Rare case of pediatric trauma with hepatic injury managed using gel-foam embolization: a case report.

Nonoperative management for hepatic injuries requires observation and supportive care in the case of hemodynamically stable patients. If there is active bleeding on presentation, hepatic artery embolization is an option to achieve hemostasis in the acute setting. Although interventional radiology procedures are well documented in adults, there is limited literature regarding these procedures in the pediatric population. In this report, we present a case of a pediatric patient who sustained blunt abdominal trauma, resulting in a grade IV liver injury. Treatment involved fluoroscopically guided right hepatic segmental arterial gel-foam embolization.

A rare presentation of delayed traumatic lumbar hernia after motor vehicle collision.

Traumatic abdominal wall hernia is defined as protrusion of bowel or an abdominal organ through a disruption of musculature and fascia following a severe blunt trauma. We report a case of a patient who had a delayed presentation of a traumatic, superiorly located paralumbar hernia months after the initial admission.

Surgeon's Impact on Opioid Epidemic Following Uncomplicated Laparoscopic Appendectomy and Cholecystectomy.

The opioid crisis in the United States remains a major issue that is directly linked to the prescribing practices of physicians. There is a lack of consistency in post-operative prescribing of narcotic medications. We have designed a retrospective study to evaluate factors that contribute to the prescription of opioids following common laparoscopic procedures. In this study, we analyzed peri-operative medications and pain requirements and how they relate to the frequency in which narcotics are prescribed at Saint Joseph's University Medical Center (SJUMC), a level two trauma center and teaching hospital. We also studied how the frequency of narcotic prescriptions is related to patient demographics and surgeon practices. We propose that standardizing pain medication protocols will be an effective way to decrease overall narcotic use as well as prescriptions for common laparoscopic procedures.

Predicting Difficult Airway Intubation Based on Maxillofacial Trauma: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine which types of facial injuries in traumatic patients' wounds cause difficult intubation for anesthesiology team. By anticipating potential complications with airway management, the surgeons can be better prepared for emergent cricothyrotomy if needed. This could include prior to the planned procedure in the operating room (OR) as well as in emergent conditions in trauma bay. Methods Trauma patients with facial injuries in a level II trauma center from January 2007 to September 2017 that required intubation were evaluated for types of facial injury. Anesthesiology intubation documents were reviewed to determine which types of facial injuries were associated with difficult intubation per anesthesiology documentation. Results A total of 232 subjects were selected and it was found that patients with LeFort II facial fracture, bilateral mandibular fracture, and facial fracture associated with basilar skull fracture were noted to have difficult intubation by the anesthesiology team. Conclusion On the basis of CT imaging findings, our study demonstrates that certain types of facial fractures could pose difficult intubation. Surgeons should be aware of these injuries and be ready to intervene with emergent cricothyrotomy if necessary.

Novel method of using angioembolization for treating testicular hemorrhage after blunt trauma.

Testicular or scrotal trauma is a rare form of trauma in the United States. Blunt trauma to the testicle can lead to testicular tunica albuginea rupture, testicle contusion, testicle hematoma, testicle torsion and epididymal injury. We report a case of a 48-year-old male patient who presented with right sided scrotal swelling and pain from a motorcycle collision. This turned out to be from a testicular rupture and resulting in a hematoma. The patient's active bleeding from the right testicular artery was controlled by arterial embolization. Most reported cases of testicular artery bleeds are due to iatrogenic hemorrhage or non-traumatic injuries. Here, we report a rare case of testicular artery bleed due to a blunt trauma from a motorcycle collision. In conclusion, the testicular artery bleed was controlled successfully via testicular arterial embolization, making it a potential option for non-operative management for stable hemorrhage of the testicular artery.

Emergency Cesarean Section at 38 Weeks of Gestation with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Up to 47% of pregnant women with COVID-19 have preterm deliveries. A severe, symptomatic COVID-19 infection in close-to-term pregnancies can have a poor prognosis. Early identification of COVID-19 in pregnant women can prevent the progression of the disease. Currently, there is very little guidance on treating pregnant close-to-term women with COVID-19; this case report suggests changes to current management to maximize positive maternal and fetal outcomes. CASE REPORT A pregnant woman (37 weeks of gestation) presented to the Emergency Department with a chief complaint of fever with an associated cough for 2 days. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Emergency Department, and discharged in a stable condition. She returned 5 days later in preterm labor with severe respiratory distress. After an emergency cesarean section, she remained intubated in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit; she was persistently hypotensive and hypoxic despite maximal ventilator and medical treatment. She died after a cardiac arrest and unsuccessful resuscitation, 15 days after the delivery. We discuss the possible benefit of a planned C-section for close-to-term pregnancies prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The patient's next of kin gave informed consent for this case report. Approval from the Institutional Review Board or Ethics Review Board was not required as this is a case report. CONCLUSIONS Currently, asymptomatic pregnant women are not tested for COVID-19 infection until hospitalization for delivery. It could be beneficial to have a protocol in place to screen asymptomatic pregnant women so they can be identified early and monitored, as COVID-19 symptoms can escalate quickly.