Introduction: When our rural trauma center first became certified in 1986, the Emergency Department (ED) was a mix of board-certified Emergency Medicine (EM) and Family Medicine trained physicians each with various degrees of airway experience. Therefore, Anesthesia providers had provided airway management during trauma activations for decades. Recently, our institution saw dramatic growth in the ED which is now staffed by board certified EM physicians and complemented by an EM residency program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to implementing strict social distancing mandates nationwide. This study evaluates the trauma trends during the pandemic at a rural level II trauma center in Pennsylvania.
Methods: A retrospective review of all trauma registries between 2018 and 2021 was performed overall and on a 6-month basis.
A 62-year-old man presented as a trauma alert after a farm tractor accident. He was managed according to ATLS protocol. During initial trauma resuscitation, he developed an iatrogenic air embolus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study aims to identify the association, if any, between prehospital scene time, prehospital transport time, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) with in-hospital mortality.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients at least 18 years of age who arrived to the hospital alive via emergency medical services (EMS) after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) between 1992 and 2016. These patients were divided into groups based on minutes spent at the scene and in transport.
Hepatic injuries are increasingly managed nonoperatively with the availability of adjunctive procedures such as angiography, ERCP, and percutaneous drainage. Although extensively discussed in the adult population, little has been reported on outcomes and management of pediatric liver injury. Retrospective review of all patients with blunt liver injuries admitted to an adult Level I trauma center and pediatric trauma center within the same community was performed from 2004 to 2006.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe management of abdominal injury has changed dramatically during the past two decades. This review examines the historic perspectives and recent developments of diagnosis and treatment of liver injuries, splenic injuries, and pancreatic injuries. The incorporation of non-operative management for liver injuries has had a very positive effect on mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: To review the literature on the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of intrathoracic injuries.
Recent Findings: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a relatively recent innovation. It was originally promoted for the treatment of retained hemothorax and the diagnosis of diaphragm injury.