George Murray Levick (1876-1956), Antarctic explorer.

Murray Levick is best known for being one of the surgeons on Scott's Terra Nova Antarctic expedition (1910-1913) and, as a member of the Northern Party of that expedition, spending a winter living in a snow hole when the ship was unable to collect the men. However, his career encompassed much more than that. He served in the Royal Navy during both World Wars and was a pioneer in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

The value of traditional vital signs, shock index, and age-based markers in predicting trauma mortality.

Background: Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory rate are poor predictors of trauma outcome. We postulate that HR/SBP (shock index [SI]) and novel new markers SI × age (SIA), SBP / age (BPAI), maximum HR (220 - age) - HR (minpulse [MP]), and HR / maximum HR (pulse max index [PMI]) are better predictors of 48-hour mortality compared with traditional vital signs.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Trauma Audit and Research Network database.

The value of the difference between ED and prehospital vital signs in predicting outcome in trauma.

Introduction: Traditional vital signs are seen as an important part of trauma assessment, despite their poor predictive value in this regard.

Objective: This study evaluated whether the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and shock index (SI) taken in the emergency department (ED) and prehospital can predict 48 h mortality postadmission following trauma.

Methods: Retrospective cohort was obtained from the Trauma Audit and Research Network.

Vital signs during and following ambulance transfer.

The aim of this study was to compare vital signs of minimally injured and moderately injured patients during ambulance transport and subsequent emergency department (ED) assessment. We carried out a retrospective chart review. Patients were divided into two groups: minimally injured patients with neck pain (group 1) and moderately injured patients with a closed ankle or wrist fracture (group 2).

Effect of spinal immobilization on heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate.

Introduction: Vital signs remain important clinical indicators in the management of trauma. Tissue injury and ischemia cause tachycardia and hypertension, which are mediated via the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Spinal immobilization is known to cause discomfort, and it is not known how this might influence the SNS and contribute to abnormal vital signs.

Heart rate and systolic blood pressure in patients with minor to moderate, non-haemorrhagic injury versus normal controls.

Background: Raised blood pressure (and heart rate (HR)) due to anxiety in a clinical situation is well described and is called the white coat effect (WCE). It is not known whether the pain and anxiety that results from trauma causes a measurable WCE.

Methods: A sample of patients with a non-haemorrhagic injury from the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) was compared with a healthy, non-injury sample from the Health Survey for England (HSE) databases.

Frostbite and other cold injuries in the heroic age of Antarctic exploration.

Frostbite and other cold injuries on the early polar expeditions were common. This paper explains how frostbite was described, prevented, and treated on the Antarctic expeditions of the heroic age, comparing them with modern recommendations. Nonfreezing cold injury probably also occurred but was not differentiated from frostbite, and chilblains were also described.

The role of the expedition doctor: lessons from 100 years ago.

This paper explores the role of the doctor on the expeditions of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. The medical role includes medical screening of prospective expedition members, choosing medical equipment so as to maintain a balance between being able to cope with any eventuality and the cost and weight of equipment and drugs, health screening during an expedition, first aid training for field parties without a doctor, and, obviously, treatment of any injury or disease that occurs. If injury or illness occurs, the presence of a doctor is of great psychological benefit to the expedition.

Snow blindness and other eye problems during the heroic age of Antarctic exploration.

During the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, snow blindness was a common problem, but not all the descriptions of it fit the modern view of the disease, and some of the explorers complained of long-term problems. This article describes the snow blindness and other eye problems that occurred during this era. It also describes how snow blindness was prevented and treated.