Strategies for Intravenous Fluid Resuscitation in Trauma Patients.

Intravenous fluid management of trauma patients is fraught with complex decisions that are often complicated by coagulopathy and blood loss. This review discusses the fluid management in trauma patients from the perspective of the developing world. In addition, the article describes an approach to specific circumstances in trauma fluid decision-making and provides recommendations for the resource-limited environment.

Endotracheal tube cuff pressures and tube position in critically injured patients on arrival at a referral centre: Avoidable harm?

Introduction: The consequences of excessive endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure are known and have long-term effects; however less attention is placed upon cuff pressure and tube position pre-hospital and in emergency centre. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ETT cuff pressure and tube position on arrival of all patients admitted to the Trauma Unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, both from scene and inter-hospital transfers to determine the median cuff-pressure and if there were differences between the two groups.

Methods: Data from Trauma Unit patients are entered into a prospective; UKZN approved (BE207-09) Trauma Database.