J Trauma
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Accurate and relatively simple monitoring is essential in managing patients with multiple injuries, and becomes particularly important when there is substantial occult blood loss. Tachycardia, said to occur following a 15% blood loss, is generally regarded as the first reliable sign of hemorrhage. However, heart rate is a nonspecific parameter which is affected by factors other than changing intravascular volume. ⋯ Linear regression analysis generated r values that ranged from 0.85-0.99 with a mean of 0.95 for Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation; r values for Cardiac Index ranged from 0.39-0.98 with a mean of 0.85. Furthermore, all dogs had increased tissue oxygen extraction after 3-6% blood loss. Because Central Venous Blood Oxygen Saturation mirrors Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation and is easily and rapidly measured, we extended our study by repeating all of the previously measured parameters, with the addition of CVP blood gases in an unanesthetized animal model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Traumatic hernia of the abdominal wall is unusual and even more so the complete avulsion of muscles from the costal arch. While it is usual to search carefully for diaphragmatic hernia during laparotomy for blunt abdominal trauma, traumatic hernia of the abdominal wall of this nature can be easily overlooked. One such case in a child is presented where the diagnosis was not made at the initial laparotomy following blunt abdominal injury received in a road traffic accident. We believe bilateral avulsion of all the abdominal wall muscles from the costal arch has not been reported before.
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Four hundred sixty-seven adult victims of blunt trauma undergoing cervical spine radiography (CSR) were prospectively studied to identify any clinical parameters which would aid in the selective application of CSR. Eight persons (1.7%), six of whom were alert and two who presented comatose, sustained cervical spine injuries. ⋯ No cervical spine injury was noted in any alert, not intoxicated, neurologically intact patient who had no complaints of neck discomfort upon questioning or palpation. We conclude that alert trauma victims with no complaints of neck discomfort upon questioning and with no tenderness on neck palpation need not undergo CSR.
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The clinical profiles and management of 236 consecutive chest injury patients treated and followed up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences between January 1983 and July 1985 were analyzed prospectively. There were 149 blunt and 87 penetrating injuries; 21 patients (9%) required thoracotomy. Single- or multiple-tube thoracostomy was performed in 141 patients (60%). ⋯ Evidence of chest injury of various magnitudes was found in 756 of 2,286 autopsies conducted for trauma-deaths during the same study period analyzed retrospectively; however, it was the major cause of death in only 147 (19%). Cardiac injuries accounted for 41% of the deaths resulting primarily from chest trauma. Only 10% of the patients who sustained cardiac injury reached hospital alive.
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Comparative Study
Popliteal vascular injuries and war: are Beirut and New Orleans similar?
Trauma to the lower extremity associated with fracture and vascular injury has a high reported incidence of limb loss. This study reviews and contrasts the experience at Tulane University affiliated hospitals (TU) and the American University of Beirut (AUB) (1980 to 1984), both of which are surrounded by hostile action. Seventy-six male patients (28--AUB, 48--TU) with an average age of 21.2 (TU) and 24.4 (AUB) years (range, 17 to 42) presented with popliteal artery injuries with (34 [14--AUB; 20--TU] ) and without (42 [14--AUB; 28--TU]) associated fractures. ⋯ Nine limbs of 76 at risk were amputated: 5/34 (2/14--AUB; 3/20--TU) with popliteal injuries and fractures, and 4/42 (1/14--AUB; 3/28--TU) with popliteal injuries and without fractures. Five of the amputated limbs had initiation of therapy at greater than 12 hours; three had initiation of therapy at greater than 8 hours. Good communication between surgeons, prompt fracture reduction, antibiotics, angiography, and total repair of the vascular injury resulted in limb salvage in 30/40 patients with popliteal artery injury and fracture, and in 39/42 patients with popliteal artery injury without fracture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)