J Trauma
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A large proportion of trauma patients in developing countries do not have access to formal Emergency Medical Services. We sought to assess the efficacy of a program that builds on the existing, although informal, system of prehospital transport in Ghana. In that country, the majority of injured persons are transported to the hospital by some type of commercial vehicle, such as a taxi or bus. ⋯ Even in the absence of formal Emergency Medical Services, improvements in the process of prehospital trauma care are possible by building on existing, although informal, patterns of prehospital transport.
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Severe isolated upper extremity injuries are rarely lethal; however, they invariably are resource intensive, create significant disability, and promote resistance to a return to gainful employment. Appropriate soft tissue restoration is an essential component of any treatment protocol, and often requires a vascularized flap to protect the superficial neurovascular and musculotendinous structures. A basic schema to facilitate flap selection in the upper extremity is introduced. ⋯ A schema to guide flap selection for upper extremity coverage is introduced that is predicated on using the best available option. The shoulder girdle and axilla are reached by many local trunk muscle or fascia flaps. The central upper limb about the elbow often is conducive to coverage with specific local fascia flaps. The distal upper extremity may be best served by a free flap, as would any large wound in all upper limb regions.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature on oxidative stress in brain stem tissue induced by hemorrhagic shock. We researched the hemorrhagic oxidative stress at various core temperatures using reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as markers of lipid peroxidation in brain stem homogenate. ⋯ Moderate systemic hypothermia (28 degrees C) appears to protect brain stem tissue from oxidative stress during severe hemorrhagic shock in rats, as indicated by insignificant change in tissue TBARS and GSH concentrations. These results suggest antioxidant protective effects of moderate systemic hypothermia in metabolically active brain stem tissue during hemorrhagic shock. Similar effects in humans remain to be studied.