Traumatic intraperitoneal haemorrhage. Diagnosis by paracentesis and lavage.
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A method is described for detecting blood in the peritoneal cavity in cases of blunt abdominal trauma. It involves introducing a peritoneal dialysis catheter through a single puncture site in the anterior abdominal wall and in some cases performing lavage. Fifty cases have been investigated by this method and the results are presented. (+info)
The Tower of London bomb explosion.
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After the detonation of a bomb in the Tower of London 37 people were brought to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The explosion caused numerous severe injuries of a type rarely seen in peacetime. (+info)
Delayed diagnosis of cardiac tamponade following isolated blunt abdominal trauma.
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Traumatic haemopericardium is an uncommon but life threatening condition. It is usually caused by penetrating cardiac injuries or cardiac rupture from blunt chest trauma. We report haemopericardium and cardiac tamponade in a young girl after blunt abdominal trauma. She presented with mild upper abdominal pain, tachycardia and hypotension having been kicked in the abdomen by a horse. No damage was found at laparotomy and she remained haemodynamically unstable. Further investigation found cardiac tamponade and haemopericardium. This was managed by insertion of a pericardial drain using transthoracic echocardiogram guidance, with later drainage in the operating theatre using guidance with a transoesophageal echocardiogram. (+info)
Selective nonoperative management in 1,856 patients with abdominal gunshot wounds: should routine laparotomy still be the standard of care?
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of a policy of selective nonoperative management (SNOM) in patients with abdominal gunshot wounds. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Selective nonoperative management is practiced extensively in stab wounds and blunt abdominal trauma, but routine laparotomy is still the standard of care in abdominal gunshot wounds. METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of 1,856 patients with abdominal gunshot wounds (1,405 anterior, 451 posterior) admitted during an 8-year period in a busy academic level 1 trauma center and managed by SNOM. According to this policy, patients who did not have peritonitis, were hemodynamically stable, and had a reliable clinical examination were observed. RESULTS: Initially, 792 (42%) patients (34% of patients with anterior and 68% with posterior abdominal gunshot wounds) were selected for nonoperative management. During observation 80 (4%) patients developed symptoms and required a delayed laparotomy, which revealed organ injuries requiring repair in 57. Five (0.3%) patients suffered complications potentially related to the delay in laparotomy, which were managed successfully. Seven hundred twelve (38%) patients were successfully managed without an operation. The rate of unnecessary laparotomy was 14% among operated patients (or 9% among all patients). If patients were managed by routine laparotomy, the unnecessary laparotomy rate would have been 47% (39% for anterior and 74% for posterior abdominal gunshot wounds). Compared with patients with unnecessary laparotomy, patients managed without surgery had significantly shorter hospital stays and lower hospital charges. By maintaining a policy of SNOM instead of routine laparotomy, a total of 3,560 hospital days and $9,555,752 in hospital charges were saved over the period of the study. CONCLUSION: Selective nonoperative management is a safe method for managing patients with abdominal gunshot wounds in a level 1 trauma center with an in-house trauma team. It reduces significantly the rate of unnecessary laparotomy and hospital charges. (+info)
Patterns of abdominal injuries in frontal and side impacts.
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Public awareness for safety and vehicle improvements has contributed to significant reduction in injuries secondary to motor vehicle crashes. The spectrum of trauma has shifted from one region of the body to another with varying consequences. For example, airbags have minimized head and neck injuries for adults while emphasizing the lower regions of the human body. Studies have concentrated on the changing patterns of these injuries in frontal impacts. However, there is almost a paucity of data with regard to the characterization of abdominal injuries. Consequently, this study was conducted to determine the patterns of abdominal injuries in frontal and side impacts with an emphasis on more recent crashes. In particular, the frequency and severity of trauma were investigated with a focus on the various abdominal organs (e.g., spleen and liver). Results indicate that side crashes contribute to a large percentage of injuries to the abdomen. The liver and spleen organs are most vulnerable; therefore, it may be beneficial to apply concerted efforts to focus on injury biomechanics research and prioritization activities in these areas of the abdomen. These data may be of benefit to develop anthropomorphic dummies with improved biofidelity. (+info)
Investigations of crashes involving pregnant occupants.
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Case reports of 16 crashes involving pregnant occupants are presented that illustrate the main conclusions of a crash-investigation program that includes 42 crashes investigated to date. Some unusual cases that are exceptions to the overall trends are also described. The study indicates a strong association between adverse fetal outcome and both crash severity and maternal injury. Proper restraint use, with and without airbag deployment, generally leads to acceptable fetal outcomes in lower severity crashes, while it does not affect fetal outcome in high-severity crashes. Compared to properly restrained pregnant occupants, improperly restrained occupants have a higher risk of adverse fetal outcome in lower severity crashes, which comprise the majority of all motor-vehicle collisions. (+info)
The absence of protein--sparing effects utilizing crystalline amino acids in stressed patients.
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The protein-sparing effects of the peripheral infusion of crystalline amino acids (PAA) was studied metabolically in selected surgical patients subjected to various degrees of stress. Twenty-one patients (sixteen cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, three with major abdominal traumatic injuries and four with paralytic ileus) were infused with 2 1/24 hours of a solution of 4.2% Travasol amino acids with only 5% glucose as a source of nonprotein calories. One-half of the cancer patients were also allowed ad libitum oral intake of a regular hospital diet or Vivonex-HN. The nutritional status was evaluated by measuring changes in body weight, serum albumin levels and nitrogen balance. Body weight decreased in only the trauma patients. When these solutions were the sole source of nutrients all patients were in negative nitrogen balance and had significant decreases in their serum albumin levels. Serum albumin levels were preserved only when extra sources of calories were provided. The infusion of the crystalline amino acids without adequate levels of nonprotein energy did not conserve protein in these stressed patients. (+info)
Moorgate tube train disaster. Part II. Clinicopathological review.
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A review of the injuries sustained by the 113 casualties of the Moorgate tube train disaster has shown the need for rapid evacuation of casualties. Recognition of the "crush syndrome" and its early consequence, hyperkalaemia, is important and a radical surgical approach is suggested. Chest injuries were common and contributed to many of the deaths. (+info)