The effect of acute alcohol intoxication and chronic alcohol abuse on outcome from trauma

Article Abstract:

Chronic alcohol abuse may increase the risk of complications in patients with different types of wounds and injuries. Alcoholics and problem drinkers have a higher risk of different types of accidents than other individuals. A study examined the outcome of patients over 18 years old who were treated at a hospital trauma center or who were dying at the scene of an accident. Of 3,564 trauma patients, 2,896 survived to be discharged from the hospital, 325 died in the hospital and 343 died at the scene of the accident. Patients who were intoxicated did not have a higher risk of complications than other individuals. They also did not have a higher risk of dying at the scene of the accident or in the hospital. However, the risk of complications was twice as high in patients with different symptoms of chronic alcohol abuse. Common complications among this group of patients included pneumonia and different types of infections.

Health aspects, Complications and side effects, Prognosis, Alcoholism, Drunkenness (Criminal law), Intoxication, Alcoholic myopathy

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Evaluation of potentially preventable deaths among pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities

Article Abstract:

The cases of 84 pedestrians and bicyclists who died following a collision with a motor vehicle were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of a trauma care system and a systematic evaluation tool for detecting preventable deaths. Patients' prehospital, emergency department and in-hospital care were evaluated using a detailed and systematic scoring system. Only one death, which occurred in the emergency room, was definitely preventable, but 18 were possibly preventable. The possibly preventable deaths most often occurred after two days and were due to brain or spinal cord injury, massive bacterial infection, or multiple organ failure. Prolonged prehospital and emergency department time and failure to establish a breathing passage were the largest contributors to fatal outcomes. The results indicate a need for early attention to such fundamentals as advanced airway management and prompt definitive treatment.

Prevention, Surveys, Medical care, First aid in illness and injury, First aid, Accidents, Death, Cycling, Traffic accidents, Trauma centers, Medical care needs assessment, Pedestrians

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Evaluation of the pediatric trauma score

Article Abstract:

Trauma is a leading cause of death in children and, compared with adult trauma, has different aspects that must be considered. The Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS), a new method of assessing the level of trauma in children is presented. Although there is no established comprehensive method for evaluating the PTS, it was compared against other established diagnostic systems for triaging pediatric trauma victims. This study retrospectively evaluates the cases of 376 children who ranged in age from newborn to 14 years. The Pediatric Trauma Score was found to have no particular advantage when compared to other methods, was found to be less accurate, and required learning a separate scoring system. Its use can not be recommended over other systems of grading trauma and triaging pediatric patients, such as the Revised Trauma Score.

Methods, Children, Pediatric injuries, Health status indicators, Triage (Medicine)

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