Journal of trauma nursing : the official journal of the Society of Trauma Nurses
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Propofol (Diprivan) is an intravenous sedative hypnotic that is used in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia and sedation. High-dose infusions have been associated with several serious adverse effects and, when combined, they are known as propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS). Although PRIS is rare, it is frequently fatal if not identified early. The purpose of this article is to raise practitioner awareness to this syndrome, with recommendations for early identification, prevention, and treatment of PRIS.
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There have been numerous reports concerning gunshot wounds to the heart over the years. Many reports discuss bullets that have embolized and have migrated antegrade. However, there has never been a case reported on the retrograde embolization of a bullet from the right ventricle into the inferior vena cava. ⋯ Under fluoroscopy, the bullet was pulled down into the right common femoral vein. The bullet was extracted per venorrhaphy. The patient was extubated within hours after surgery and discharged home within 72 hours of surgery.
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When traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs simultaneously with more obviously life-threatening wounds, it may go unrecognized. Civilians and military personnel working in or near combat zones are at risk for this injury. Blast-related and closed-head injuries, rather than penetrating injuries, constitute the majority of TBIs in this population. The authors describe the experiences of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center team at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and present a composite case to illustrate the nurse's role in the assessment and care of the TBI patient.
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Trauma is responsible for 25% of all emergency department visits causing a healthcare burden of more than $400 billion a year. Timely and appropriate fluid resuscitation may mean the difference between survival and death. ⋯ This article will evaluate current research regarding the various types of fluid resuscitation in the trauma population. Colloid and crystalloid fluid will be compared describing the risks and benefits of each.
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Emergency department visits reached more than 115 million in 2005, a 30% increase over the past decade. Although much has been written regarding these numbers, little attention has been focused on the impact of overcrowding and volume increases on rural emergency departments. Rural emergency departments face challenges unlike their urban counterparts that make implementation of current overcrowding strategies difficult or impossible. This article addresses these challenges and suggests strategies specific to the needs of rural emergency departments.