Genitourinary trauma

Injuries to the GU system commonly occur in patients with high-energy lower abdominal or pelvic trauma. The emergency physician should be well versed in the diagnosis and management of GU trauma, although these injuries are not usually life threatening because of the potential for loss of urinary or sexual function. In the setting of hemodynamic instability, diagnosis and treatment of GU injuries is often accomplished in the operative setting. In the stable patient, diagnostic testing is directed by the type of suspected injury and must proceed in a reverse manner, i.e., external injury then urethral injury then bladder, and finally urethral and renal damage. Treatment focuses on a team approach between the emergency physician, general, orthopedic, and urologic surgeon. The decision for operative repair is often dictated more by other associated injuries than urologic injuries, and the urologic surgeon often provides temporizing measures with definitive repair at a later time. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of injuries to the external genitals results in excellent long-term outcome, minimizing the devastating consequences of impotence, urinary incontinence, and sexual disfiguration.     

Emergency nursing management of the multiple trauma patient

This case study reinforces key principles in caring for multiply injured trauma victims. The Primary Survey is a tool developed to allow those caring for trauma patients to prioritize injuries. Those injuries identified in the Primary Survey will be the most life threatening.     

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: a review

The frequency of traumatic injuries to the thoracic aorta has increased in recent years, paralleling the upward trend in the number of vehicular accidents. Blunt trauma is the predominant mechanism. In dealing with the survivors of the immediate impact, a high index of suspicion for aortic tears will allow the radiologist to recognize important signs on the chest roentgenogram; he will be able to direct further necessary steps and secure the diagnosis of an aortic tear. The following article will review the pertinent recent literature on the subject and emphasize a practical approach to the diagnosis of this not uncommon but life-threatening lesion.     

Venous trauma: new lessons and old debates

Historically, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of venous trauma have not been well understood. Venous injuries often have subtle presentations, unclear consequences, and debatable treatment options. Many venous injuries are asymptomatic and are diagnosed only during surgical exploration for other injuries. The obvious venous injury is the one found during surgical exploration of an arterial trauma. Isolated venous injuries are difficult to diagnose and often only discovered if massive swelling or life-threatening hemorrhage occurs. Once discovered, the question is how to treat: ligation or repair. The answer is the prudent use of both methods. For patients at the brink of hemodynamic collapse, ligation is the best choice. For stable patients, an effort should be made to reestablish venous outflow. Definitive repair in unstable patients should not attempted, instead temporary solutions should be used that will allow the patient to leave the operating room quickly and began correction of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy.     

Epidemiology and outcome of pediatric trauma treated by an emergency-physician-staffed advanced life-support unit

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and outcome of pediatric trauma in the setting of an emergency-physician-staffed mobile advanced life support (ALS) unit serving a predominantly urban area in Austria. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, all pediatric trauma patients (0-14 years of age) who were treated by a physician-staffed ALS unit in Innsbruck within a 3-year period were analyzed. In addition, hospital charts were assessed to determine the clinical course and the outcome of these patients. RESULTS: 113 injured children were treated by the physician-staffed ALS unit (1.5% of all runs) during the study period; a frequency of three pediatric trauma patients per month. On average, injuries were of moderate severity (2.6 +/- 1.3 on the NACA severity scale). Thirteen children (11.5%) sustained severe to life-threatening injuries and two of whom underwent out-of-hospital resuscitation. The majority of the injuries were caused by vehicular accidents and sports/recreation-related trauma; head trauma was the most frequent injury. Violence-related trauma including weapon-inflicted injuries was uncommon. 40% of the children were hospitalized. The overall outcome was favorable: 78% of the hospitalized children had no impairment at the time of discharge. By comparing the prehospital trauma diagnosis with the final diagnosis, we found that the vast majority of emergency-physician trauma diagnoses were accurate. CONCLUSION: Because the frequency of pediatric trauma is so low, ALS units may not gain adequate experience in the management of (severe) pediatric trauma, thus rendering regular training of paramount importance.     

Ureteral injury due to penetrating trauma

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the diagnosis and management of penetrating ureteral injuries at our trauma center. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 12 patients with ureteral injuries secondary to penetrating ureteral trauma. RESULTS: From January 1995 to December 2000, a total of 12 patients were diagnosed and treated for penetrating ureteral injuries. The diagnosis was made acutely in nine patients, and a delayed diagnosis was made in three patients. Hematuria was present in the nine patients diagnosed acutely, and these patients had either preoperative or intraoperative imaging. All patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, and ureteral injuries were missed in the three patients without radiologic imaging or hematuria. Repair of the ureteral injuries was highly successful, and patients diagnosed acutely had decreased morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic ureteral injuries from penetrating trauma are uncommon, and a high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose ureteral injuries when hematuria is not present and imaging is nondiagnostic.     

Sonographic diagnosis of traumatic gallbladder rupture.

Gallbladder injuries after blunt abdominal trauma are rare and often follow a vague and insidious clinical course. Consequently, gallbladder injuries commonly go undiagnosed until exploratory laparotomy. Early diagnosis is essential, because trauma to the gallbladder is typically treated surgically, and delay in treatment can result in considerable mortality and morbidity. With sonography emerging as a first-line modality for evaluation of intra-abdominal trauma, sonographers may wish to become more familiar with the appearance of gallbladder injury on sonography to facilitate earlier diagnosis and to improve treatment and prognosis. We report a case of gallbladder perforation after blunt abdominal trauma diagnosed on the basis of computed tomography (CT) and sonography.     

Imaging Considerations in Musculoskeletal Trauma

Musculoskeletal trauma is among the most common reasons for people to seek medical attention. Appropriate imaging is a key component to the initial assessment and ongoing evaluation of all trauma patients. The indications for specific radiographic views and advanced imaging vary depending on the injury. This article reviews recommended imaging for common orthopedic injuries and trauma injuries requiring special attention because of their association with morbidity and mortality. Nurse practitioners in acute and primary care settings should be familiar with the indicated imaging for these injuries to ensure timely and complete diagnosis while not causing harm to the patient.     

A comparison of diagnostic peritoneal lavage and computed tomography (CT scan) in evaluation of the hemodynamically stable patient with blunt abdominal trauma.

The diagnosis of intraabdominal injury in the patient who is victim of blunt trauma is often problematic. Currently, two procedures, diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and computed tomography (CT scan) are used to evaluate patients with possible intraabdominal injuries after blunt trauma. Controversy exists as to which of these modalities is more efficacious in this setting. There are advantages and disadvantages of both procedures, however, present evidence suggests that the clinician should not rely on the results of the CT scan. The DPL, on the other hand is a sensitive and specific modality in evaluating the patient with blunt abdominal trauma.     

Intermittent left bundle branch block (LBBB) as a clinical manifestation of myocardial contusion after blunt chest trauma

Injury to the heart in blunt chest trauma is dependent on a number of factors. Symptoms are often non-specific, and there is no gold standard test for diagnosis. Injuries to small areas of the myocardium may only be identified at autopsy. We report a 38 year old man who sustained a number of injuries in a road traffic accident, and in whom the single clinical or ECG abnormality was a left bundle branch block (LBBB); he had a myocardial injury rated as grade II. The patient was treated for his injuries and later discharged. As this is a difficult diagnosis, algorithms of blunt chest trauma may save time and money by avoiding misleading diagnosis and unnecessary monitoring and admissions.     

Retroperitoneal injuries: pitfalls in diagnosis and management

Retroperitoneal injury caused by penetrating trauma or associated with progressive shock following blunt trauma is usually recognized promptly and managed appropriately. Isolated retroperitoneal injury from blunt trauma, unless accompanied by major hemorrhage or gross hematuria, is often difficult to diagnose and needed treatment may be delayed. Although clinical examination remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, the high incidence of ethanol abuse and/or concurrent head injury in trauma patients has led to increased use of computed tomography in the diagnosis of abdominal trauma. To determine the effect, if any, of CT examination on the diagnosis and management of retroperitoneal trauma, we reviewed our patient experience. During the 16-month period ending in April 1986, 135 patients sustained 177 retroperitoneal injuries (116 by blunt and 19 by penetrating trauma). There were 26 deaths (19% mortality). There were 90 pelvic fractures and 31 lumbar spine fractures, as well as 21 genitourinary, 12 gastrointestinal, five pancreatic, and eight major vascular injuries. Ten patients had isolated retroperitoneal hematomas. We conclude that (1) patients with retroperitoneal injuries and coexisting intraperitoneal injuries should have early operation; (2) isolated retroperitoneal trauma tends to lead to observation unless CT is used as part of the early assessment; and (3) routine use of CT in patients at risk accurately defines the extent of injury and enhances clinical management.     

Blunt carotid artery trauma: a case report

Blunt carotid artery trauma represents only 3% of all carotid artery injuries, but 42% of reported cases have been associated with severe neurologic deficits. We present a case of blunt injury to the right internal carotid artery with subsequent thrombosis and neurologic deficit. Computed tomography (CT) of the head without contrast was normal, a finding that emphasizes the importance of obtaining carotid arteriograms in any patient with a focal neurologic deficit but a normal CT of the head. We review the incidence, mechanism, presentation, and treatment of blunt carotid injuries. We also stress the importance of observing for blunt carotid injuries in the patient with blunt cervical trauma in order to allow earlier intervention, since patient outcome is dependent on that early recognition and intervention.     

1045例胸部外伤患者临床分析与研究

目的 了解胸部外伤的特点，探讨处理胸部外伤的策略。方法 统计分析我院自1990年1月～2004年5月间收治的胸部外伤患者1045例，接院前时间、外伤疾病、临床表现、治疗方法、治疗结果分类。结果 交通事故伤是胸部外伤最常见的原因（38．7％）；闭合性胸部损伤占70％，经非手术治疗后好转、治愈者805例，占77％，须紧急开胸手术占胸外伤患者的5．5％。死亡率为0．7％．其中主要为合并心脏大血管损伤死亡和合并颅脑损伤死亡。结论 加强交通安全教育是减少胸部创伤的重要环节。缩短院前时间、改善院前救护、加强基层医院对严重外伤的救治水平是降低死亡率的基础。多发伤的及时正确诊断、重视非手术治疗、及时手术治疗是降低死亡率的保障。     

Thoracic and neck trauma. Part two

In the previous part of this four part series on thoracic trauma the anatomy and physiology of the thorax, assessment and initial nursing interventions, imaging and adjuncts to diagnosis were discussed. Part 2 describes specific chest wall and lung injuries, types of pneumothoraces and their diagnosis and management. Sections 3 and 4 will examine other types of thoracic injuries and their management, such as trauma to the diaphragm and heart. The final part provides a brief but concise overview of neck anatomy, trauma and management.     

Delayed enterothorax and hepatothorax due to missed right-sided traumatic diaphragmatic rupture

Traumatic diaphragma ruptures (DRs) are an unusual condition after blunt thoracoabdominal trauma, and there are some difficulties in the diagnosis, in the absence of the additional life-threatening injuries. Right-sided injuries are less frequent than left-sided injuries and may be missed easily. Intrathoracic herniation of abdominal organs is an uncommon condition for right-sided DR. Particularly, to our knowledge, progressive hepatothorax and enterothorax that develop over years are a very rare presentation of DR. Herein, we present a case of progressive thoracic herniation of the abdominal organs, diagnosed 22 years after the initial trauma.     

HRCT诊断外伤性颞骨内耳损伤

目的 探讨HRCT诊断外伤性颞骨内耳损伤的价值。方法 对106例颞骨外伤患者进行HRCT轴位扫描,收集其中内耳损伤患者12例。应用Philips工作站,行颞骨（耳蜗、前庭、水平半规管、前半规管、后半规管） MPR并观察内耳损伤位置、类型及其相邻结构受累的情况。结果 12例内耳损伤患者中,内耳骨折8例,气迷路3例,耳蜗异物1例;3例合并外伤性迷路骨化。结论 HRCT扫描及MPR重建技术可清晰显示内耳受损情况,是诊断内耳损伤的有效方法。     

The Morel-Lavallée lesionLavalleeLavelle

BackgroundTrauma patients present to the emergency department with various injuries. Few injuries can be easily missed during the evaluation of polytrauma patients. We report one such rare injury in a trauma patient.Case ReportWe report the case of a 67-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with an alleged history of trauma. He reported severe pain in the lower abdomen, right hip, and right thigh. An x-ray study did not reveal any bony injury, and an extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma was also negative. Point-of-care ultrasound of his right thigh revealed the presence of a Morel-Lavallée lesion.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Morel-Lavallée lesions are post-traumatic, closed, degloving injuries that go unnoticed in many polytrauma patients. Emergency physicians should be mindful of this lesion because delay in diagnosis can result in significant complications.     

Thoracic and neck trauma. Part four

Previous parts to this series on thoracic and neck trauma discussed the anatomy and physiology of the thorax, assessment and initial nursing interventions, imaging and adjuncts to diagnosis. Part 2 described specific chest wall and lung injuries, types of pneumothoraces and their diagnosis and management. Section 3 examined other types of thoracic injuries and their management, such as trauma to the diaphragm and heart. This final part provides a brief but concise overview of neck anatomy, trauma and management.     

Utilisation de l’échocardiographie Doppler dans la prise en charge des lésions cardiovasculaires traumatiques

Over the last decade, the initial assessment of patients presenting with a severe thoracic trauma changed dramatically. Angiography, historically considered the reference imaging modality for the diagnosis of traumatic aortic injuries (TAI), has been supplanted by non invasive techniques. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography of the chest are first-line imaging techniques currently used in most trauma centers for the screening of patients with suspected TAI. With the respect of a learning curve, TEE is an accurate imaging modality for the diagnosis of TAI and blunt cardiac trauma. In addition to its diagnostic capability, TEE provides valuable information which help guiding the therapeutic management of injured patients. The acute management of patients presenting with a precordial wound is mainly based on the early diagnosis of hemopericardium which should prompt surgical repair of an underlying cardiac injury. Accordingly, transthoracic echocardiography is the pivotal test performed upon admission, whereas TEE is usually performed peroperatively to precisely identify associated cardiac injuries. In summary, echocardiography Doppler is a pivotal imaging modality for the assessment of patients at high risk of sustaining blunt or penetrating cardiovascular trauma. This implies a consistent availability of full-featured echocardiographic systems and trained operators in trauma centers.     

CT平扫在肠及肠系膜损伤诊断的价值

目的 探讨CT平扫对肠及肠系膜损伤的诊断价值.方法 回顾分析129例腹部钝性损伤病例的CT平扫及临床资料.初步诊断结果为CT半扫诊断结果,临床最终诊断结果为手术结果.和/或临床跟踪结果,并作统计学分析.结果 CT平扫初步诊断49例肠及肠系膜损伤,其中41例得到证实,CT平扫对肠及肠系膜损伤诊断的准确性为79.1%,敏感性为68.3%,特异性为88.4%.CT初步诊断与临床最终诊断比较无统计学差异（X2=3.7.17＞0.05）.结论 CT平扫能对腹部闭合性外伤病人的肠及肠系膜损伤作出准确诊断.