A comparison of severely injured trauma patients admitted to level 1 trauma centres in Queensland and Germany.

Background: The allocation of a trauma network in Queensland is still in the developmental phase. In a search for indicators to improve trauma care both locally as state-wide, a study was carried out comparing trauma patients in Queensland to trauma patients in Germany, a country with 82.4 million inhabitants and a well-established trauma system.

Patients beyond salvation? Various categories of trauma patients with a minimal Glasgow Coma Score.

Introduction: Trauma patients in an unresponsive state upon presentation to the Emergency Department have a poor prognosis. Rapid assessment of injuries combined with life-preserving therapy is required but defining the optimal strategy can be complicated when multiple organ systems are involved. This study analysed various categories of trauma patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3 on admission and evaluated the relation between injuries, clinical condition, treatment and outcome.

The Value of the Trauma Mechanism in the Triage of Severely Injured Elderly.

Background: The triage of trauma patients is currently based on the trauma mechanism. However, it is known that elderly patients can sustain severe injuries due to insignificant trauma mechanisms. As such, triage methods might be questionable.

Two cohorts of severely injured trauma patients, nearly two decades apart: unchanged mortality but improved quality of life despite higher age.

Background: The care for trauma patients has undergone major changes during the last decades. Additionally, many injury prevention measures have been established. The objective of these efforts was to reduce the number of traumatic incidents and to reduce mortality and morbidity in injured patients.

Myth or reality: hematocrit and hemoglobin differ in trauma.

Background: Estimating blood loss in trauma patients usually involves the determination of hematocrit (Ht) or hemoglobin (Hb). However, in trauma patients, a poorly substantiated habit exists to determine both Ht and Hb in assessing acute blood loss. This suggests that Ht and Hb provide different information.