Risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury in a Serbian trauma centre.

Introduction: The aims of this study were (1) to assess the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), (2) to identify risk factors for developing VAP, and (3) to assess the prevalence of the pathogens responsible.

Patients And Methods: The following data were collected prospectively from patients admitted to a 24-bed intensive care unit (ICU) during 2013/14: the mechanism of injury, trauma distribution by system, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score, the Injury Severity Score (ISS), underlying diseases, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, use of vasopressors, need for intubation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation upon admission, and presence of pulmonary contusions. All patients were managed with a standardized protocol if VAP was suspected.

Distal ileal endometriosis as a cause of ileus: a case report.

Introduction: Endometriosis is a benign condition affecting females of reproductive age. Although intestinal endometriosis is common, it is rarely manifested as an acute bowel obstruction secondary to ileal endometriosis. Enteric endometriosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis when assessing females of reproductive age with acute small bowel obstruction.

[Transfusion practice in trauma patient].

Anemia is common in critically ill patients and carries risk of reduced oxygen carriage and worse outcomes. Transfusion, however, carry their own risk, and the physician must balance the risks of anemia with the risk of transfusion in each patient. Some recent studies compared a liberal with a restrictive approach to transfusion, and a clinical practice guidelines were made.

[Abdominal compartment sydrome in trauma patients].

Intra-abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are increasingly recognised to be a contributing cause of organ dysfunction and mortality in critically ill patients. The term abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) describes the clinical manifestations of the pathologic elevation of the intra abdominal pressure (IAP). This syndrome is most commonly observed in the setting of severe abdominal trauma.

[Surgical treatment of injuries of the stomach and duodenum in abdominal trauma].

Injuries of the stomach and duodenum have an important place in abdominal trauma, even though that the isolated injuries are rare. This kind of injury is most commonly associated with injuries of other abdominal organs. This retrospective study has been done at the Department of Emergency Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, during the period from January 2004.

[Laparoscopy in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma].

Laparoscopic diagnostics provides fast, reliable, clear, and obvious information on extent and depth of abdominal organs injury with minimizing additional trauma to the patient. It is performed without any specific preparations and, if needed, it may be promptly converted into conventional laparotomy. Through use of optical equipment with various refraction angles and through variable patient positioning, laparoscopic technique enables visualization of whole abdominal cavity.

[Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome--what should we know?].

Acutelunginjury (ALI) and its more severe form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are syndromes with a spectrum of increasing severity of lung injury defined by physiologic and radiographic criteria. There are many clinical disorders as sociated with the development of ALI/ARDS and can be divided into those associated with direct or indirect lung injury. Early detection and protective lung ventilation strategy contribute to lowering the mortality rate.

[Surgical treatment of pancreatic injuries in severe abdominal trauma].

In spite of its low incidence, pancreatic injuries hold important place in abdominal trauma because of diagnostic difficulties, severe potential complications, therapeutic challenges, and high mortality rates. These injuries are related with specific morbidity and are very often accompanied with injuries of other organs. This retrospective study included 31 patients treated at The Clinic for Emergency Surgery of Clinical Center of Serbia during the period of 2004-2009 with intraoperativelly confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic trauma.