Thromboelastography Use in the Acute Young Trauma Patient: Early Experience of Two Level One Trauma Centers

BackgroundThromboelastography (TEG) point-of-care systems allow for analysis of the sum of platelet function, coagulation proteases and inhibitors, and the fibrinolytic system within 30 minutes. This allows a clinician to guide transfusion more precisely with an appropriate type of blood product. Literature has supported that TEG-guided resuscitation had lower mortality compared to standardized 1:1:1 (red blood cells (RBC), fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and platelets) massive transfusion protocol (MTP) in penetrating trauma patients, but data has been sparse in examining the young trauma patient.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional chart review study performed with patients up to 30 years old seen in two level one trauma centers serving children with active bleeding resulting from trauma from January 1, 2010 to June 26, 2018. TEG use was evaluated in these patients.Results258 patients were included in the analysis. 112 (43%) had penetrating trauma and 225 (87%) had polytrauma. MTP was instituted in 176 (69%) patients and 88 (34%) patients who had TEG measured. There were significant correlations between PTT and alpha (r=-0.46; p<0.001), PTT and Kinetics (r=0.53; p<0.001), PTT and maximum amplitude (r=0.449; p<0.001). There were also significant correlations between PT and alpha (r=-0.29; p=0.008), and PT and maximum amplitude (r= -0.27; p=0.013). There was no significant correlation between TEG measures and INR. There were significant associations with requiring surgery within 24 hours 45% vs 61% (p=0.018), receiving TXA 20% vs 59% (p<0.001), and with receiving MTP 62% vs 83% (p=0.001), respectively.ConclusionsMeasurement of TEG was associated with patients receiving TXA, MTP and larger amounts of blood products. Components of TEG correlated with PT and PTT levels. Although there was no association with survival to hospital discharge, patients having TEG measured were more likely to undergo surgery within the first 24 hours of hospital arrival.     

Laparoscopy for Penetrating Thoracoabdominal Trauma: Pitfalls and Promises

Background:

How should the stable patient with penetrating abdominal or lower chest trauma be evaluated? Evolving trends have recently included the use of diagnostic laparoscopy. In September 1995 we instituted a protocol of diagnostic laparoscopy to identify those patients who could safely avoid surgical intervention.

Design:

Prospective case series.

Materials and Methods:

Hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating injuries to the anterior abdomen and lower chest were prospectively evaluated by diagnostic laparoscopy, performed in the operating room under general anesthesia, and considered negative if no peritoneal violation or an isolated nonbleeding liver injury had occurred. If peritoneal violation, major organ injury or hematoma was noted, conversion to open celiotomy was undertaken.

Results:

Seventy consecutive patients were evaluated over a two-year period. The average length of stay (LOS) following negative laparoscopy was 1.5 days, and for negative celiotomy 5.2 days. There were no missed intra-abdominal injuries following 30 negative laparoscopies, and 26 of 40 laparotomies were therapeutic. The technique also proved useful in evaluation of selected blunt and HIV+ trauma vic-tims with unclear clinical presentations. However, while laparoscopy was accurate in assessing the abdomen following penetrating lower chest injuries, significant thoracic injuries were missed in 2 out of 11 patients who required subsequent return to OR for thoracotomy.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopy has become a useful and accu-rate diagnostic tool in the evaluation of abdominal trauma. Nevertheless, laparoscopy still carries a 20% nontheraputic laparotomy rate. Additionally, significant intrathoracic injuries may be missed when laparoscopy is used as the pri-mary technique to evaluate penetrating lower thoracic trauma.     

The Harborview Approach to Craniofacial Trauma: Management of Panfacial Trauma: Sequencing and Pitfalls

Panfacial trauma refers to high-energy mechanism injuries involving two or more areas of the craniofacial skeleton, the frontal bone, the midface, and the occlusal unit. These can be distracting injuries in an unstable patient and, as in any trauma, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols should be followed. The airway should be secured, bleeding controlled, and sequential examinations should take place to avoid overlooking injuries. When indicated, neurosurgery and ophthalmology should be consulted as preservation of brain, vision, and hearing function should be prioritized. Once the patient is stabilized, reconstruction aims to reduce panfacial fractures, restore the horizontal and vertical facial buttresses, and resuspend the soft tissue to avoid the appearance of premature aging. Lost or comminuted bone can be replaced with bone grafts, although adequate reduction should be ensured prior to any grafting. Operative sequencing can be performed from top-down and outside-in or from bottom-up and inside-out depending on patient presentation. All protocols can successfully manage panfacial injuries, and the emphasis should be placed on a systematic approach that works from known areas to unknown areas.     

Hand Trauma Pitfalls: A Retrospective Study of Fight Bites

Abstract Clench fist or fight bite injuries are associated with some of the worst types of infective complications but their mechanism is often poorly understood. In a retrospective case series, 34 patients seen between 1998 and 2004 presented to a local hand surgery unit with confirmed human bite hand injuries. Seventy-six percent presented with infective complications with a mean delay in presentation of 4 days. Eighty percent of patients were clench fist injuries (CFI) (open joints in 59% and tendon injuries in 63%). Using an aggressive treatment policy including early surgical and antibiotic intervention, most patients achieved good results functionally (full range of movement was achieved in 83% of those with CFI which completed follow-up (44%)). High rates of non-compliance and incomplete follow-up was noted. Major long-term complications including limited range of movement and osteomyelitis was low and suggests the policy of prompt and comprehensive surgical and medical intervention is the optimal treatment option. A brief but in-depth discussion of the specific anatomical pitfalls is included. Presented at: 9th World Congress of the International Federation of Societies for the Surgery of the Hand 2004 (IFSSH), June 2004, Budapest, Hungary.     

Blunt Trauma: The Pathophysiology of Hemodynamic Injury Leading to Erectile Dysfunction

A 9 1/2-year pharmaco-cavernosometry/pharmaco-cavernosography and pharmaco-arteriography study was performed in 131 men with persistent changes in erectile function following blunt pelvic or perineal trauma. The goal was to determine the incidence of hemodynamic impairment, and to characterize the location and pattern of abnormal venous drainage. Corporeal veno-occlusive dysfunction was identified in 62 percent of the cases and cavernous artery insufficiency in 70 percent.

Pharmaco-cavernosography revealed abnormal venous drainage confined to the proximal corpora in 91 percent of the cases. Patients with pelvic trauma had significantly more abnormal sites of venous drainage (3 or more sites in 61 percent) and more severe degrees to which venous structures filled with contrast medium (23 percent had 3+ degree of luminal filling) than did patients with perineal trauma (61 percent had 1 or 2 sites of venous drainage and 92 percent had 1+ or 2+ degree of luminal filling). Pharmaco-arteriography revealed site specific arterial occlusive lesions consistent with the site of impact. Traumatic vasculogenic impotence is hypothesized as being the result of direct impact injury to the fixed proximal corpora and its arterial inflow bed. The exerted perineal impact force is estimated to range from 50 to 500 pounds, depending on the weight of the individual, height of the fall, speed at contact and surface hardness. Traumatic veno-occlusive dysfunction is theorized to be the consequence of focal intracavernous wound repair and permanent focal alterations in erectile tissue compliance. Traumatic vasculogenic impotence afflicts an estimated 600,000 American men of whom 250,000 have sports-related injuries. Future consideration should be given to the development of appropriate protective perineal equipment.     

急性创伤性凝血病与创伤复苏治疗

由创伤引起的急性剖伤性凝血病可发生于创伤早期,通常仅见于休克患者。凝血病产生不可控制的失血是严重创伤的主要死亡原因。关键在患者入院当初,早期发现创伤性凝血病。创伤性凝血病的启动因素可能是组织低灌注引发蛋岛C——凝血酶调节蛋白系统过度活化,产生全身性抗凝和原发性纤溶亢进,从而加大失血量,加重出血性休克。最后导致器官功能衰竭和高病死率。因此,急性创伤性凝血病治疗的焦点在于缩短休克期和低灌注状态。要纠正严重创伤伴发的“致命性三联征”。特别对于微血管出血尚未被制止的严重创伤患者,宜积极输入新鲜血浆、浓缩血小板及冷沉淀物。防止不恰当地应用大量输晶体液,或库存血,或蕊缩红细胞液。在大量失血情况下,输注新鲜全血比成分输血更有优越性。重组活化FVII是促进凝血酶生成的强效药物,需要避一步明确其适应证及局限性。     

Hemodynamic and Metabolic Effects of Ketamine Anesthesia in the Geriatric Patient

The cardiovascular and metabolic effects of ketamine as the sole anesthetic agent for surgical correction of fractured neck of femur were studied in eight spontaneously breathing geriatric patients (mean age 83 years) before premedication, at the end of operation, and 15 min and 2 h after the end of anesthesia. Arterial blood pressure, cardiac index, left ventricular stroke work index and oxygen consumption increased during anesthesia but had returned to preoperative levels 15 min after the end of anesthesia. Vascular resistance, heart rate and stroke volume index were not significantly changed. During anesthesia, arterial carbon dioxide tension increased whereas arterial pH and arterial BE decreased. The levels of glucose and lactate increased in both blood and skeletal muscle during anesthesia and remained elevated throughout the period studied but the lactate: pyruvate ratio was unchanged. High energy phosphagen levels in skeletal muscle did not change. Ketamine anesthesia in the spontaneously breathing geriatric patient induces cardiovascular stimulation and metabolic changes indicative of an increased sympathetic stimulation, whereas respiration is slightly depressed. The magnitude of these changes is, however, small and it thus seems that ketamine can be safely used as the sole anesthetic agent for hip fracture surgery in the average geriatric patient.