European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
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Trauma is a leading cause of death, with uncontrolled hemorrhage and exsanguination being the primary causes of preventable deaths during the first 24 h following trauma. Death usually occurs quickly, typically within the first 6 h after injury. One out of four patients arriving at the Emergency Department after trauma is already in hemodynamic and hemostatic depletion. ⋯ The awareness of the specific pathophysiology and of the principle drivers underlying the coagulopathy of trauma by the treating physician is paramount. It has been shown that early recognition prompted by appropriate and aggressive management can correct coagulopathy, control bleeding, reduce blood product use, and improve outcome in severely injured patients. This paper summarizes: (i) the current concepts of the pathogenesis of the coagulopathy of trauma, including ATC and IC, (ii) the current strategies available for the early identification of patients at risk for coagulopathy and ongoing life-threatening hemorrhage after trauma, and (iii) the current and updated European guidelines for the management of bleeding and coagulopathy following major trauma.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2014
Distal femoral replacement for selective periprosthetic fractures above a total knee arthroplasty.
The management of distal femur periprosthetic fractures in the elderly remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of distal segmental femur replacement as an alternative to fixation in complex distal femoral periprosthetic fractures in elderly patients. ⋯ WOMAC scores improved from the pre-injury state with a mean of 49.62 to 72.54 post-surgery (p-value of 0.0001). The Knee Society scores, possible only following surgery, had a mean value of 72. The mean VAS pain score was 1.75 (0 = no pain to 10 = worst pain ever felt). The average range of knee flexion was from 4° to 89° (range -5° to 110°). The mean SF-36 physical functioning score was 45.64 [range 40.70-48.90; standard deviation (SD) -2.62] and the mean SF-36 mental functioning score was 52.94 (range 45.8-57.70; SD -3.38).
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2014
Polytrauma at the Emergency Department; can we relate arterial blood gas analysis to a shock classification?
Shock is defined as a change of circulation which results in hypoxia at the tissue level. Lactate and base deficit (BD) are associated with a high risk of multiple organ dysfunction in trauma patients. In this study we evaluated the influence of early recognition of shock in trauma patients. ⋯ Prehospital shock influences patient outcome; outcome of patients is related to initial shock classification. Further validation of our shock classification, however, is necessary.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2014
Dalteparin versus Enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in trauma patients.
The use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the chemoprophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in trauma patients is supported by Level-1 evidence. Because Enoxaparin was the agent used in the majority of studies for establishing the efficacy of LMWH in VTE, it remains unclear if Dalteparin provides an equivalent effect. ⋯ Dalteparin is equivalent to Enoxaparin in terms of VTE in trauma patients and can be safely used in this population, with no increase in complications and significant cost savings.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2014
Planned re-laparotomy and the need for optimization of physiology and immunology.
Planned re-laparotomy or damage control laparotomy (DCL), first described by Dr. Harlan Stone in 1983, has become a widely utilized technique in a broad range of patients and operative situations. ⋯ The immunology of DCL patients is not well described in humans, but promising animal studies suggest a benefit from the open abdomen (OA) and several human trials on this subject are currently underway. Optimal critical care of patients with OA's, including sedation, paralysis, nutrition, antimicrobial and fluid management strategies have been associated with improved closure rates and recovery.