J Trauma
-
Damage control (DC) has proven valuable in exsanguinated patients. The purpose of this study was to quantify and qualify the impact of current damage control principles applied in a penetrating abdominal injury (PAI) population. ⋯ Continued application of DC principles has led to improved survival with PAI. Better control of temperature, experience with the open abdomen, and intensive care unit care may be causative.
-
The purpose of this study was to ascertain a strategy for maximizing parental consent for organ donation in traumatically injured children suffering from brain death. Our hypothesis was that appropriate attending surgeon involvement and delay in evaluating children for brain death leads to an increased percentage of organ donors. ⋯ These data indicate that attending involvement is important when parents of brain dead children are asked about organ retrieval (p < 0.04). Delay in initiating brain death protocols in order for family members to deal with the shock of the initial trauma appears to increase willingness to participate in organ donation.