J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Heating pad for the bleeding: external warming during hemorrhage improves survival.
Hypothermia is common during hemorrhagic shock. To warm the victims or not has been controversial. This study aims to investigate the effect of warming during the initial time of hemorrhage on body temperature, blood pressure, and survival in rat hemorrhagic shock models. ⋯ Warming during hemorrhage may prevent exacerbation of hypothermia and hypotension and therefore improve survival.
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Comparative Study
Cost-effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy as a lifesaving rescue procedure for patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
Decompressive craniectomy has been traditionally used as a lifesaving rescue procedure for patients with refractory intracranial hypertension after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), but its cost-effectiveness remains uncertain. ⋯ Severity of TBI had an important effect on cost-effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy. As a lifesaving procedure, decompressive craniectomy was not cost-effective for patients with extremely severe TBI.
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Comparative Study
Delayed flap reconstruction with vacuum-assisted closure management of the open IIIB tibial fracture.
Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has been shown to be effective at reducing bacterial counts in wounds until definitive bony coverage. However, there is continued debate over timing and type of definitive wound coverage even with VAC therapy application. ⋯ The VAC therapy may help to reduce the flap size and need for a flap transfer for type IIIB open tibial fractures. However, prolonged periods of VAC usage, greater than 7 days, should be avoided to reduce higher infection and amputation risks.
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There is increasing evidence that the duration of red blood cell (RBC) storage negatively impacts outcomes. Data regarding prolonged storage of other blood components, however, are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the duration of platelet storage affects trauma patient outcomes. ⋯ In critically ill trauma patients, there was a stepwise increase in complications, in particular sepsis, with exposure to progressively older platelets. Further evaluation of the underlying mechanism and methods for minimizing exposure to older platelets is warranted.