Predictors of hypofibrinogenemia in blunt trauma patients on admission.

Purpose: Massive bleeding usually leads to critically low levels of clotting factors, including fibrinogen. Although reduced fibrinogen levels correlate with increased mortality, predictors of hypofibrinogenemia have remained poorly understood. We investigated whether findings available on admission can be used as predictors of hypofibrinogenemia.

[Experience of DMAT rescue activity by doctor-helicopter in Tohoku Area after the earthquake].

We operated rescue activities in Tohoku area after the earthquake of March 11th, 2011. From our hospital, a doctor-helicopter flew to the staging care unit at Hanamaki airport with two members of the disaster medical assistance team (DMAT), one of whom was an anesthesiologist. The helicopter carried ten patients by nine flight missions, who were the victims of tsunami after the earthquake.

Risk factors for gastric distension in patients with acute appendicitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: There has been no report on risk factors for gastric distension (GD) when inducing general anesthesia in an emergency situation. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for GD in patients with acute appendicitis at their hospital visit.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients from April 2007 to March 2010 who underwent open appendectomy for acute appendicitis and were diagnosed pathologically.

Effects of helicopter transport on red blood cell components.

Background: There are no reported studies on whether a helicopter flight affects the quality and shelf-life of red blood cells stored in mannitol-adenine-phosphate.

Materials And Methods: Seven days after donation, five aliquots of red blood cells from five donors were packed into an SS-BOX-110 container which can maintain the temperature inside the container between 2 °C and 6 °C with two frozen coolants. The temperature of an included dummy blood bag was monitored.