J Trauma
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Comparative Study
NISS predicts postinjury multiple organ failure better than the ISS.
The Injury Severity Score (ISS) has been observed consistently to be a robust predictor of postinjury multiple organ failure (MOF). However, the ISS fails to account for multiple injuries to the same body region. Recently, the "new" ISS (NISS) has been proposed to address this shortcoming. Preliminary studies suggest the NISS is superior to the ISS in predicting trauma mortality. Our purpose was to determine whether the NISS is a better predictor of postinjury MOF than the ISS. ⋯ The NISS is superior to the ISS in the prediction of postinjury MOF. This measure of tissue injury severity should replace the ISS in trauma research.
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Comparative Study
Tissue hemoglobin O2 saturation during resuscitation of traumatic shock monitored using near infrared spectrometry.
Near infrared (NIR) spectrometry offers a noninvasive monitor of tissue hemoglobin O2 saturation and has been developed to report a quantitative clinical variable, StO2 [= HbO2/(HbO2 + Hb)]. In this study, a prototype NIR oximeter was used to investigate the hypothesis that changes in systemic O2 delivery index (D(O2)I) would be reflected by changes in StO2 in skeletal muscle, subcutaneous tissue, or both, as reperfusion occurs during shock resuscitation. StO2 was also compared with other indices of severity of shock or adequacy of resuscitation, including arterial base deficit, lactate, gastric mucosal P(CO2) (PgCO2), and mixed venous hemoglobin O2 saturation (S(VO2)). ⋯ Hemoglobin O2 saturation was monitored noninvasively and simultaneously in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous tissues as StO2 (%) by using a prototype NIR oximeter. Skeletal muscle StO2 tracked systemic O2 delivery during and after resuscitation. As a rapidly deployable, noninvasive monitor of peripheral tissue oxygenation and O2 delivery, skeletal muscle StO2 obtained using NIR spectrometry would be useful to guide resuscitation in the intensive care unit, to monitor resuscitation status in the operating room, and, potentially, in combination with indicators such as base deficit and lactate, to detect shock during initial assessment of the severe trauma patient in the emergency department.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
External fixation as a bridge to intramedullary nailing for patients with multiple injuries and with femur fractures: damage control orthopedics.
The advantages of early fracture fixation in patients with multiple injuries have been challenged recently, particularly in patients with head injury. External fixation (EF) has been used to stabilize pelvic fractures after multiple injury. It potentially offers similar benefits to intramedullary nail (IMN) in long-bone fractures and may obviate some of the risks. We report on the use of EF as a temporary fracture fixation in a group of patients with multiple injuries and with femoral shaft fractures. ⋯ EF is a viable alternative to attain temporary rigid stabilization in patients with multiple injuries. It is rapid, causes negligible blood loss, and can be followed by IMN when the patient is stabilized. There were minimal orthopedic complications.
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Comparative Study
Elderly injury: a profile of trauma experience in the Sunshine (Retirement) State.
By using mandatory discharge data from a state agency, the records of 116,687 patients hospitalized for treatment of injury were evaluated to develop an epidemiologic and demographic profile of this population and to compare outcomes of patients treated in state-designated trauma centers (TC) with those treated in nontrauma centers (NTC). ⋯ These data demonstrate the unique characteristics of injury victims treated in the state of Florida and indicate that the developing trauma system is demonstrating productivity in terms of avoidance of preventable death, efficient management of noninjury comorbid problems, and more complete recovery as indicated by proportion of patients discharged to home.
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To determine factors affecting prognosis for patients with penetrating wounds of the heart. ⋯ The physiologic status of the patient at presentation, mechanism of injury, and presence of a tamponade were significant prognostic factors in this series of penetrating cardiac injuries. Multiple-chamber injuries, especially with great vessel involvement, were associated with a high mortality rate. ED thoracotomies for gunshot wounds of the heart were uniformly fatal.