Timing of chest tube (CT) removal after transition from suction to water-seal (WS) varies when treating traumatic simple pneumothoraces (PTXs). Longer periods of WS may identify slow-occurring PTXs reducing CT replacement, whereas shorter periods may expedite patient disposition and have associated cost savings. Prior studies support the need for an interval of WS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion as a maneuver for occlusion of the aorta is well described. This technique has life-saving potential in other cases of traumatic hemorrhage. Retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries have a high rate of mortality, in part, due to the difficulty in achieving total vascular isolation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPermissive hypotension is a component of damage control resuscitation that aims to provide a directed, controlled resuscitation, while countering the "lethal triad." This principle has not been specifically studied in elderly (ELD) trauma patients (≥55 years). Given the ELD population's lack of physiologic reserve and risk of inadequate perfusion with "normal" blood pressures, we hypothesized that utilized a permissive hypotension strategy in ELD trauma patients would result in worse outcomes compared with younger patients (18-54 years).
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