Impact thromboelastometry (ITEM) for point-of-injury detection of trauma-induced coagulopathy: a pilot study.

Background: Acute coagulopathy of trauma is associated with high mortality and extensive use of blood products. Hemostatic resuscitation, the early administration of blood products with higher ratios of procoagulant components, may improve trauma outcomes in select cases, but can also worsen outcome if inappropriately used. Evolving approaches to hemostatic resuscitation utilize viscoelastic tests to provide a more rational basis for choosing blood component therapy regimens, but these tests are logistically rigorous.

Mitigate, adapt, or suffer: Peak oil's new disaster paradigm.

Objectives: To address the impacts of peak oil (PO) on human health and to propose new public health preparedness models and measures mandated by these impacts.

Design: Review of relevant literature. Articles were obtained by searching the PubMed database (including manual searches using "related citations" tool) plus Google and Google Scholar search engines using terms such as "peak oil," "energy scarcity," "human health," "public health," and "preparedness.

Amyand hernia: a case of an unusual inguinal herniace.

Amyand hernia, named for the first person to describe an inguinal hernia containing the vermiform appendix, is an uncommon variant of an inguinal hernia. Presence of the appendix in the sac complicates the management of inguinal hernias. The appendix may be more prone to rupture when contained within a hernia sac, and herniation of an inflamed appendix into the scrotum can mimic an acute scrotum.

Tourniquets: a review of current use with proposals for expanded prehospital use.

The use of arterial tourniquets in prehospital emergency care has been fraught with controversy and superstition for many years despite the potential utility of these tools. This review examines this controversy in the context of the history of the tourniquet as well as its recent use in surgery and modern battlefield casualty care. Safe prehospital tourniquet use is widespread in the military and is based on sound physiologic data and clinical experience from the surgical use of tourniquets.