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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Early detection of myocardial contusion and its complications in patients with blunt trauma.

Myocardial contusion remains an elusive clinical entity, which consumes a disproportionate amount of scarce and expensive critical care resources for the purpose of cardiac monitoring. This study attempts to define a group of patients at high risk who can be identified from the available data present at the time of admission. All patients admitted with the suspicion of a myocardial contusion over a 3-year period were retrospectively studied. The records were examined for history, physical findings, electrocardiographic (ECG) results, creatine kinase levels, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and echocardiographic findings. A diagnosis of a myocardial contusion was made if patients had an ECG consistent with acute injury, increased creatine kinase-MB, or an abnormal echocardiogram consistent with acute injury. Patients were stratified into two groups: Group 1 patients satisfied the criteria for a myocardial contusion and Group 2 patients lacked sufficient evidence to substantiate this diagnosis. The records were then examined for the presence of factors available in the emergency room that might be predictive of a myocardial contusion or its complications. A total of 88 patients were evaluated; 27 of these were found to have a myocardial contusion (Group 1) with 61 patients placed in Group 2 (no myocardial contusion). Group 1 patients had an abnormal admission ECG (p less than 0.05), and an ISS greater than or equal to 10 (p less than 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified two factors predictive of a myocardial contusion: an abnormal ECG and an ISS greater than 10. When these two predictors were absent, the probability of a myocardial contusion was 1%. No predictors of a complication of a myocardial contusion were identified. These data suggest that a combination of easily obtained variables in the emergency department can be used to select a patient population at high risk for myocardial contusion. Prospective evaluation of these variables is necessary.

Adult

Lung bacterial clearance following pulmonary contusion.

Bacterial infections frequently,complicate pulmonary contusion and are the leading cause of death in such patients. This study evaluated the effects of pulmonary contusion alone and contusion associated with other factors on the ability to clear aerosolized bacteria from the lung. Lung bacterial clearance of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied in animals with isolated pulmonary contusion, or contusion associated with blood loss, rapid crystalloid infusion, or steroid administration. An isolated pulmonary contusion produced no impairment of the ability of the contused lung to clear either gram-negative or gram-positive organisms. The addition of acute blood loss and crystalloid infusion resulted in decreased clearance from the contused lung; steroid administration caused a marked depression in lung bacterial clearance from the noninjured lung as well. The canine model described allowed for study of regional differences in bacterial clearance. The data presented support several conclusions; (1) the contused lung is not more susceptible to bacterial infection than the normal lung: (2) acute blood loss renders the contused lung less able to clear bacteria; (3) crystalloid infusion markedly depresses lung bacterial clearance; and (4) steroids have a deleterious antibacterial effect on both contused and noncontused lungs.

Aerosols

The contusion index: a reappraisal in human and experimental non-missile head injury.

A previously described method of quantifying cerebral contusions in man (the contusion index) caused by non-missile head injury has been modified and applied to a larger series of cases, and used to assess contusions in experimental head injuries. The initial findings in man have been confirmed, viz. that contusions are most severe in the frontal and temporal lobes; that contusions may be entirely absent in a patient dying as a result of a head injury; that there is no correlation between the severity of contusions and the nature of the injury; that the concept of contrecoup must continue to be questioned; that contusions are more severe in patients who have a fracture of the skull in comparison to those who do not; that contusions are more severe in patients who do not experience a lucid interval than in those who do; and that contusions are less severe in patients with diffuse axonal injury than in those who do not have diffuse axonal injury. The distribution of contusions in subhuman primates is similar to that seen in man, and they occur more frequently with short duration than with long duration acceleration.

Adolescent

Regional cerebral blood flow after a localized cerebral contusion in pigs.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in anaesthetized pigs is investigated before and after an induced focal cerebral contusion. Mean intracranial pressure increased for a short period following the contusion and reduced perfusion pressure to 60% of control pressure. Forty five minutes later the mean intracranial pressure was still high and different from the control values. Global flow and cerebral production of CO2 increased concomitantly. In the cortical region where the contusion was visible macroscopically the rCBF diminished from 36.5 to 29.1 ml/min/100 g. In the rest of the grey matter the rCBF raised after the contusion with an increase away from the centre of the lesion. CBF of cortical grey matter in the region symmetrically to the contusion increased significantly more than in the traumatized hemisphere. White matter rCBF changed least in the region underlying the contusion, while an increase was observed away from the contusion and on the opposite side of the brain. The correlation between tension of CO2 in arterial blood and regional cerebral blood flow disappeared in the region of the contusion. The correlation between global metabolism and regional cerebral blood flow disappeared after the contusion in all regions. Local flow modulating factors influencing flow in the region of macroscopically visible injury has influence abating with distance from the centre of the injury together with a possible neuronally transmitted drive on flow in the opposite hemisphere.

Animals

Oedema fluid formation within contused brain tissue as a cause of medically uncontrollable elevation of intracranial pressure: the role of surgical therapy.

In patients with focal cerebral contusions, medical therapies have generally been advocated unless haemorrhages significantly contributing to the elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) exist. We report here several lines of clinical evidence which indicate that (1) enormous amount of extracellular oedema fluid is formed within contused brain tissue, (2) the formation of extracellular oedema fluid within contused brain tissue alone can be a cause of medically uncontrollable elevation of ICP and (3) surgical excision of the contused brain tissue provides excellent control of the elevated ICP in such patients. The excision of contused brain tissue appears to be the only therapy currently available to alleviate the formation of extracellular oedema fluid in cerebral contusions. We believe that, if ICP is elevated primarily by extracellular oedema due to cerebral contusions and the elevated ICP is medically uncontrollable, surgical excision of contused brain tissue should be carried out without delay regardless of the size of associated haemorrhages.

Body Fluids

[Changes in local cerebral glucose utilization, DC potential and extracellular potassium in various degree of experimental cerebral contusion].

UNLABELLED: Pathophysiology of the traumatized brain, especially that of cerebral contusion, is very complex and has not been well understood. In recent years, changes in extracellular ion concentration have been known in various pathological conditions such as cerebral concussion, spinal contusion, ischemia, hypoglycemia, epilepsy and spreading depression as one of the triggers to lead to secondary brain damage. To know the metabolic and ionic changes following cerebral contusion, the authors made various degree of cerebral contusion by fluid percussion method, and observed successive changes in EEG, DC potential, extracellular potassium concentration and local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using 42 male Wistar rats, mild (0.2 kg/cm2), moderate (0.4 kg/cm2) and severe contusion (0.6 kg/cm2) were made in the left lower parietal region of the rats. EEG, DC potential and extracellular potassium concentration (using potassium sensitive glass microelectrode) were monitored for four to five hours after making the contusions. LCGU (by 14C-2-deoxyglucose method) was studied at the time of the negative shift of DC potential. RESULTS: The negative shift of DC potential with EEG suppression was observed at 30 min. to 3 hours after injury. The severer the injury was, the earlier and the more frequent negative shifts appeared. LCGU showed no significant changes in the mild injury group. In the moderate injury group, frequent negative shifts of DC potential associated with EEG suppression were observed. A 20% increase of glucose utilization in the cortex of the lesion side was observed whereas 50% decreases in the subcortical structures were found. In the severe injury group, EEG was suppressed immediately after contusion and had never recovered. DC potential fluctuated and was unstable. The increase of LCGU was noted not only in the cortex of the lesion side but also in some of the subcortical structures (hippocampus, caudate nucleus, dentate nucleus and thalamus). The extracellular potassium concentration rose to 30 mM, being correlated closely with DC potential. DISCUSSION: Increase of LCGU associated with EEG suppression, negative shift of DC potential and elevation in extracellular potassium concentration was thought to be due to spreading depression. It was postulated that spreading depression following cerebral contusion causes energy failure and can lead to secondary brain damage.

Animals

Cardiac contusion in pediatric patients with blunt thoracic trauma.

To investigate the prevalence of myocardial contusion associated with blunt chest trauma in the pediatric age group, all patients admitted to our institution during a 6-month period with blunt thoracic trauma severe enough to produce a pulmonary contusion or rib fracture were prospectively evaluated. Cardiac evaluation was undertaken, including a multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) cardiac scan, serial electrocardiograms (ECG), and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and CPK isoenzymes. Seven patients, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 18 years, with rib fractures or pulmonary contusion by chest roentgenograph were identified. One patient was injured as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident, five were struck by automobiles as pedestrians, and one sustained traumatic asphyxia when a car, supported by a jack, fell on his chest. All had at least one other major organ system injured. All patients had pulmonary contusions as determined by chest radiograph, and two had associated rib fractures. In 43% (three of seven) of patients, a significant cardiac contusion was identified, defined by abnormal right or left ventricular wall motion and a decreased ejection fraction on MUGA scan, and confirmed by an increase in cardiac enzymes and isoenzymes. However, in contrast with adults, no patients had ECG abnormalities. This limited series suggests that cardiac contusion may occur frequently in pediatric patients who have suffered from blunt thoracic trauma significant enough to result in pulmonary contusion. An MUGA scan provides a rapid, noninvasive assessment of cardiac damage in this setting. Further studies will be required to determine the clinical significance and long-term consequences of traumatic myocardial damage in the pediatric population.

Accidents, Traffic

Pathophysiology of pulmonary contusion in dogs.

We produced a localized right lower lobe (RLL) contusion in 14 anesthetized ventilated dogs, 7 of which were treated with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP group). We measured gas exchange, pulmonary mechanics, and regional function before and 5 h after the contusion. Arterial PO2 decreased by 20 Torr and venous admixture doubled in both groups during air breathing. The shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) was minimally increased, despite a large lobar Qs/Qt (0.43) in the contused RLL. These results were explained by reduced ventilation per unit volume (VA/V), and ventilation-to-perfusion ratios of the contused RLL measured with 133Xe technique. We conclude that pulmonary contusion causes a leak of blood and plasma, flooding 25% of the air spaces of the RLL at FRC, reducing the compliance of adjacent air spaces, and resulting in a reduced VA/V and a large RLL Qs/Qt. These results are consistent with the observed reduction in regional volume and perfusion in the contused RLL, and suggest that Qs/Qt was not increased because blood flow was markedly reduced to flooded air spaces. PEEP reduced the hypoxemia, but increased the contusion.

Animals

Myocardial contusion in the stable patient: what level of care is appropriate?

To evaluate the significance of myocardial contusion, we evaluated 243 stable patients hospitalized for blunt chest trauma between 1982 and 1986. The groups were identified according to results of radionuclide angiography, mean injury severity score (ISS), and outcome. Group I (n = 71; mean ISS = 12.7) patients were those without myocardial contusion by radionuclide angiography. Two patients with cardiac complications were in this group. The patients with myocardial contusion were divided into two groups. Group II (n = 69; ISS = 19.5) patients had myocardial contusion as an isolated injury, and group III (n = 103; ISS = 30.9) patients had myocardial contusion and injury to at least one other organ system. Three patients from group II had cardiac complications. Eleven patients from group III had cardiac complications. There were no significant differences between the cardiac complication rate in the three groups, and each complication was present when the patient arrived in the emergency department. The predicted mortality rate based on ISS was 10% to 20% for patients with myocardial contusion, whereas the observed mortality rate for the groups (II and III) overall was 0.58%. We conclude that in the stable trauma patient myocardial contusion (1) does not by itself increase the risk of complication, (2) does not necessitate intensive care unit monitoring, (3) should be devalued when computing ISS scores, (4) may account for lengthy and often unnecessary hospitalization, and (5) in patients at risk for complications may be identified by ECG abnormalities on arrival to the emergency department.

Adolescent

MR imaging of brain contusions: a comparative study with CT.

Ninety-eight brain contusions in 17 patients served as a data base for a comparative study of MR and CT for defining brain contusions. MR was the more sensitive technique, detecting 98% of the brain contusions compared with only 56% by CT. CT was slightly better for showing hemorrhagic components, documenting 77% of hemorrhages compared with 71% for MR. The appearance of the contusions on MR was variable, depending on the T1- and T2-weighting of the images and the constituents of the contusions, such as edema, hemorrhage, and encephalomalacia. On MR, hemorrhagic components appeared as high signal on T1-weighted images and as either low or high signal on T2-weighted images, depending on the age of the hemorrhage. The approximate ages of hemorrhagic contusions were often suggested by their appearance on T1- and T2-weighted images. CT is very effective for evaluating acute head trauma, but MR is recommended for documenting brain contusions during the subacute and chronic stages of head injuries.

Adolescent

[Coxarthrosis due to contusion].

Can a contusion cause coxarthrosis in the absence of both fracture and dislocation? Yes. To demonstrate this the authors report 6 cases that fulfil the following conditions: (1) Simple but violent contusion affecting the greater trochanter or the knee (dashboard accident) or a forced movement, such as in doing the splits; (2) immediate or slightly delayed pain, generally of short duration (a few weeks); (3) absence of coxarthrogenic malformations and absence of pre-existing signs of a pathological hip condition; (4) progressive coxarthrosis on the side of the contusion; (5) chronological relation between the development of the coxarthrosis images and the date of the contusion; (6) subjects less than 35 years of age, in order to eliminate cases with latent primary pre-coxarthrosis. The average age of the six patients at the start of the coxarthrosis was 24.7 years (range: 13 to 33 years); there were four men and two women. In five of the six cases a violent contusion in the trochanter region was involved as a result of a fall on a hard surface or a traffic accident. In one case a forced movement on landing from a jump was involved. Evolution in three periods is usual: the hip is painful either immediately or after a few weeks (particularly on rising after a period in bed for multiple injuries). This post-traumatic pain lasts from ten days to one month, rarely longer. It is followed by a period free of pain that may last from five months to ten years (average: five years). Subsequently there is pain every day and the onset of the limp associated with coxarthrosis. Radiographically the reduction of the joint space and/or the osteophytosis appears after three months to two years (average: one year). However, there may not be any pain associated with these lesions for a long time. The authors propose that the first five conditions enumerated above represent the essential medico-legal conditions of coxarthrosis by contusion. The restriction as regards age (No 6) was introduced only to show clearly the existence of post-contusive coxarthrosis. However, even if one or more of the medico-legal conditions are not fulfilled the imputability may still be valid. Some such cases are discussed.

Adolescent

[Neurological and EEG-follow-up studies in head-injured adults: criteria for the clinical diagnosis concussion and contusion (author's transl)].

A stystematic neurological and electroencephalographical follow-up study in 344 head injured adults gave the following results: 1. 52% of all the hospitalized (mostly primarily amnesic) patients had a cerebral contusion. A contusion was assumed in cases with focal neurological signs (13%), amnesias of more than 8 hours (16%) and/or EEG-abnormalities lasting for more than 24 hours (49%). 2. Traumatic EEG-abnormalities were general slowing (43%) and foci (32%). In 40% of the cases with general slowing the slowing (greater than or equal to 1.5/sec) was within the alpha-frequency band and could only retrospectively be assed. 3. The EEG was invariably abnormal in cases with an amnesia exceeding 8 hours. If the amnesia exceeded 1 hour abnormalities were found in 73%. 4. Among the patients with contusion 6.5% had no amnesia, 48% less than 30 minutes and only 30% an amnesia for more than 8 hours. In 75% of the patients with concussion amnesia lasted less than one hour. 5. Skull fractures were mostly combined with contusion (74%). 6. Impaired drive, reduced ability to concentrate, memory deficits, headache and dizziness were significantly more frequent 6 months after contusion than after concussion. 7. 21% of the patients with traumatic dizziness (44%) had a labyrinthine contusion. 8. Among the contusions diagnosed with the aid of EEG recordings 58% would have been missed after exclusive neurological examination and 82% after application of the classical criteria used by surgeons and general practitioners.

Adolescent

Effects of contusion and flail chest on pulmonary perfusion and oxygen exchange.

Localized pulmonary contusions were produced in the right lower lobes (RLL) of 12 anesthetized ventilated dogs, 6 of which had a flail segment in the chest wall over the RLL. Pulmonary oxygen exchange during ventilation with air and oxygen, and the lobar distribution of pulmonary perfusion by radioactive microsphere techniques were measured before and 3 h after contusion, and again after thoracotomy. These were compared to 12 noncontused dogs, 6 of which had a flail segment. Contusion produced an average decrease of 20 Torr in Pao2 during air breathing and an average increase in Qs/Qt of less than 5%, surprisingly small given the doubled weight and average 44% shunt calculated in the contused lobe after thoracotomy. No significant effect of flail or thoracotomy was found, indicating that the presence of an intact chest wall and lung-chest wall interdependence was not a major factor preventing a larger increase in intact whole-animal shunt of contused dogs. Rather, the small effect of this severe lobar injury on whole-animal shunt was due to a 30% decrease in RLL relative perfusion. This reduction was demonstrated to be localized to a smaller hemorrhagic subsection of the contused lobe.

Animals