Morbid obesity impacts mortality in blunt trauma.

Twenty-six per cent of adults in the Unites States are obese and trauma remains a major cause of death. We assessed the impact of morbid obesity on mortality in patients with blunt trauma. We reviewed the records of patients with a body mass index 40 kg/m2 or greater injured by blunt trauma from 1993 to 2003 and compared them with a 4:1 control population with a normal body mass index and matched for sex and constellation of injuries.

Cirrhosis and trauma: a deadly duo.

It has been previously reported that trauma patients with cirrhosis undergoing emergency abdominal operations exhibit a fourfold increase in mortality independent of their Child's classification. We undertook this review to assess the impact of cirrhosis on trauma patients. We reviewed the records of patients from 1993 to 2003 with documented hepatic cirrhosis and compared them to a 2:1 control population without hepatic cirrhosis and matched for age, sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS).

Selective management of blunt hepatic injuries including nonoperative management is a safe and effective strategy.

Background: The justification and preference for operative versus nonoperative management of hepatic injuries caused by blunt trauma remains ambiguous. This review assesses the outcome of operative and nonoperative management of liver injury after blunt trauma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the demographics, severity of injury, severity of liver injury, associated concomitant injuries, management scheme, and outcome of patients with documented hepatic injury from 1993 to 2003.

Methamphetamine laboratory explosions: a new and emerging burn injury.

The proliferation of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories (meth labs) as a result of the growing popularity of the drug has resulted in an increasing incidence of burn injuries associated with laboratory accidents. We undertook this study to characterize these injuries. Fifteen consecutive patients were identified and case-matched by age and TBSA to 45 control subjects.