is beneficial for trauma patients. Thus, any kind of organization contributes to improved patient outcome.