J Trauma
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Hypertonic saline resuscitation of patients with head injury: a prospective, randomized clinical trial.
Experimental and clinical work has suggested that hypertonic saline (HTS) would be better than lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) for the resuscitation of patients with head injuries. No clinical study has examined the effect of HTS infusion on intracranial pressure (ICP) and outcome in patients with head injuries. We hypothesized that HTS infusion would result in a lower ICP and fewer medical interventions to lower ICP compared with LRS. ⋯ As a group, HTS patients had more severe head injuries. HTS and LRS used with other therapies effectively controlled the ICP. The widely held conviction that sodium administration will lead to a sustained increase in ICP is not supported by this work.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Randomized, prospective comparison of increased preload versus inotropes in the resuscitation of trauma patients: effects on cardiopulmonary function and visceral perfusion.
To evaluate the effects of maintaining increased levels of preload on cardiopulmonary function and visceral perfusion during resuscitation. ⋯ Patients resuscitated at higher levels of preload have significantly better visceral perfusion than those resuscitated at normal preload with addition of inotropes. This higher preload does not adversely affect pulmonary function.
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Since their inception, the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) have been suggested as measures of the quality of trauma care. In concept, they are designed to accurately assess injury severity and predict expected outcomes. ICISS, an injury severity methodology based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes, has been demonstrated to be superior to ISS and TRISS. The purpose of the present study was to compare the ability of TRISS to ICISS as predictors of survival and other outcomes of injury (hospital length of stay and hospital charges). It was our hypothesis that ICISS would outperform ISS and TRISS in each of these outcome predictions. ⋯ In addition to predicting mortality, quality tools that can accurately predict resource utilization are necessary for effective trauma center quality-improvement programs. ICISS-derived predictions of survival, hospital charges, and hospital length of stay consistently outperformed those of ISS and TRISS. The neural network-augmented ICISS was even better. This and previous studies demonstrate that TRISS is a limited technique in predicting survival resource utilization. Because of the limitations of TRISS, it should be superseded by ICISS.
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In a 4-year period, 17 consecutive patients with posttraumatic chronic regional pain syndrome were treated with a new technique, Movelat manipulation therapy. At average follow-up of 8 months, satisfactory results were achieved in 15 patients (88%), but 2 patients, 1 with digital nerve injury and 1 with ulnar nerve injury, did not respond to the therapy. ⋯ Complications were rare and mild (pain over the tourniquet site in 3%, temporary dizziness in 1%). This therapy is simple and safe and recommended for early treatment of chronic regional pain syndrome.
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To determine whether there is an association between criminal activity and preference for a particular class of handgun among young adults who purchase handguns legally. ⋯ In this population, criminal activity both before and after handgun purchase was associated with a preference for small, inexpensive handguns.