Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D D Brunette.
A case of impressive neurologic recovery after a complete cervical spinal cord injury is presented. The importance of prehospital recognition and immobilization and prompt management of cervical spine injuries is emphasized. Full reduction of the fracture-dislocation of C3 on C4 was accomplished 90 minutes postinjury.
We applied pediatric pneumatic antishock trousers to five young patients who had severe pelvic fractures with evidence of significant retroperitoneal hemorrhage. The trousers were in place for 24 to 96 hours. Utilization of the trousers resulted in stabilization of vital signs and appeared to have decreased ongoing pelvic hemorrhage. No significant complications were noted. We describe a technique for long-term maintenance of pressure within the pneumatic antishock trousers.
This study was done to investigate the effects of hemodilution, hyperbaric oxygenation, and magnesium sulfate on cerebral resuscitation. Sixteen mongrel dogs were anesthetized, and monitored via pulmonary artery catheter, arterial catheter and electrocardiogram. A left lateral thoracotomy was done. Ventricular fibrillation was obtained by application of a 6-volt AC current. Mechanical ventilation was stopped. Total arrest time was 12 min. All dogs were cardiac resuscitated within 6 min using internal massage, ventilation, bicarbonate, epinephrine and internal defibrillation. The animals were then randomized into three groups. Group I represented controls, and were not treated. Group II dogs received normvolemic hemodilution using hetastarch (Hespan) containing magnesium sulfate (2000 mg/l), resulting in a hematocrit of 20%-30%. Group III dogs received the above hemodilution plus compression in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to 2 atmospheres absolute. Critical care management and hourly neurologic scoring was performed for 7 days by blinded observers. All dogs at the time of death underwent autopsies for gross study. Data analysis revealed no statistical difference among the three groups with respect to survival time, cardiac function or neurologic scoring.