Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in trauma patients in youth.

Background: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has received increasing attention for critically uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock. However, the efficacy of REBOA in patients in youth is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality and characteristics of patients of age ≤18 years with severe traumatic injury who received REBOA.

Effects of ethnicity on deceased organ donation in a minority-majority state.

Objective: To define how ethnicity affects donation rates in New Mexico when compared with the United States. We hypothesized that deceased donation rates in New Mexico would reflect the ethnic rates of the population.

Design: We performed a retrospective review of the Organ Procurement Database for New Mexico from 2009 to June 2012.

Retrospective evaluation of anemia and transfusion in traumatic brain injury.

Background: Despite clear evidence in critical care that blood transfusion has an adverse impact on outcome, neurosurgical textbooks still recommend transfusion of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to a hematocrit (HCT) of 30%. There is little empirical evidence to support this practice. The current study addresses transfusion requirements in TBI in terms of neurologic outcome.

What defines a distracting injury in cervical spine assessment?

Background: The National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study defined five criteria for obtaining cervical spine radiographic investigations in blunt trauma patients. Distracting injury was given as the indication for more than 30% of all x-ray studies ordered. The hypothesis of this study was that upper and lower torso injuries would have different effects on clinical cervical spine assessment.

Trauma patient willingness to participate in alcohol screening and intervention.

Background: Screening and brief interventions for alcohol disorders in the trauma setting are not routine. Perceived barriers to screening and treatment include the perception that patients find the topic offensive and the feasibility of screening all patients. The hypothesis of the study was that discussing alcohol use would be acceptable to patients independent of race or screening test score.