Articles: trauma.
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In multisystem trauma, the assessment and management of globe and adnexal trauma is often complex. Ophthalmology input may assist managing such patients. To understand the role of ophthalmology in tertiary trauma centres we report on the management of globe and adnexal trauma at two tertiary trauma centres in Sydney, Australia. ⋯ Falls followed by burns were common causes of globe and adnexal trauma in Sydney, Australia. The presence of orbital/mid-facial injury may indicate a patient has globe trauma. In multisystem trauma, globe trauma may be diagnosed late or not identified. Ophthalmology review has an important role in diagnosing and managing globe trauma in multisystem trauma.
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A quad bike or an all-terrain vehicle is a four-wheeled powered vehicle generally designed for off-road use. They are widely used for farm-related work and more recently for recreational purposes. The potential for serious injury and death with quad bike use is a growing public health concern. There is an inherent instability in their design and they are typically used on rugged terrain characterised by dangerous driving surfaces. This study examines quad bike related trauma in Ireland using a national trauma registry to identify patient demographics, injury mechanism and type, treatments received and outcomes. ⋯ Quad bike related trauma predominantly affects a young male cohort with serious injury characteristics. A sizeable proportion of patients are under 18 years of age. This data can better inform national policies and public awareness campaigns targeting this trauma subset. The head was the most common severely injured body region, highlighting the potential need for legislative intervention regarding mandatory helmet use. A large cohort of patients required transfer for definitive care which has implications for trauma care pathways and advocates for the development of an integrated trauma system in Ireland.
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Intranasal (IN) medications offer a safe non-invasive way to rapidly deliver drugs in situations where intravenous (IV) access and intramuscular (IM) administration is challenging or not feasible. In the prehospital setting, this can be an essential alternative in time critical situations including trauma management, seizures, and agitated patients. However, there is a paucity of evidence summarizing its efficacy in this environment. This systematic review aims to assess the current evidence supporting the use of IN medicine (midazolam, ketamine, fentanyl, morphine, glucagon, and naloxone) in the prehospital setting alone. ⋯ Prehospital IN medication administration has wide-ranging potential, particularly for administering analgesia. There are likely to be certain populations, for example, pediatrics, that will benefit the most, although conclusions are limited by the quality of evidence currently available. We encourage additional research in this area, particularly with robust prospective double-blind RCTs.
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Resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) is a critical procedure performed in certain trauma patients in extremis, with extremely low survival rates. Currently, there is a paucity of data pertaining to prehospital variables and their predictive role in survival outcomes in traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) patients requiring RT. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of prehospital intubation and out-of-hospital time (OOHT) on return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival in TCA requiring RT. ⋯ There was a significant association between prehospital intubation and lower likelihoods of ROSC in the penetrating TCA population requiring RT, as well as with the absence of prehospital SOL in all patients. OOHT did not appear to significantly impact ROSC or survival.
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Case Reports
Prehospital Massive Transfusion for Resuscitation of an Entrapped Patient in a Rural Setting: A Case Report.
Resuscitation of injured patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock with blood products in the prehospital environment is becoming more commonplace. However, blood product utilization is typically restricted and can be exhausted in the event of a prolonged entrapment. Delivery of large amounts of blood products to a scene is rare, particularly in rural settings. ⋯ The patient survived to hospital discharge. Delivery of large volumes of blood products to an entrapped patient with prolonged extrication time may be a lifesaving intervention. We advocate for integration of blood bank services and on scene physician guided resuscitation for prolonged extrications.