J Trauma
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Prehospital or admission hypotension doubles the mortality for patients with severe head injury (SHI = Glasgow Coma Scale score less than or equal to 8). To our knowledge no study to date has determined the effects of intraoperative hypotension [IH: systolic blood pressure (SBP) less than 90 mm Hg] on outcome in patients with SHI. This study examined 53 patients who had SHI and required early surgical intervention (surgery within 72 hours of injury). ⋯ The duration of IH was inversely correlated with Glasgow Outcome Scale using linear regression (R = -0.30; p = 0.02). Despite vigorous fluid resuscitation in the IH group, additional pharmacologic support was used in only 32%. These data suggest that IH is not uncommon after SHI (32%) and that it does have a significant effect on patient outcome.
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To evaluate the usefulness of routine pelvic x-ray films in the resuscitation of blunt trauma victims, 1395 patients were prospectively evaluated over a 13-month period. Of these, 810 (58%) were awake with Glasgow Coma Scale scores greater than or equal to 13 and were enrolled into the study. A history, with directed questions regarding pelvic pain, a clinical examination of the pelvis, and an anterior-posterior pelvic x-ray film (APPX) were obtained for each patient. ⋯ These were minor fractures that did not affect the clinical course. Total charges incurred to diagnose pelvic fractures in this low-yield patient group were $88,028. We conclude that the practice of obtaining a screening APPX is not necessary or cost-effective in the management of awake blunt trauma patients who do not complain of pain and who have normal pelvic physical examination results.
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A 42-month experience with 100 patients with fatal head injuries was analyzed to identify areas of organ procurement failure. Thirty-six patients were ineligible for organ donation. Reasons for exclusion included advanced age (7), sepsis (16), hepatitis (1), systemic illnesses (3), and HIV infection or risk (9). ⋯ A similar difference was noted between metropolitan and suburban hospitals (p less than 0.0001). Hepatitis risk was comparable, 3.9% vs. 3.2%. The risk of HIV infection is emerging as a factor limiting organ donation at urban trauma centers.
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Overtriage (i.e.; transport of patients with minimal injuries to a trauma center) has been accepted as necessary to avoid missing clinically significant injuries. We reviewed our experience with 344 patients (ISS less than or equal to 4) who were admitted to a level I trauma center during a 2-year period. The trauma team was activated for 209 patients (TA), and emergency department referrals accounted for 135 (ED). ⋯ Compliance with FTC yields an inherent overtriage of minimally injured patients; however, noncompliance with FTC compounds the overtriage rate. Failure to comply with FTC is costly, labor intensive, and may represent misuse of the trauma system. We propose continual re-education of prehospital personnel, increased responsibility of all hospitals in the trauma center catchment area, and protocols for "downstaging" trauma resuscitation in minimally injured patients.
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Blunt trauma patients with pelvic fractures have been shown to have a two-fold to five-fold increased risk of aortic rupture compared with the overall blunt trauma population. A retrospective review was performed to determine whether the relationship between aortic rupture and pelvic fracture could be further delineated using a pelvic fracture classification based on mechanism of injury. ⋯ There was no increased incidence of aortic rupture among patients with any other pelvic fracture pattern. We conclude that the previously reported association between aortic rupture and pelvic fracture can be further specified to include, predominantly, those patients with an anterior-posterior compression fracture pattern.