Damage control surgery for thoracic outlet vascular injuries: the new resuscitative median sternotomy plus REBOA / Cirugía de control de daños para lesiones del opérculo torácico: nuevo abordaje mediante esternotomía mediana y REBOA

Abstract Thoracic vascular trauma is associated with high mortality and is the second most common cause of death in patients with trauma following head injuries. Less than 25% of patients with a thoracic vascular injury arrive alive to the hospital and more than 50% die within the first 24 hours. Thoracic trauma with the involvement of the great vessels is a surgical challenge due to the complex and restricted anatomy of these structures and its association with adjacent organ damage. This article aims to delineate the experience obtained in the surgical management of thoracic vascular injuries via the creation of a practical algorithm that includes basic principles of damage control surgery. We have been able to show that the early application of a resuscitative median sternotomy together with a zone 1 resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in hemodynamically unstable patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries improves survival by providing rapid stabilization of central aortic pressure and serving as a bridge to hemorrhage control. Damage control surgery principles should also be implemented when indicated, followed by definitive repair once the correction of the lethal diamond has been achieved. To this end, we have developed a six-step management algorithm that illustrates the surgical care of patients with thoracic outlet vascular injuries according to the American Association of the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification.

Resumen El trauma vascular torácico está asociado con una alta mortalidad y es la segunda causa más común de muerte en pacientes con trauma después del trauma craneoencefálico. Se estima que menos del 25% de los pacientes con una lesión vascular torácica alcanzan a llegar con vida para recibir atención hospitalaria y más del 50% fallecen en las primeras 24 horas. El trauma torácico penetrante con compromiso de los grandes vasos es un problema quirúrgico dado a su severidad y la asociación con lesiones a órganos adyacentes. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar la experiencia en el manejo quirúrgico de las lesiones del opérculo torácico con la creación de un algoritmo de manejo quirúrgico en seis pasos prácticos de seguir basados en la clasificación de la AAST. que incluye los principios básicos del control de daños. La esternotomía mediana de resucitación junto con la colocación de un balón de resucitación de oclusión aortica (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta - REBOA) en zona 1 permiten un control primario de la hemorragia y mejoran la sobrevida de los pacientes con trauma del opérculo torácico e inestabilidad hemodinámica.

Damage control in the emergency department, a bridge to life / Control de daños en la sala de emergencias: un puente hacia la vida

Abstract Patients with hemodynamic instability have a sustained systolic blood pressure less or equal to 90 mmHg, a heart rate greater or equal to 120 beats per minute and an acute compromise of the ventilation/oxygenation ratio and/or an altered state of consciousness upon admission. These patients have higher mortality rates due to massive hemorrhage, airway injury and/or impaired ventilation. Damage control resuscitation is a systematic approach that aims to limit physiologic deterioration through strategies that address the physiologic debt of trauma. This article aims to describe the experience earned by the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) of Cali, Colombia in the management of the severely injured trauma patient in the emergency department following the basic principles of damage control surgery. Since bleeding is the main cause of death, the management of the severely injured trauma patient in the emergency department requires a multidisciplinary team that performs damage control maneuvers aimed at rapidly controlling bleeding, hemostatic resuscitation, and/or prompt transfer to the operating room, if required.

Resumen Un paciente politraumatizado hemodinámicamente inestable es aquel que ingresa al servicio de urgencias con una presión arterial sistólica menor o igual de 90 mmHg, una frecuencia cardiaca mayor o igual a 120 latidos por minuto y un compromiso agudo de la relación ventilación/oxigenación y/o del estado de conciencia. Por esta razón, existe una alta mortalidad dentro de las primeras horas de un trauma severo ya sea por una hemorragia masiva, una lesión de la vía aérea y/o una alteración de la ventilación. Siendo el objetivo de este artículo describir el manejo en urgencias del paciente politraumatizado hemodinámicamente inestable de acuerdo con los principios de control de daños. El manejo del paciente politraumatizado es una estrategia dinámica de alto impacto que requiere de un equipo multidisciplinario de experiencia. El cual debe de evolucionar conjunto a las nuevas herramientas de diagnóstico y tratamiento endovascular que buscan ser un puente para lograr una menor repercusión hemodinámica en el paciente y una más rápida y efectiva estabilización con mayores tasas de sobrevida.

Damage control surgery for splenic trauma: "preserve an organ - preserve a life" / Control de daños en trauma esplénico: "preserva un órgano, preserva la vida"

Abstract The spleen is one of the most commonly injured solid organs of the abdominal cavity and an early diagnosis can reduce the associated mortality. Over the past couple of decades, management of splenic injuries has evolved to a prefered non-operative approach even in severely injured cases. However, the optimal surgical management of splenic trauma in severely injured patients remains controversial. This article aims to present an algorithm for the management of splenic trauma in severely injured patients, that includes basic principles of damage control surgery and is based on the experience obtained by the Trauma and Emergency Surgery Group (CTE) of Cali, Colombia. The choice between a conservative or a surgical approach depends on the hemodynamic status of the patient. In hemodynamically stable patients, a computed tomography angiogram should be performed to determine if non-operative management is feasible and if angioembolization is required. While hemodynamically unstable patients should be transferred immediately to the operating room for damage control surgery, which includes splenic packing and placement of a negative pressure dressing, followed by angiography with embolization of any ongoing arterial bleeding. It is our recommendation that both damage control principles and emerging endovascular technologies should be applied to achieve splenic salvage when possible. However, if surgical bleeding persists a splenectomy may be required as a definitive lifesaving maneuver.

Resumen El bazo es uno de los órganos sólidos comprometidos con mayor frecuencia en el trauma abdominal y el diagnóstico oportuno disminuye la mortalidad. El manejo del trauma esplénico ha cambiado considerablemente en las últimas décadas y hoy en día se prefiere un abordaje conservador incluso en casos de lesión severa. Sin embargo, la estrategia óptima para el manejo del trauma esplénico en el paciente severamente traumatizado aún es controvertida. El objetivo de este artículo es proponer una estrategia de manejo para el trauma esplénico en pacientes politraumatizados que incluye los principios de la cirugía de control de daños en base a la experiencia obtenida por el grupo de Cirugía de Trauma y Emergencias (CTE) de Cali, Colombia. La decisión entre un abordaje conservador o quirúrgico depende del estado hemodinámico del paciente. En pacientes hemodinámicamente estables, se debe realizar una tomografía axial computarizada con contraste endovenoso para determinar si es posible un manejo conservador y si requiere angio-embolización. Mientras que los pacientes hemodinámicamente inestables deben ser trasladados inmediatamente al quirófano para empaquetamiento esplénico y colocación de un sistema de presión negativa, seguido de angiografía con embolización de cualquier sangrado arterial persistente. Es nuestra recomendación aplicar conjuntamente los principios del control de daños y las tecnologías endovasculares emergentes para lograr la conservación del bazo, cuando sea posible. Sin embargo, si el sangrado persiste puede requerirse una esplenectomía como medida definitiva para salvaguardar la vida del paciente.

Abdominal ultrasound augments the medical students' ability to identify free intraabdominal fluid

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Free intra-abdominal fluid describes an accumulation of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. It has different etiologies, but it frequently constitutes a meaningful clinical sign. In this study, the authors interrogate whether abdominal ultrasound augments the medical students' ability to identify free intra-abdominal fluid. METHODS: Thirty-one medical students without any previous formal ultrasound training were subjected to cognitive assessment before and after four and a half-hour of theoretical lecture and hands-on course about the diagnosis of free intra-abdominal fluid by physical examination and abdominal ultrasound. The hands-on sessions were done in healthy volunteers with a simulated peritoneal catheter and in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis with different amounts of dialysate in their cavity. RESULTS: The cognitive assessment before and after the course increased from 6.7±2.3 to 11.6±1.1 points (p<0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the diagnosis of free intra-abdominal fluid were higher when students used abdominal ultrasound. The students agree with the inclusion of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnose of free intra-abdominal fluid in the undergraduate curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that incorporating abdominal ultrasound is feasible and improves medical students' short-time competency in performing and interpreting the findings diagnostic of free intra-abdominal fluid.

Avaliação ultrassonográfica do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico de pacientes com traumatismo cranioencefálico grave e sua correlação com técnica invasiva / Ultrasound evaluation of optic nerve sheath diameter in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and its correlation with invasive technique

Introdução: o aumento da pressão intracraniana (PIC) pode deteriorar as condições clínicas de pacientes vítimas de traumatismo cranioencefálico (TCE) grave, sendo que a identificação e o tratamento precoce desse aumento são considerados modificadores de morbidade e de mortalidade. Entre as técnicas descritas para estimar a PIC, uma tem se destacado por, além de ser não invasiva, poder ser realizada facilmente à beira do leito: a avaliação ultrassonográfica do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico (BNOP). Método: em 40 pacientes vítimas de TCE grave, admitidos em hospital de trauma nível I, submetidos ao implante de cateter intraparenquimatoso, sedados e em uso de ventilação mecânica, após consentimento de seus responsáveis, foram realizadas medidas ultrassonográficas da BNOP e comparadas simultaneamente com a medição invasiva da PIC, com o objetivo de se avaliar a associação entre as duas técnicas e de se determinar o valor de referência do diâmetro da BNOP para a população estudada. Foram excluídos do trabalho os pacientes com idade inferior a 18 anos, vítimas de traumatismo craniano penetrante ou traumas oculares diretos. Resultados: foram realizadas 53 medidas ultrassonográficas da BNOP nos 40 pacientes do estudo; 44 medidas (83%) foram realizadas em pacientes com PIC < 20 mmHg e nove (17%) em pacientes com PIC ≥ 20 mmHg. O valor médio do diâmetro da BNOP no grupo com PIC < 20 mmHg foi 5,4 mm ± 1,0, e no grupo com PIC ≥ 20 mmHg, 6,4 mm ± 0.7 (p = 0,0026). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as medidas da BNOP realizadas nos olhos direito e esquerdo do mesmo paciente. Foi demonstrada uma correlação positiva e estatisticamente significativa entre a medida ultrassonográfica da BNOP e a medição invasiva da PIC, sendo que, por meio da análise da curva ROC, o melhor ponto de corte encontrado foi 6,18 mm, medida que confere 77,8% de sensibilidade e 81,8% de especificidade na identificação da PIC ≥ 20 mmHg. Conclusão: este estudo parece ser pioneiro no Brasil a avaliar de forma comparativa a medida ultrassonográfica da BNOP com a medição invasiva da PIC, além de ter a maior amostra identificada na literatura composta exclusivamente por pacientes vítimas de TCE grave e submetidos à medição simultânea invasiva da PIC. Conclui-se que há uma correlação positiva entre a medida do diâmetro da BNOP e a medição invasiva da PIC, com ponto de corte definido em 6,18 mm. O objetivo desta validação não substitui a técnica invasiva, mas demonstra que a técnica ultrassonográfica pode ser uma ferramenta complementar de grande utilidade no cuidado do paciente vítima de TCE, principalmente quando não há disponibilidade de exames de imagem, equipamentos ou equipe neurocirúrgica.

Introduction: increased intracranial pressure (ICP) may deteriorate the clinical conditions of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. For this reason, its identification and prompt treatment could modify morbidity and mortality in these set of patients. Among several described techniques to estimate intracranial pressure, one has emerged as non-invasive and easily performed at bedside: ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). Method: 40 severe TBI patients were included and they were admitted to a level I trauma hospital. They were underwent intraparenchymal device placement, sedated and on mechanical ventilation. After a family member have signed informed consent, ultrasonographic measurement of ONSD was performed and compared with intracranial pressure invasive measurement in order to evaluate association between them and determine a threshold value. People under eighteen years old, penetrating TBI and direct ocular trauma were excluded from this study. Results: 53 ONSD measurements were performed in all patients; 44 measurements (83%) were in patients whose intracranial pressure was < 20 mmHg and nine measurements (17%) in those whose intracranial pressure was ≥ 20 mmHg. ONSD mean value of the group with intracranial pressure < 20 mmHg was 5.4 mm ± 1.0 and while that of the group with intracranial pressure ≥ 20 mmHg was 6.4 mm ± 0.7 (p = 0.0026). There was not statistically significant diference between left and right eyes measurements. Positive and statistically significant correlation was noted between ultrasonographic measurement of ONSD and invasive measurement. On the statistical analysis of ROC curve, the best cut-off was 6.18 mm, with a 77.8% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. Conclusion: this was the first study in Brazil to evaluate the ONSD measurement in a quantitative analysis and the study with largest sample with severe TBI patients only underwent intracranial pressure invasive measurement already published. From this article, it is possible to conclude a positive correlation between ultrasonographic measurement of ONSD and intracranial pressure invasive measurement with a threshold of 6.18 mm. This validation does not intend to replace the invasive technique, however it demonstrates that this non-invasive technique might be a complementary tool in the neurocritical care when there are not available scans, medical supplies or neurosurgical team.

Diagnostic value of dynamic-extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma in patients with multiple trauma / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of dynamic-extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (D-EFAST) in patients with multiple trauma in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A prospective clinical study was conducted. Eighty patients with multiple trauma admitted to ICU of Anhui Provincial Hospital from September 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2016 were enrolled. Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) check was conducted at first, for those who had positive findings diagnosis was confirmed by immediately CT examination or surgical exploration. If it was negative, the patients received E-FAST every morning for 7 days (defined as D-EFAST), for those with positive findings, immediately CT or surgery was performed to clarify the diagnosis. The final clinical diagnosis was used as the "gold standard" to calculate the diagnostic accordance rate of EFAST and D-EFAST examination technique for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, spleen injury, kidney damage, liver damage, gastrointestinal injury, pericardial effusion, bladder rupture, and pancreatic injury, as well as their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy rate, and missed diagnosis rate, and the difference between EFAST and D-EFAST was compared. Results There were 4 patients excluded because of death and abandoning treatment, and finally 76 patients were included in the study. The total sensitivity of E-FAST examination technique for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, spleen injury, liver damage, gastrointestinal injury, pericardial effusion, and bladder rupture was 75.9% (66/87), and the specificity was 98.3% (587/597), the positive predictive value was 86.8% (66/76), and the negative predictive value was 96.5% (587/608), the accuracy rate was 95.5% (653/684), and the rate of missed diagnosis was 24.1% (21/87). The most of the delayed injury in patients with multiple trauma occurred at 2-7 days after injury with incidence of 4.8% (33/684). The diagnostic sensitivity of D-EFAST for delayed injury was 98.3% (118/120), the specificity was 99.8% (563/564), the positive predictive value was 99.2% (118/119), the negative predictive value was 99.6% (563/565), the diagnostic accuracy rate was 99.6% (681/684), and rate of missed diagnosis was 1.7% (2/120). When the final clinical diagnosis was set as the "gold standard", D-EFAST technology for the detection rate was 98.3% (118/120) for patients with multiple trauma on organ injury while the detection rate of E-FAST was 75.9% (66/87), with statistical significant difference (P < 0.01), indicating that D-EFAST was better than E-FAST in check of multiple trauma patients with organ injury. Conclusion Although the E-FAST technology can quickly diagnose the multiple trauma patients and win the rescue time for critical patients, multiple trauma patients injured after 2-7 days prone to delayed damage and are difficult to detect, and D-EFAST can be used to find delayed damage earlier, and reduce the misdiagnosis rate of multiple trauma patients.

Application value of focused assessment with sonography for trauma in treatment of emergency thoracic and abdominal closed injury / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To evaluate the application value of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in treatment of emergency thoracic and abdominal closed injury.Methods FAST examination was performed in 85 patients with thoracic and abdominal closed injury,to determine whether the thoracic and abdominal cavity,pericardial free effusion and abdominal parenchyma organ injury,and the results were compared with conventional ultrasonography,CT scan and operation results.Results FAST was (2.85 ± 1.15) min,conventional ultrasonography was (15.48 ±5.17) min,there was statistically significant difference (t =21.99,P ＜ 0.05).In 85 patients,10 cases were FAST positive,5 cases of abdominal cavity in that amount or a large number of free effusion,underwent emergency operation,postoperative intra abdominal parenchymal organs were confirmed as rupture and hemoperitoneum; 2 cases of renal rupture with perirenal hematoma,confirmed by the whole abdominal CT examination; 2 cases of thoracic free pneumatosis,effusion,confirmed by thoracic CT examination or closed thoracic drainage; 1 case of prompt hemopericardium,confirmed by the pericardium puncture.Conventional ultrasonography was positive in 11 patients,no statistically significant difference between them (P ＞ 0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy rate of FAST screening thoracic and abdominal closed injury was 10/12,100.0％ (73/73),97.6％ (83/85).Conclusions FAST has high sensitivity and specificity for thoracic and abdominal cavity,pericardial free effusion,check with short time,low environmental requirements,without moving the trauma patients,and may be out of sync with the fluid resuscitation and other emergency measures.For large quantities of trauma patients and patients with severe multiple trauma,FAST can quickly,accurately determine the existence of thoracic and abdominal closed injury,and provide guidance for clinical treatment,which has good application value.