1/31. Multivascular trauma on an adolescent. Perioperative management.Penetrating vascular injury, in particular at the neck, is a life-threatening trauma not only of the nature and the anatomic proximity of cardiovascular, aerodigestive, glandular and neurologic system but also of the development of early and late complications. The following case report describes our experience with a penetrating wound patient, who was admitted to our emergencies twelve hours after the accident. The only demonstrable objective signs included a large hematoma at the right-side of the neck and distended mediastinum on the chest X-ray. As the patient was cardiovascularly unstable he was immediately transported to the theater without any angiography. The mandatory operative exploration was initially unsuccessful and a median sternotomy with a standard cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermia circulatory arrest was established to restore all the vascular lesions. Actually, the patient was in critical condition with a rupture of the right internal jugular vein, a large pseudoaneurysm of the innominate artery and an avulsion of the ascending aorta with the suspicion of a cardiac tamponade. The postoperative period lasted two full months, while complications appeared. The substantial message from this multivascular trauma is the early diagnosis of the life-threatening complications as exsanguinations, ventricular fibrillation and the ability to minimize postoperative complications, which will impair the normal functional life of the patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/31. Giant retinal tears resulting from eye gouging in rugby football.A 29 year old myopic man sustained two separate giant retinal tears in his right eye following deliberate eye gouging during a rugby tackle. These were successfully repaired by vitrectomy and intraocular silicone oil injection. Although the postoperative course was complicated by pupil block glaucoma, he regained corrected visual acuity of 6/5 after oil removal. This injury highlights the potentially sight threatening nature of this type of rugby injury and the importance of early referral for specialist treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/31. Craniocerebral injury resulting from transorbital stick penetration in children.OBJECTS: Two children were admitted to hospital for treatment of craniocerebral injury with transorbital penetration. methods: One child aged 6 years and 6 months had poked a chopstick in his orbit. There was no report of either a palpebral or an ocular wound. He had subsequently developed a meningeal syndrome with a cerebral abscess managed by needle aspiration biopsy and intravenous antibiotics. The other child, aged 4, had fallen onto a metal rod. He presented with a palpebral wound, motor disorders and coma, all due to a frontal intracerebral hematoma. There was an improvement in outcome without complications of an infectious nature or motor sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Such head injuries are rare. Clinical, radiological and ophthalmological investigations must be performed, including computed tomography (CT) scan or cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with antibiotic treatment for suspected microorganisms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/31. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias: a report of 26 cases.Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias, when diagnosed many years after the traumatic event, are observed in about 10% of diaphragmatic injuries. Due to coexisting injuries and the silent nature of diaphragmatic injuries, the diagnosis is easily missed or difficult. The medical records of 26 patients, who were treated for diaphragmatic hernias during the last 20 years, were analysed retrospectively. The patients were divided into acute phase and late-presenting groups, in whom emergency surgery and elective intervention were performed respectively. Chest radiography was diagnostic in 34.6% (n = 9) of patients. 92.3% of the hernias were on the left side, while the most common herniated organs were the stomach (31.8%) and the colon (27.2%). Coexisting injuries were recorded in 38.4% (n = 10) of the patients. Primary repair was predominantly used (92.3%). The hospitalisation period was longer in the late-presenting group (24.1 /- 18.8 vs. 14.3 /- 7.7 days). Two deaths occurred in the late-presenting group. Diaphragmatic hernia should be suspected in all blunt abdominal trauma patients. Prompt surgical repair is the treatment of choice in all traumatic diaphragmatic hernias.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/31. Penetrating injury to the heart requiring cardiopulmonary bypass: a case study.Penetrating wounds to the heart represent a significant surgical challenge because of their unique clinical course and the need for emergent operative care. This operative care, which may include cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), must be initiated in a prompt yet careful fashion to optimize outcome, while minimizing morbidity. Trauma, because of its unpredictable and non-routine nature, may present many challenges to the perfusionist in an attempt to anticipate surgical needs and requirements. In this case report, we describe the successful surgical repair of a cardiac nail gun injury, as well as strategies we feel are essential for the safe, successful, and timely application of emergent CPB.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/31. Vascular surgery of the upper limb: the first year of a new vascular service.Upper limb vascular reconstruction represents a small part of the vascular surgical workload (5%). The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of upper limb vascular reconstruction in a Regional Hospital. During the first year of a new vascular surgical service in Waterford Regional Hospital, upper limb vascular problems were prospectively analysed. Upper limb vascular reconstruction comprised seven of the total 92 major vascular procedures performed. Three cases were emergencies and four elective. There was one case of penetrating injury, two injuries due to blunt trauma, three patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and one chronic ischaemia. The male:female ratio was 4:3 and the mean age was 42 years. Six of the cases were arterial in nature only, and one was both venous and arterial. Two of the cases were associated with upper limb fractures and multiple trauma. Three patients had interposition reversed cephalic vein grafting. One patient had an embolectomy and endarterectomy. Procedures for TOS included excision of a cervical rib in two patients (one bilateral) and scalenectomy alone in one patient. Of these, one patient also had thrombolysis and thrombectomy of the axillary and brachial artery. All of the patients made a good functional recovery and all arteries remained patent but the patient with the brachial plexus injury is awaiting repair abroad. Upper limb vascular problems form a small but significant part (8%) of the workload. Many cases present as emergencies and maybe associated with multiple trauma. This emphasises the need for an emergency vascular surgery service in all trauma units.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/31. brachial plexus injury caused by impalement.Open injuries of the brachial plexus are rare. One such case, that of a 68-year-old impaled on a fence spike, is presented here. Certain principles to guide evaluation and treatment are discussed. Concomitant injury to the pleura or to vascular structures requires immediate attention; the extent and type of plexus damage may be determined from physical findings and the nature of injury. The results of plexus reconstruction are variable and routine exploration may be detrimental. The Brooks classification is reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/31. Aortic laceration: a rare complication of laparoscopy.Aortic laceration during laparoscopic procedures is a rare but well-known complication with a high mortality rate. Thus far, few cases which were recognized and treated successfully have been reported in the literature; the exact incidence is not known. Such a complication occurred after an elective laparoscopic sterilization in a 35-year-old woman. The situation was recognized early and successfully treated. The common complications of laparoscopy are usually of a minor nature but a few are life threatening. This case illustrates the need for emphasis on the prevention of complications and the appropriate course of action in the event of their occurrence.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/31. laparoscopy in the emergency setting.laparoscopy has been available for 90 years and was actively undertaken by the gynecologists. Today the vast majority of gynecological procedures are performed by this route. Despite the efforts of a few enthusiastic surgeons, the general surgical community did not incorporate laparoscopy into their armamentarium until the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, this endoscopic technique has much to contribute, especially in the setting of emergency care. It is of value in formulating a treatment algorithm and in avoiding unnecessary laparotomy in both blunt and penetrating trauma. laparoscopy helps to define the nature of obscure abdominal diagnoses, avoids unnecessary appendectomy, and provides the window of opportunity for surgery in mesenteric ischemia due to either arterial or venous thrombosis or embolus. It is also of value in patients with pain or fever of unknown origin, displaced gastrostomy or dialysis tubes, and in the rare patient with gastrointestinal bleeding where other diagnostic modalities have been unable to yield the diagnosis. In this article the instrumentation and techniques will be outlined and the role of laparoscopy in each of the above situations will be detailed. As with all surgical procedures, it is vital that the surgeon be well-trained and knowledgeable about the correct use of the technique, its possible pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as knowing the contraindications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/31. Traumatic transection. An unusual fatal pedestrian injury.Speed, alcohol, and pedestrian injuries constitute disturbing components of the spectrum of trauma in the developing world. The complete fatal transection of a pedestrian, at the level of the lower abdomen, by an oncoming automobile traveling at high speed is described. The upper torso was found inside the vehicle, whereas the lower torso was projected some distance ahead, onto the highway. An accident analysis, in order to ascertain the speed of the automobile, is demonstrated and the biodynamic mechanisms of this injury are discussed. The nature of this injury is compared with that of traumatic hemipelvectomy following which survival has been reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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