Comparison of the impact of applications of Targeted Transfusion Protocol and Massive Transfusion Protocol in trauma patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The current study assessed a recently developed resuscitation protocol for bleeding trauma patients called the Targeted Transfusion Protocol (TTP) and compared its results with those of the standard Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP). METHODS: Per capita utilization of blood products such as packed red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet concentrates was compared along with mortality rates during two 6-month periods, one in 2011 (when the standard MTP was followed) and another in 2014 (when the TTP was used). In the TTP, patients were categorized into three groups based on the presence of head injuries, long bone fractures, or penetrating injuries involving the trunk, extremities, or neck who were resuscitated according to separate algorithms. All cases had experienced motor vehicle accidents and had injury severity scores over 16. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the study groups at hospital admission. Per capita utilization of RBC (4.76 ± 0.92 vs. 3.37 ± 0.55; P = 0.037), FFP (3.71 ± 1.00 vs. 2.40 ± 0.52; P = 0.025), and platelet concentrate (1.18 ± 0.30 vs. 0.55 ± 0.18; P = 0.006) blood products were significantly lower in the TTP epoch. Mortality rates were similar between the two study periods (P = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of the TTP reduced the requirements for RBCs, FFP, and platelet concentrates in severely injured trauma patients.

Perihepatic packing versus primary surgical repair in patients with blunt liver trauma; an 8-year experience

Objective: To explore the pros and cons of early versus delayed intervention when dealing with severe blunt liver injury with significant hemoperitoneum and hemodynamic instability

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at the Nemazi hospital, Shiraz, Southern Iran, level I trauma Center affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The study population comprised of all patients who were operated with the impression of blunt abdominal trauma and confirmed diagnosis of liver trauma during an 8-year period. All data were extracted from patients' hospital medical records during the study period. The patients' outcome was compared between those who underwent perihepatic packing or primary surgical repair

Results: Medical records of 76 patients with blunt abdominal liver trauma who underwent surgical intervention were evaluated. Perihepatic packing was performed more in patients who have been transferred to operation room due to unstable hemodynamics [p<0.001] as well as in patients with more than 1000 milliliters of hemoperitoneum based on pre-operative imaging studies [e.g. CT/US] [p=0.002]

Conclusion: We recommend that trauma surgeons should approach perihepatic packing earlier in patients who have been developed at least two of these three criteria; unstable hemodynamics, more than 1000 milliliters hemoperitoneum and more than 1600 milliliters of intra-operative estimated blood loss. We believe that considering these criteria will help trauma surgeons to diagnose and treat high risk patients in time so significant hemorrhage [e.g. caused by dilatational coagulopathy, hypothermia and acidosis, etc.] can ultimately be prevented and more lives can be saved

Accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosing acute appendicitis

Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of sonography in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with Alvarado score 4-7

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study being performed in Namazee hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical sciences during a one year period from 9/2007 to 9/2008. We evaluated all patients with Alvarado score 4-7 and divided them in two groups: those with Ultrasound study prior to surgery and those without any imaging modalities for diagnosis of AA. The demographic information, histopathology, physical examination, laboratory data, sonography report and histopathological reports of patients were gathered. Results: A total of 238 patients had Alvarado scores 4-7 including 160 males and 78 females. 110 patients did not have any imaging and 128 had undergone sonography before operation. Ultrasound had overall sensitivity of 75 %, specificity 69.2 %, PPV 88 %, NPV 46.1% and accuracy of 73.6 %. Negative appendectomy rate was 20.9 % and 23.4 % in those without sonography and inpatients with sonography respectively, with a higher rate in females

Conclusion: Ultrasound is more useful when the patient is female and the result of sonography is positive; however, it is not reliable when the result is negative and maybe other diagnostic modalities such as CT scan can> help us in better diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Comparison of vitamin D[3] serum levels in new diagnosed patients with multiple sclerosis versus their healthy relatives

Multiple risk factors are introduced for Multiple Sclerosis [MS]. Recent studies have suggested a possible correlation between vitamin D deficiency and an increase risk of MS. This study was therefore undertaken to compare vitamin D levels in new cases of MS and their relatives as healthy controls. Seventy five new diagnosed MS patients and 100 matched healthy controls among their relatives were enrolled in this study. Two groups were matched for gender, age, season in which serum level of vitamin D was checked and region and diet. Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D was measured, recorded and analyzed. Seventy five patients [57 female and 18 male] and 100 healthy subjects [75 female and 25 male] were enrolled in this study. The mean serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in case and control groups were 11.31 and 17.9 ng/ml, respectively [P=0.003]. Compared to the healthy subject, serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in patients with MS. This difference was only significant in women. Observed difference of vitamin D levels of both groups were significant in summer. This study continues to support the role of vitamin D deficiency in MS