J Trauma
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The devastating effects of hypotension on head-trauma-related mortality are well known. This study evaluates the systemic and cerebral hemodynamic responses to volume replacement with 3% hypertonic saline (HSS) or lactated Ringer's solution (LR), during the acute phase of hemorrhagic shock (HS) associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ In the event of severe head trauma and hemorrhagic shock, the use of HSS 3% and larger volumes of LR promote similar systemic and cerebral hemodynamic benefits. However, a lower ICP was observed after HSS 3% than after LR.
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Development of practice-based learning (PBL) is one of the core competencies required for resident education by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and specialty organizations including the American College of Surgeons have formed task forces to understand and disseminate information on this important concept. However, translating this concept into daily practice may be difficult. Our goal was to describe the successful application of PBL to patient care improvement with development of an algorithm for the empiric therapy of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ Application of the concept of PBL allowed for identification of local patterns of infection and development of an institution specific treatment algorithm that resulted in >80% adequate initial empiric coverage for VAP with a trend toward decreased mortality. PBL allows for alteration in practice based on local patterns and outcomes and has the potential to improve patient care.
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The Injury Severity Score (ISS) accounts for only one injury in each body region. The New Injury Severity Score (NISS) considers all injuries in a body region. Despite a big difference between the two scores in patients with multiple injuries, the NISS does not offer significant improvement in mortality prediction. This paper hypothesizes that two injuries in different body regions are associated with higher mortality than two injuries in the same body region, independently of injury severity. ⋯ After accounting for differing injury severity, patients with their two worst injuries in different body regions have higher mortality than those with their two worst injuries in the same region. Results suggest that the observed effect is not due to a foible in the Abbreviated Injury Scale system but rather to physiologic, clinical, or organizational elements. The results of this study should be considered in the development of future injury severity instruments and may have implications for the care of patients with multiple injuries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Cultured skin substitutes reduce requirements for harvesting of skin autograft for closure of excised, full-thickness burns.
Rapid and effective closure of full-thickness burn wounds remains a limiting factor in burns of greater than 50% of the total body surface area (TBSA). Hypothetically, cultured skin substitutes (CSS) consisting of autologous cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts attached to collagen-based sponges may reduce requirements for donor skin, and morbidity from autograft harvesting and widely-meshed skin grafts. ⋯ These results demonstrate that CSS reduce requirements for donor skin harvesting for grafting of excised, full-thickness burns of greater than 50% TBSA with qualitative outcome that is comparable to meshed AG. Availability of CSS for treatment of extensive, deep burns may reduce time to wound closure, morbidity, and mortality in this patient population.
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Accurate screening of the thoracolumbar spine (TLS) remains problematic in the care of trauma patients. The current standard of care for TLS screening is not clearly defined. In trauma patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) of the chest and or abdomen, compelling supportive evidence for reformatting and reusing this CT data to clear the thoracolumbar spine has accumulated over the last 3 years. The objective of this review was to identify and review all published studies comparing reformatted CT to traditional plain radiography for TLS clearance. ⋯ The evidence to date demonstrates the superior sensitivity of reformatted visceral CT for detecting thoracolumbar spine injury. With no further patient movement, radiation exposure, cost, or time, trauma patients undergoing visceral CT can have their thoracolumbar spine promptly evaluated. Further prospective evaluation of the CT protocols to optimize visualization of both the viscera and the bone is warranted.