Articles: trauma.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2024
Observational StudyHelicopter emergency medical services demonstrate reduced time to emergency anaesthesia in an undifferentiated trauma population: a retrospective observational analysis across three major trauma networks.
Early rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) and tracheal intubation for patients with airway or ventilatory compromise following major trauma is recommended, with guidance suggesting a 45-min timeframe. Whilst on-scene RSI is recommended, the potential time benefit offered by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) has not been studied. We compared the time from 999/112 emergency call to delivery of RSI between patients intubated either in the Emergency Department or pre-hospital by HEMS. ⋯ Major trauma patients who had a pre-hospital RSI received this time-critical intervention sooner after their injury than those who received an emergency anaesthetic after conveyance to a specialist hospital. Patient outcome benefit of HEMS delivered early RSI should be explored.
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The combination of burns and non-thermal trauma may have a synergistic effect on mortality. Our objective was to determine if burn patients with concomitant trauma are at increased risk of mortality in both the prehospital and in-hospital settings. ⋯ Prehospital mortality was increased in patients with combined burns and trauma.
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Cervical stenosis (CS) is the pathologic narrowing of the central canal of the cervical spine. It is often incidentally discovered. It is unclear whether pre-existing CS can lead to worse outcomes and higher incidences of post-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). ⋯ Though patients with pre-existing CS do not have higher odds of SCI in studies with internal controls, we find that patients with CS do have higher incidences of SCI and are over-represented in the population of SCI patients. In select CS patients with active lifestyles, close follow-up and consideration of various treatment options may be indicated.