European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
Surgical management of Syria's war casualties: experience from a French surgical team deployed in the Zaatari refugee camp (Jordan).
In August 2012, the Zaatari refugee camp was opened in Jordan under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. France deployed there a surgical facility to treat victims of war trauma. ⋯ The presence at the Zaatari camp of a surgical facility, which is experienced and specialized in war surgery, is essential, as long as battles are ongoing. Many victims will later require long-term surgical care for the management of the sequelae associated with these traumas.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
A technique for visual confirmation of intrathoracic placement of tube thoracostomy using a fiberoptic laryngoscope in a cadaver.
Safe intrathoracic placement of chest tubes is a continual challenge. Current techniques for determining the intrathoracic location of the thoracostomy site include blunt dissection and digital exploration, with subsequent tube placement. Using current techniques, complication rates for this procedure approach 30%. We present a novel technique using available endotracheal intubation technology for determining intrathoracic placement of tube thoracostomy. ⋯ Use of a fiberoptic laryngoscope offers a novel technique for direct visualization the thoracic space during tube thoracostomy. Further studies are needed to determine the safety of this technique in patients.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
Review Historical ArticleContemporary wars and their contributions to vascular injury management.
Man's inhumanity for man still knows no boundaries, as we continue as a species as a whole to engage in war. According to Kohn's Dictionary of Wars [1], of over 3,700 years of recorded history, there have been a total of 3,010 wars. One is hard pressed to actually find a period of time in which here has not been an active conflict in the globe. The world has experienced two world wars: WWI (1914-1918) and WWII (1939-1945). The total number of military casualties in WWI was over 37 million, while WWII so far, has been the deadliest military conflict in history with over 60 million people killed accounting for slightly over 2.5% of the world's population. ⋯ Contemporary wars of the XX-XXI centuries gave birth, defined and advanced the field of vascular injury management.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Apr 2015
Review Historical ArticleThe ebb and flow of fluid (as in resuscitation).
Since the early 1960's "resuscitation" following major trauma involved use of replacement crystalloid fluid/estimated blood loss in volumes of 3/1, in the ambulance, emergency room, operating room and surgical intensive care unit. During the past 20 years, MAJOR paradigm shifts have occurred in this concept. ⋯ Improved results in both civilian and military environments have been reported. As a result there is new focus on trauma surgical involvement in all aspects of trauma patient management, focus on early aggressive surgical approaches (which may or may not involve an operation), and movement from crystalloid to blood, plasma, and platelet replacement therapy.