J Trauma
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (rBPI21) in patients with hemorrhage due to trauma: results of a multicenter phase II clinical trial. rBPI21 Acute Hemorrhagic Trauma Study Group.
Infection and organ failure are the most common causes of death or serious complication in trauma patients surviving initial resuscitation and operation. Of the many possible causes of these complications, bacterial translocation and release of harmful cytokines and oxygen free radicals may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the complications associated with traumatic hemorrhage. Recombinant human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (rBPI21) has antibacterial and antiendotoxin properties, reduces cytokine levels, and increases survival in animal models of hemorrhagic shock. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic rBPI21 infusion in patients with hemorrhage due to trauma. ⋯ rBPI21 was well-tolerated and demonstrated a favorable trend in reducing the composite primary end point of mortality or serious complication through day 15, especially respiratory complications, in patients with hemorrhage due to trauma. A phase III study is currently in progress.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The role of ultrasound in patients with possible penetrating cardiac wounds: a prospective multicenter study.
Ultrasound is quickly becoming part of the trauma surgeon's practice, but its role in the patient with a penetrating truncal injury is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of emergency ultrasound as it was introduced into five Level I trauma centers for the diagnosis of acute hemopericardium. ⋯ Ultrasound should be the initial modality for the evaluation of patients with penetrating precordial wounds because it is accurate and rapid.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Multiple organ failure: by the time you predict it, it's already there.
Validate an at-risk population to study multiple organ failure and to determine the importance of organ dysfunction 24 hours after injury in determining the ultimate severity of multiple organ failure. ⋯ We have confirmed that the population of patients with Injury Severity Scores > or = 25 who received 6 or more units of blood represent a high-risk group for the development of multiple organ failure. Our data also indicate that multiple organ failure after trauma is established within 24 hours of injury in the majority of patients who develop it. It appears that multiple organ failure is already present at the time when most published models are trying to predict whether or not it will occur.