Surgical management of cardiac arrest caused by massive pulmonary embolism in trauma patients.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
L Engrav
Publications and source records attributed to L Engrav.
Is immediate decompression of high voltage electrical injuries to the upper extremity always necessary?
OBJECTIVE: To determine if immediate decompression is required for all high voltage injuries to the upper extremity. DESIGN: Retrospective review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Charts reviewed of 62 patients who had upper extremity contact with >1,000 volts of electricity over a 10-year period. MAIN RESULTS: One hundred upper extremities were treated. Twenty-two percent were decompressed within 24 hours because of progressive nerve dysfunction, clinical compartment syndrome, or failure of resuscitation. This group required a mean of 4.2 operations with an amputation rate of 45%, similar to other series. Thirty-five percent of burned extremities had their first operative procedure delayed until resuscitation was complete. This group required a mean of 2.1 operations with no amputations. Forty-three percent of extremities did not require operations to achieve healing. Overall results show a 10.0% amputation rate and mean hospital stay of 27 days. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the need for amputation and multiple operations is determined by the injury itself and that immediate decompression is only required for the usual clinical signs of compartment syndrome. Selective decompression may actually preserve tissue and decrease the need for eventual amputation because fasciotomy can lead to soft tissue dessication by exposing viable tissue.
Adolescent↗
Improved accuracy of burn wound assessment using laser Doppler.
The utility of the laser Doppler for determining burn depth has been questioned because of problems with technology and methodology. This study prospectively evaluates the ability of a new laser Doppler technique to predict burn healing time. Using the Periflux System 4000 laser Doppler, readings were taken on 305 burns (147 patients) on postburn day 3 or 4. Sixty-six wounds were used to derive a predictive function (phase I) and 152 wounds were used to test the function (phase II). Blood flow dynamics (flux), microvascular dilation capacity of the wounds to beat stress, and flow motion wave pattern (vasomotion) were studied using the laser Doppler, and seven parameters were evaluated to determine their relative contribution to the prediction of healing time. These parameters are hyperemic flux (flux value after heating to 42 degrees C), average hyperemic wave amplitude (AHWA), number of average flux units >100(F100), number readings with wave amplitude 75 (A5), average flux change (AFC), percentage of average flux increase, and relative flow capacity (RFC = AFC/average hyperemic flux). After readings were made, the wounds were observed and divided into two groups: those that healed in less than 14 days and those that healed or were grafted after 14 days. A step-wise discriminant analysis was used to assess the relative contribution of the Doppler-derived measures to healing time prediction. AHWA, F100, and RFC were included in the final discriminant function explaining 72% of the healing time variance (Wilks' lambda value 0.28; p value <0.0001). Predicted outcome = 0.05(AHWA) + 0.31(F100) + 5.0(RFC) - 2.3. With this derived function, there is 94% accuracy in the prediction of burn wound healing time compared with a physician predictive accuracy of 70%.
Adolescent↗
Flow recovery and vasoconstriction following microvascular anastomosis.
A variety of factors may limit blood flow recovery in free flaps. In this study one of these factors, vasoconstriction, and its consequences was investigated. Blood flow recovery at the skin level following microvascular anastomosis was evaluated in the rat orthotopic groin free flap model using a laser Doppler velocimeter. In a study of 41 rats, measurements of external vessel diameter were made using a standard machinist's drum micrometer. After each flap was raised and the anastomoses performed, the field was flooded with either saline, 2% lidocaine, or 0.75% bupivacaine (Marcaine). The vascular clamps were released and measurements of flow were recorded as a percentage of the control value. In the saline-control group, it was found that flow gradually recovered to 91% of the preoperative value in an average time of 5.7 minutes. Six of 12 vessels in this group were found to have measurable spasm of the pedicle. In the lidocaine-treated group, flow recovered to 93% of the preoperative value in an average of 5.0 minutes. Two of 15 vessels had measurable spasm. In the Marcaine-treated group, flow recovered to 94% of the preoperative value in an average of 5.1 minutes. Three of 14 vessels showed measurable spasm. The final level of flow recovery showed no statistical difference in any of these groups whether or not spasm was present. We therefore conclude that, in this model, alteration in the diameter of the vascular pedicle as a consequence of performing a microvascular anastomosis affects only the time it takes to achieve ultimate recovery of flow but does not affect its final level.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Experience with skeletal immobilization after excision and grafting of severely burned hands.
The use of skeletal immobilization with 'hayrakes' and 'banjos' after excision and grafting of 68 severely burned hands was reviewed. It is ideally used in the patient with wounds that are circumferential or extend onto the forearm or when the patient will likely need continuous passive range of motion postoperatively. Serious infectious complications which could be directly attributed to the skeletal traction itself were rare. Peripheral nerve and arterial injuries were not encountered. The use of this technique when joints or tendons are involved or when the hands are easily splintable is not recommended. It appears to be a safe technique and results in excellent sheet graft take and hand function.
Adolescent↗
Vasomotor control in healed grafted skin in humans.
Do the vasomotor functions unique to skin recover in a skin graft? To determine whether locally mediated vasodilation and active reflex vasodilation recovery, we applied direct heating and whole-body heating, respectively. Also, presence of sympathetic cutaneous vasoconstriction was tested with application of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) during local heating. Subjects were six men who had been severely burned. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was recorded (venous occlusion plethysmography) in regions with healed split-thickness circumferential grafts. All subjects responded normally to local heating of the forearm (irrigation with 42 degrees C water). All but one showed cutaneous vasoconstriction in response to LBNP. Three subjects responded normally to whole-body heating with water-perfused suits (oral temperature elevation approximately 1.5 degrees C); two subjects had attenuated responses. No active vasodilation was normal cutaneous vasomotor functions return in (or under) split-thickness skin grafts, recovery and associated thermoregulatory function may be attenuated or absent, perhaps in relation to the survival of dermis.
Adolescent↗
Burn depth: a review.
Despite the plethora of technologic advances, the most common technique for diagnosing burn depth remains the clinical assessment of an experienced burn surgeon. It is clear that this assessment is accurate for very deep and very shallow burns. But since clinical judgment is not precise in telling whether a dermal burn will heal in 3 weeks, efforts to develop a burn depth indicator are certainly warranted to accurately determine which dermal burns to excise and graft. This review summarizes the considerable literature in which a variety of techniques to determine burn depth have been used.
Animals↗
Alcohol use and burn injury.
Charts of 108 consecutive adult patients with flame burns of 20% to 70% total body surface area were reviewed to determine the incidence of acute alcohol intoxication and the likelihood that intoxicated patients were chronic alcohol abusers, to assess morbidity and mortality in the alcoholic patient with burns, and to characterize the intervention used in postdischarge treatment of the alcoholic patient with burns who survives. Twenty-seven percent of patients were acutely intoxicated at the time of injury. Evidence for chronic alcohol abuse was apparent in 90% of intoxicated patients, compared to only 11% of nonintoxicated patients (p = 0.0001). Alcoholic patients with burns not only had an overall mortality rate three times that of nonalcoholics (p = 0.001) but also died of smaller burns (p less than 0.05). Surviving alcoholic patients with burns required significantly more intravenous antibiotics and a longer hospitalization. Social service evaluation of use of alcohol was made in 84% of the cases of surviving intoxicated burn victims. Further intervention was undertaken in two thirds of these cases, usually involving an outpatient treatment program.
Adult↗
Barriers to employment among working-aged patients with major burn injury.
The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of preexisting and burn-related impairments and to describe their association with preburn employment status. Data gathered during the acute hospitalization were analyzed on a consecutive series of burn patients aged 16 to 64 years (N = 770) enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study. Patients who were unemployed before the injury were more likely than those who were employed to report being alcohol-dependent (36 vs 18%), abusing other drugs (22 vs 10%), having received psychiatric treatment in the past year (21 vs 6%), and having preexisting physical disability (23 vs 3%); all were significant at P < .001). Of the unemployed patients who received toxicologic screening at admission, 49% tested positive for alcohol and 39% positive for other drugs, percentages that were significantly higher than 26 and 31%, respectively, for the employed. With adjustment for age, sex, race, and education, variables that were most predictive of preinjury unemployment status were preexisting physical disability (odds ratio, 51.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.7-336.9) and being alcohol-positive at admission (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.8). Unemployed and employed patients also differed significantly in injury patterns and clinical outcomes, with inhalation injury and psychiatric distress being more prevalent among the unemployed and both hand burns and hand surgery among the employed. The greater prevalence of preexisting impairments among survivors who were unemployed before the injury helps explain why preburn employment status is such a powerful determinant of postburn work outcomes, and suggests the need to include psychosocial services in a program of comprehensive rehabilitation.
Adolescent↗
Current management of purpura fulminans: a multicenter study.
Seven burn centers performed a 10-yr retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with purpura fulminans. Patient demographics, etiology, presentation, medical and surgical treatment, and outcome were reviewed. A total of 70 patients were identified. Mean patient age was 13 yr. Neisseria meningitidis was the most common etiologic agent in infants and adolescents whereas Streptococcus commonly afflicted the adult population. Acute management consisted of antibiotic administration, volume resuscitation, ventilatory and inotropic support, with occasional use of corticosteroids (38%) and protein C replacement (9%). Full-thickness skin and soft-tissue necrosis was extensive, requiring skin grafting and amputations in 90% of the patients. One fourth of the patients required amputations of all extremities. Fasciotomies when performed early appeared to limit the level of amputation in 6 of 14 patients. Therefore, fasciotomies during the initial management of these patients may reduce the depth of soft-tissue involvement and the extent of amputations.
Adolescent↗
The 2000 Clinical Research Award. Describing and predicting distress and satisfaction with life for burn survivors.
We investigated ratings of emotional distress and satisfaction with life at discharge from the hospital and at a 6-month follow-up in a multisite sample of 295 adults hospitalized for the care of a major burn injury. Several psychosocial variables (history of alcohol abuse, marital status, and previous mental health) and some medical variables (days of intensive care, pulmonary complications, and hand burns) accounted for significant variance in the prediction of outcomes. Brief Symptom Inventory (distress) scores were higher and Satisfaction With Life Scale scores were significantly lower than those of a normative population at both measurement points. The results show the utility of biosocial models in which psychological and physical variables interact to influence adjustment and quality of life.
Adult↗