J Trauma
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Tension pneumopericardium is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. We present two case reports of tension pneumopericardium, with clinical, hemodynamic, and radiographic evidence supporting the diagnosis. Although tension pneumopericardium is uncommon in blunt chest trauma, it should be considered in patients with pneumopericardium and hemodynamic instability.
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Seventy cases of blunt splenic trauma were retrospectively reviewed for the period 1979-1984. There were 57 adults and 13 children. Motor vehicle accidents were implicated in 62%. ⋯ Five patients eventually went to laparotomy. Fifty per cent of all patients had associated intra-abdominal injury but only 17% needed repair; 31% of patients were initially managed conservatively with a 77% success rate and no mortality. It is concluded that conservative management is safe in stable patients with blunt splenic trauma.
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Hypothermia in trauma patients is generally considered an ominous sign, although the actual temperature at which hypothermia affects survival is ill defined. In this study, the impact of body core hypothermia on outcome in 71 adult trauma patients with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) greater than or equal to 25 was analyzed. Forty-two per cent of the patients had a core temperature (Tc) below 34 degrees C, 23% below 33 degrees C, and 13% below 32 degrees C. ⋯ Mortality and the incidence of hypothermia increased with higher ISS, massive fluid resuscitation, and the presence of shock. Within each subgroup (i.e., greater ISS, massive fluid administration, shock) the mortality of hypothermic patients was significantly higher than those who remained warm. No patient whose core temperature fell below 32 degrees C survived.