Improving Compliance With Protocol-Driven Care in Adult Traumatic Brain Injury Patients by Implementing an Electronic Clinical Compliance Monitoring Tool.

Unlabelled: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major cause of death and disability each year in the United States. Implementation of preestablished evidence-based guidelines has been associated with a decrease in overall TBI mortality and disability.

Objectives: An electronic clinical monitoring tool was developed for monitoring compliance with evidence-based TBI treatment protocols to improve the overall care and outcomes in this patient population.

Ultraportable Oxygen Concentrator Use in U.S. Army Special Operations Forward Area Surgery: A Proof of Concept in Multiple Environments.

Introduction: A limitation to surgical care in an austere environment is the supply of oxygen to support mechanical ventilation and general anesthesia. Portable oxygen concentrators (OCs) offer an alternative to traditional compressed oxygen tanks.

Objectives: We set out to demonstrate that a low-pressure OC system could supply the mechanical ventilation needs in an austere operating environment.

Self-induced bleeding diathesis in soldiers at a FOB in south eastern Afghanistan.

Modern warfare necessitates that the physician recognize risk factors and clinical scenarios that contribute to the development of acute coagulopathy of trauma and the need for massive transfusion. To date, this is the only prospective study done in an active war zone that specifically looks at a self-induced bleeding diathesis problem among soldiers. If correct, then large numbers of soldiers are exposed to bleeding abnormalities well before sustaining injury.

Static measures of preload assessment.

This article focuses on static methods for determining preload, specifically pressure and volumetric indices measured at the bedside. The underlying ventricular function will determine where the patient is located on Frank-Starling ventricular function curve and the patient's response to a fluid challenge. The proper interpretation and use of such measures, coupled with an understanding of their limitations and knowledge of alternative methods, is necessary to guide properly volume resuscitation in the critically ill.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: a selected retrospective review.

Previous investigators have suggested that laparoscopic splenectomy should be the procedure of choice for the treatment of benign hematologic disorders unresponsive to medical therapy. To evaluate the safety and utility of laparoscopic splenectomy for a variety of splenic disorders, we reviewed our collective experience at 2 institutions. We studied our 8-year experience by retrospective chart review.

Subcutaneous endoscopic fasciotomy in a porcine model of abdominal compartment syndrome: a feasibility study.

Purpose: Treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) involves abdominal decompression via a laparotomy, which can result in significant wound-related morbidity. Our aim was to determine if subcutaneous endoscopic abdominal fasciotomy in a porcine model of ACS is feasible and what effect it may have on intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow.

Materials And Methods: A total of 6 female pigs weighing 50 kg each were used for the study.