A comprehensive review of topical hemostatic agents: The good, the bad, and the novel.

Uncontrolled exsanguination remains the leading cause of death for trauma patients, many of whom die in the pre-hospital setting. Without expedient intervention, trauma-associated hemorrhage induces a host of systemic responses and acute coagulopathy of trauma. For this reason, health care providers and prehospital personal face the challenge of swift and effective hemorrhage control.

Trauma and emergency general surgery patients should be extubated with an open abdomen.

Background: Open abdomen (OA) and temporary abdominal closure (TAC) are common techniques to manage several surgical problems in trauma and emergency general surgery (EGS). Patients with an OA are subjected to prolonged mechanical ventilation. This can lead to increased rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).