European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyEarly versus delayed enteral feeding in patients with abdominal trauma: a retrospective cohort study.
Early enteral feeding within 24-48 h of intensive care unit admission is recommended for critically ill patients. This study aimed to determine if early enteral feeding could be safely implemented with purported benefits in patients with abdominal trauma. ⋯ Early enteral feeding administered within 72 h of SICU admission was associated with improved clinical outcomes without risk of increasing feeding intolerance in patients with abdominal trauma. Our results support the implementation of early enteral feeding in abdominal trauma management.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2015
ReviewIntramedullary nailing after external fixation of the femur and tibia: a review of advantages and limits.
External fixation is a safe option for stabilisation of extremity lesions in the polytraumatised patient as well as in fractures with severe soft tissue damage. Nevertheless, long-term-complications are to be expected when external fixation is chosen as a definitive treatment. The purpose of this review article is twofold: primarily, to define the rationale of a procedural change from an external fixator to an intramedullary nail; secondarily, to assess the possible advantages and pitfalls of a single- or two-staged procedure. ⋯ External fixation of the femur is recommended in multiply injured patients who are critically ill to avoid an additional inflammatory response caused by the surgical trauma of primary nailing. The conversion towards nailing must be done as soon as the clinical condition of the patient has been stabilised. Stable polytraumatised patients do not benefit from initial stabilisation with an external fixator and should immediately be treated with a definitive osteosynthesis. In tibial fractures, external fixation followed by intramedullary nailing is recommendable in fractures with severe soft tissue injuries. Conversion should be done as soon as the soft tissues allow before pin-tract infections occur and performed in a one-staged procedure.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2015
Observational StudyDynamic detection of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide helps to predict the outcome of patients with major trauma.
NT-proBNP and BNP have been demonstrated to be prognostic markers in cardiac disease and sepsis. However, the prognostic value and the dynamic changes of BNP or NT-proBNP in trauma patients remain unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the dynamic changes of NT-proBNP in patients with major trauma (injury severity score ≥16), determine whether NT-proBNP could be used as a simple index to predict mortality in major trauma patients. ⋯ These findings suggest that dynamic detection of serum NT-proBNP might help to predict death in patients with major trauma. A high level of NT-proBNP at admission or maintained for several days after trauma indicates poor survival.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2015
Viscoelastic hemostatic fibrinogen assays detect fibrinolysis early.
Viscoelastic hemostatic assays are emerging as the standard-of-care in the early detection of post-injury coagulopathy. TEG and ROTEM are most commonly used. Although similar in technique, each uses different reagents, which may affect their sensitivity to detect fibrinolysis. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the ability of each device to detect fibrinolysis. ⋯ TEG assays detect greater changes in clot strength compared to ROTEM. Despite this, Functional Fibrinogen and FIBTEM assays detect fibrinolysis sooner than their corresponding intrinsic and extrinsic assays. Therefore, fibrinogen assays should be employed in actively bleeding trauma patients in order to provide timely antifibrinolytic therapy.