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[First aid for multiple trauma patients: investigative survey in the Firenze-Bologna area].

Overall mortality ascribable to multiple traumas, that in Italy is responsible for about 8,000 death/year, is strictly dependent on the function of the so called Trauma Care System. This study reports on an epidemiological survey conducted in the urban area of Florence along a 23-month period (from Jan 97 to Nov 99), with the aim to identify the typology of traumas and the first aid care delivered to the person until hospital admission. These data were compared to those collected in the urban area of Bologna because the composition of the first-aid team is different, being nurses, in Bologna, an integral component of the first aid system. On a total of 118 multiple traumas, 17% was represented by isolated head trauma, while in 72% involvement of other organs was present in addition to the head; 11% of cases were abdominal or thoracic traumas, 1% of lower extremities. In 46% the cause of trauma was a car accident. The complexity of care delivered to the person with trauma was less in the Florence survey, as indicated by the immobilization of patients, performed in only 11% of cases as compared to 47% in Bologna, by the application of the cervical collar, applied in 12% versus 62% of traumas. Although the two samples are not strictly comparable, these data suggest that the presence of nurses in the Trauma Care System can be one of the elements of improvement of the quality of delivered care.

Adolescent↗

Factors affecting outcome in the pediatric patient with multiple trauma. Further experience with the modified injury severity scale.

In a 5-year period of prospective study, 369 pediatric patients with multiple trauma (injury to at least two body areas) had injuries scored by a Modification of Injury Severity Scale (MISS). This scale uses the categories and rankings of the Abbreviated Injury Scale-1980 (AIS-80) except that the classification of neurological injuries are scored by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and other neurological findings (presence of a surgical mass lesion, pupillary light response, and oculocephalic reflexes). The MISS is calculated as the sum of the squares of the three most severely injured body areas. The mean MISS score was 23.8 with 33% of MISS scores greater than 25 and 67% less than 25. Among those with MISS scores greater than 25 there was a 44% mortality and 31% disability. In the group with MISS scores less than 25, there were no mortalities, and a 1% disability (p less than 0.001). Overall mortality was 14% with 9% disability. Mean MISS scores for death and disability were 35.1 and 29.6, respectively. Neurologic injuries were present in 274 patients (74%). 163 patients had severe head injury (coma greater than 6 h duration). 86% of all deaths were due to head injury and all but 2 deaths had some degree of head injury. The remaining 14% of deaths were due to chest and abdominal injuries. Patients with MISS grade 5 injury (critical, survival uncertain) had 74% mortality, while those with grades 4 and 3 injury had 8 and 1.5% mortality. In a comparison with pediatric patients with head injury only (coma greater than 6 h, no multiple trauma) there was found to be a 12% mortality in the head injury only group versus a 33% mortality in the multiple trauma plus head injury group. The MISS serves as an accurate predictor of morbidity and mortality in pediatric trauma. The best predictors of outcome were a MISS less than 25 and the degree of neurological injury.

Adolescent↗

Successful management of an elderly patient with multiple trauma.

An elderly female patient with multiple trauma and flail chest received thoracic and lumbar epidural analgesia and anesthesia, respectively, in the surgical ICU and the operating room. This technique provided segmental analgesia with minimal amounts of narcotics. This allowed for the very important early ambulation and absence of respiratory complications, the main cause of increased morbidity in this age group.

Aged↗

Coagulation and fibrinolysis in multiple trauma after early heparinizing.

In 27 multiple trauma patients receiving standard shock management and intensive care, coagulation and fibrinolysis were investigated after early heparinization. The general coagulation tests did not imply any impaired clotting function. Platelets and factors I, II, and V decreased without induction of hypocoagulability. There was considerable decrease in plasminogen, whereas FDP ranged within normal; thus, a hyperplasminemia can be excluded. Antithrombin III remained within normal range; even in nonsurvivors there was no depletion, although their antithrombin III activity was significantly lower. In comparison to 50 trauma patients - a comparable group with regard to trauma patterns, shock management, and intensive care - there were no significant differences in volume requirements or mortality rate. Whether early heparinization is effective in preventing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) related organ failure remains to be seen.

Adult↗

Intramedullary stabilization of humeral shaft fractures in patients with multiple trauma.

Sixty-one patients with multiple injuries, which included sixty-three fractures of the humeral diaphysis, were treated by intramedullary stabilization of the fracture with Rush rods or Ender nails. Portals of entry allowing antegrade or retrograde insertion or insertion at the epicondyles were used. For most of the patients, closed intramedullary fixation of the fracture was performed within twenty-four hours of the injury. Adequate follow-up studies were obtained for fifty-six patients (fifty-eight fractures). Stabilization by antegrade insertion gave excellent results if the portal of entry did not violate the rotator cuff. Symptoms of impingement in the shoulder and pain associated with an incorrect position of the portal for antegrade insertion required early removal of the device. Each fracture that was treated with fixation through the epicondylar portal had a poor result, and this technique is not recommended. Retrograde insertion, with the portal of entry located proximal to the olecranon fossa, yielded excellent results. Care must be taken to prevent encroachment on the olecranon fossa, which can result in a block to extension of the elbow. The surgical technique of closed fixation by retrograde insertion is presented. Immediate closed intramedullary stabilization of the fractured humeral shaft resulted in a 94 per cent rate of union and a 62 per cent rate of excellent clinical results. This technique is particularly applicable to patients with multiple trauma, as it minimizes loss of blood and the risk to neurovascular structures while providing stability for mobilization and aggressive pulmonary physiotherapy. In our opinion, however, isolated fractures of the humeral shaft should be treated by non-operative methods.

Bone Nails↗

Control of epistaxis in the multiple trauma patient.

Severe epistaxis in the multiple trauma victim can be rapidly controlled with immediate insertion of the intranasal anteroposterior balloon. The patient's other life threatening injuries can then be assessed in an orderly fashion. Once the patient has been stabilized, the balloon can be deflated and removed and the patient's maxillofacial injuries assessed and treated in a controlled setting.

Catheterization↗

[Multiple trauma in the elderly].

Morbidity and mortality following multiple trauma are high in elderly patients. Head trauma has a particularly poor prognosis. However intensive care may improve the survival rate and the quality of life in survivors, allowing those to return home.

Age Factors↗

[Roentgenographic pulmonary findings in long term ventilated multiple trauma patients (author's transl)].

An analysis of roentgenographic pulmonary findings was done in 46 multiple trauma patients on controlled long term ventilation. 67% of the patients sustained thoracic trauma. The most common lung changes were interstitial and intraalveolar pulmonary edema and inflammatory pneumonia related to contusions, atelectasis and aspiration. The pulmonary lesions predominantly occurred in the middle and lower portions of each lung. The thoracic trauma group had four times as many lung changes than the non-thoracic trauma group. Daily roentgenographic controls are necessary in multiple trauma patients to explain a deterioration in pulmonary gas exchange leading to respiratory failure. To demonstrate discrete lesions in lung parenchyma, we recommend the high voltage technique for chest X-rays in intensive care units.

Adolescent↗

Purtscher's retinopathy: a case of visual impairment associated with multiple trauma.

This case study describes a patient with multiple trauma associated with acute visual impairment. Funduscopic examination revealed scattered and confluent cotton wool exudates bilaterally. This retinopathy was first described by Othmar Purtscher, an Austrian ophthalmologist, in 1910, which he later referred to as "angiopathia retinae traumatica."

Accidents, Traffic↗

Postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe intraoperative SIRS 10 h after multiple trauma.

A 34-yr-old male suffered multiple trauma in a road traffic accident. He required right thoracotomy and laparotomy to control exanguinating haemorrhage, and received 93 u blood and blood products. Intraoperatively, he developed severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with coagulopathy and respiratory failure. At the end of the procedure, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 40 mm Hg, arterial blood gas analysis showed a pH of 6.9, Pa(CO(2)) 12 kPa, and Pa(O(2)) 4.5 kPa, and his core temperature was 29 degrees C. There was established disseminated intravascular coagulation. The decision was made to stabilize the patient on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) only 10 h after the accident, in spite of the high risk of haemorrhage. The patient was stabilized within 60 min and transferred to the intensive care unit. He was weaned off ECMO after 51 h. He had no haemorrhagic complications, spent 3 weeks in the intensive care unit, and has made a good recovery.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Thromboembolism following multiple trauma.

The true incidence of thromboembolic complications following multiple trauma is unknown, and no method of prophylaxis has been shown to be both safe and effective in managing seriously injured patients. In this prospective study, 113 trauma patients were assigned on admission to receive either low-dose heparin (LDH), (5,000 U subcutaneously every 12 hours) or to wear sequential compression devices (SCDs) as prophylaxis against the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Both groups of patients were serially studied with duplex venous ultrasound imaging to detect thrombus in the veins of the thigh. Ventilation-perfusion lung scans and pulmonary angiograms were performed when pulmonary embolism (PE) was suspected clinically. There were 12 patients who had thromboembolic complications, including 9 of 76 in the SCD group (12%) and 3 of 37 in the LDH group (8%). Five patients had DVT only, four had PE without detectable DVT, and three had both DVT and PE. None of the patients with PE died, and there were no major complications associated with either method of prophylaxis. Compared with the patients who did not develop DVT/PE, those with thromboembolic complications were older (49 +/- 23 vs. 36 +/- 17 years, p less than 0.02), spent more hospital days immobilized (24 +/- 15 vs. 10 +/- 13 days, p less than 0.001), received more transfusions (11 +/- 12 vs. 3 +/- 5 U, p less than 0.001) and had clotting abnormalities on admission, as demonstrated by prolonged PTT values (39 +/- 28 vs. 26 +/- 5 seconds, p less than 0.001). It appears that there is an identifiable subgroup of injured patients at highest risk for PE who warrant both prophylaxis and close surveillance for DVT.

Adolescent↗

Determination of components of the plasma proteolytic enzyme systems gives information of prognostic value in patients with multiple trauma.

Components of the plasma proteolytic enzyme systems were studied in 15 multiple trauma patients. There were 9 survivors and 6 fatal cases. All fatal cases had sepsis and/or post traumatic adult respiratory distress syndrome. Within the first day after trauma significantly reduced values were found for plasma prekallikrein (PKK), Hageman factor (HF) and Antithrombin III (AT III). In the survivors these parameters were normalized within the first five days after the injury. In the fatal cases, however, the same parameters remained reduced or declined during the observation period. The fatal cases also revealed a high frequency of positive ethanol gelation tests (EGT), elevated serum fibrin - fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) values and persisting low platelet counts. Analyses of plasma samples from both survivors and fatal cases, fractions by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration, demonstrated alpha 2-macroglobulin - plasma kallikrein complexes. These findings demonstrate activation of the kallikrein-kinin system as a part of pathological plasma proteolysis in multiple trauma patients. Persistent reductions of PKK, HF and AT III combined with positive EGT, elevated FDP values and reduced platelet counts indicate a poor prognosis.

Antithrombin III↗

[Early osteosynthesis of fractures of the lower extremities in patients with multiple trauma].

In the early 1970s, some trauma centres began to perform early operative fixation of lower limb fractures in multiple trauma patients. At that time, no clinical studies were available on this topic. At present, several publications have demonstrated lower mortality, reduction of the incidence of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and sepsis, and a shorter stay in hospital after early operative fracture fixation compared with conservative fracture management or late fracture fixation. The incidence of fracture complications appeared not to increase after early operative fracture fixation. The present paper is a review of the most significant reports concerning timing of operative fracture management of patients with multiple trauma. Prospective randomised trials are needed on this subject.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗

Early activation of humoral proteolytic systems in patients with multiple trauma.

Coagulation, fibrinolytic, kallikrein, and complement systems were studied in 20 patients with multiple trauma. Three of four patients with a trauma score less than 10 on hospital arrival died, compared to one of 16 with a score over 10. Five patients developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. Signs of activated cascade systems were evident in most patients on hospital arrival. Changes were not related to trauma score, but patients with an arterial pressure below 110 mm Hg had significantly lower levels of antithrombin III and alpha 2-antiplasmin than those with higher BP. This study confirms that the cascade systems are activated very soon after multiple trauma.

Adolescent↗

Use of early-phase dynamic spiral computed tomography for the primary screening of multiple trauma.

The effectiveness of early-phase dynamic spiral computed tomography (CT) of the whole body for screening multiple trauma was compared with that of conventional incremental CT. Thirty-six patients with suspected blunt hemorrhagic injuries were prospectively assigned to undergo either standard uniphasic incremental CT or spiral CT enhanced during the early arterial phase. In comparison with incremental CT, the wider scan coverage in spiral CT resulted in the detection of more injuries. Spiral CT showed an excellent enhancement of both the arteries and parenchyma with a reduced volume of contrast material, however, more contrast artifacts were observed. All extravasations detected in spiral CT were from the arteries and required subsequent interventions including transcatheter embolization. Primary screening with early-phase dynamic spiral CT for hemorrhagic multiple trauma was found to be useful for determining the applications of subsequent angiographic intervention as well as evaluating lesions caused by injury.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Late deaths in multiple trauma patients receiving intensive care.

We reviewed the cause and timing of death of all the patients who died within hospital following multiple trauma and admission to a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) that also acts as a tertiary referral centre for neurosurgery. The ICU database identified 101 such patients in a 3-year period and their records were reviewed retrospectively. There were 40 (39%) deaths within 24 h of admission to the ICU, 38 of which resulted from severe brain injury and two from haemorrhagic shock (HS). A further 61 (60%) deaths occurred more than 24 h after the time of admission to ICU (mean 7 days; range 2-49 days), of which 46 (75%) were due to severe brain injury. While these findings do not question the promulgated tri-modal distribution of death following trauma, they are at variance with the view that the third peak of deaths is due mainly to multiple organ failure. When severe head injury accompanies multiple trauma, it is likely to be the major determinant of late mortality. If outcome from major trauma is to be improved, then a greater emphasis needs to be placed on the prevention and optimal management of severe brain injury.

Adolescent↗

[Clinical study of multiple traumas with severe facial injury undergoing emergency endovascular treatment: significance of emergency embolization of the external carotid artery].

The outcome of multiple injures freqently depends on the priority of treatments, and the decision as to the procedures and timing of primary care is extremely important. We studied the patients with multiple trauma whounderwent emergency endovascular treatment for facial hemorrhage related to external carotid arterial injury. The subjects are 5 patients who underwent embolization of the external carotid artery by an endovascular approach among patients with multiple traumas who were brought to our hospital by ambulance. In these patients, the vital signs on arrival, interval between injury and intravascular surgery, type of brain injury, type and grade of concurrent injury and outcome were studied. Three patients showed hemorrhagic shock on arrival, and 1 patient showed hemorrhagic shock immediately after arrival. The mean interval between injury and endovascular surgery was 3.9 hours. All patients had skull base fracture, and abnormal intracranial lesions on initial CT including 4 focal injuries and 1 diffuse injury. Moderate to severe thoracic/abdominal injuries were noted in 3 patients. In the remaining 2 patients, there was no trauma in the thoracic or abdominal regions. Intraperitoneal hemorrhage with splenic injury was observed in 3 patients. In 3 of 4 patients died by hemorrhagic shock because of the delay of endvascular treatments. In trauma patients with persistent hemorrhage, emergency endovascular treatment should be considered as a primary survey for initial treatment without delay under intensive conservative treatment.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Emergent assessment of the multiple trauma patient.

The emergent and acute phases of the multiple trauma patient's hospitalization can be a tremendous challenge for all members of the health care team. The nurse plays a significant role in assessment and care of the trauma patient both in the emergent and acute care phases. Systematic evaluation of the patient using the primary and secondary surveys, combined with careful evaluation for early complications, enhances the patient's chance for optimal recovery.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗