J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Vascular injuries in a rural state: a review of 978 patients from a state trauma registry.
The demographics, etiology, and outcome of 1148 vascular injuries suffered by 978 patients reported from eight trauma centers in a largely rural state to a trauma registry (NCTR) data base containing 26,617 patients entered over a 39-month time interval were analyzed. Vascular injury patients were more frequently transferred by helicopter (18%), referred from other hospitals (45%), transfused more blood (8 units mean/24 hours), had higher mean ISS values (14 vs. 9), had lower systolic blood pressures on admission (113 vs. 128 mm Hg), had higher emergency department mortality (3.3%), and required immediate surgery more often (79%) when compared with nonvascular injury NCTR patients (p = 0.0001). Vascular injury patients had significantly longer hospital stays (13 vs. 10 days), longer ICU stays (5 vs. 4 days), and greater hospital costs ($22,500 vs. $12,300) while incurring more serious AIS values for the regions of the chest, abdomen, and extremities. ⋯ Forty-seven percent of vascular injuries were extremity lesions; the amputation rate was 1.3%; and management was most often by simple repair (41.9%) or patching (22.2%). Rural vascular injury patients had a high incidence of blunt trauma (43.4%) and were older (average, 51 years); they were transported by helicopter more often (30.3%) and were frequently referred from another hospital (77.8%); they had longer ICU, ventilator, and hospital stays and greater hospital charges; and they had higher mortality (14.2%) compared with urban vascular trauma victims. The data suggest a need for the trauma care system to focus on earlier recognition, stabilization, and rapid transportation of this most seriously injured group of patients.
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Large urban trauma centers care for injured children as well as adults in many areas of the country, but the quality of care in these hospitals has not been evaluated versus that available at pediatric trauma centers. The recent validation of TRISS methodology in pediatric populations allowed us to evaluate the quality of pediatric trauma care being provided in a level I trauma center treating injured patients of all ages. We reviewed the records of 353 injured children (aged 0-17 years) who were admitted to our trauma center over a 30-month period for the following data: demographics, mechanism of injury, initial physiologic status (RTS), surgical procedures required, need for intensive care, nature and severity of the injuries (ISS), and outcome. ⋯ The Z scores ranged from +0.32 for the children aged less than 2 years to +3.98 for the older age group (14-17 years). We conclude that the quality of care for pediatric trauma patients admitted to trauma centers that care for patients of all ages compares favorably with national standards. In most areas of the country, improvements in pediatric trauma care will likely come from addressing the special needs of injured children in general trauma centers rather than from developing separate pediatric facilities.
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A method for the reduction of anterior dislocations of the shoulder based on the Milch technique is presented. We have been using this method for the last 2 years (75 dislocations) with excellent results. The reduction is easy, produces minimal pain and discomfort for the patient, and the success rate is as high as 94.5%. The modified Milch technique is less troublesome for the patient and the physician and we strongly recommend it.
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The prospective study reported here evaluated the relationship between coagulopathy, catecholamines, and outcome in severe head trauma. Thirty-six trauma patients (10 with penetrating injuries, 26 with blunt injuries, 50% overall mortality) were evaluated. These patients had severe head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 9). ⋯ The trauma patients differed from the elective neurosurgery patients with regard to D-dimer levels, PT, PTT, protein C levels, and urinary normetanephrine concentrations. Head trauma patients have a coagulopathy that is absent in patients following elective neurosurgical procedures. The coagulopathy may correlate with poor survival in head trauma and may be related to a catecholamine surge.
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A patient with a stab wound to the back with suspected major vascular injury was evaluated by computed tomography instead of arteriography. The computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated no injury to the aorta, inferior vena cava, or esophagus, which were adjacent to the blade, and excluded a hematoma. The information from the CT scan made possible a less extensive surgical procedure than might have otherwise been necessary.