[Pelvic Ring Fractures - in extremis Patients]. / Zlomeniny pánevního kruhu ­ pacienti in extremis.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY This study aims to analyse a subpopulation of patients with severe haemorrhagic shock and a concurrent unstable pelvic ring fracture. MATERIAL AND METHODS This manuscript is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data on trauma patients over a period of 10 years, namely between 2010 and 2019. These patients, primarily (after injury) referred to the trauma centre of the University Hospital Hradec Králové, were diagnosed with an unstable pelvic ring fracture as a part of multiple injuries. RESULTS The total number of patients with a pelvic ring fracture and concurrent acute phase of decompensated haemorrhagic shock in the period from 2010 to 2019 was 112. After excluding 25 patients with AIS 4 and 5 (Abbreviated Injury Scale) severe head trauma and another two patients who died of late-stage SIRS (systemic infl ammatory response syndrome) complications, the group consisted of 85 patients. Subsequently, the subpopulation of patients "in extremis" evaluated by the study included a total of 22 patients with the baseline systolic pressure below 70 mm Hg and/or baseline haemoglobin level below 80 g/l. CONCLUSIONS Prior to the evaluation of this study population, our department had no single algorithm developed to treat such patients. Slow blood circulation stabilisation or death were usually associated with inadequate haemostatic algorithm. The patients leaving the operating room and being handed over to the ICU presented the signs of a decompensated shock. Oftentimes, the pelvis was merely stabilised, with no further intervention to stop the bleeding. The extraperitoneal pelvic packing was performed in very few cases only. The extravasation of contrast media during the initial CT scan does not necessarily have to be detected due to vasospasm or hypotension with reduced blood fl ow. In such cases, only the size of haematoma is a sign of arterial bleeding. It is also risky to rely solely on vasography when stopping the bleeding which will certainly fail to stop venous bleeding. However, venous bleeding always accompanies arterial bleeding. Stabilisation of both segments of the pelvis is essential to stop bleeding in haemodynamically unstable patients with a pelvic ring injury. It is followed by extraperitoneal pelvic packing and in the case of continuing haemodynamic instability also vasography, namely even if there is a negative fi nding of the initial CT scan or if no initial CT scan was performed. This procedure has become the core of our single haemostatic algorithm. Key words: pelvic ring injury, patients in extremis, haemostatic algorithm.

Massive transfusion protocol.

The management of severe traumatic bleeding includes damage control resuscitation procedures including, in addition to surgical bleeding control, the application of the massive transfusion protocol. The aim of this paper is to present the massive transfusion protocol and selected scoring systems for an early detection of patients with severe post-traumatic bleeding. The use of a standardized protocol to activate the massive transfusion protocol reduces lethality due to severe traumatic bleeding and the consumption of blood products in trauma centers.

The significance of glycocalyx in surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment is associated with an unwanted response of the organism to the so-called surgical trauma. This response is called surgical stress. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury is one of essential causes of tissue damage. It comprises functional and structural changes in tissue that occur after the restoration of circulation, after an episode of ischaemia. Necrosis of irreversibly changed cells and endothelial and mitochondrial-induced tissue swelling occur. METHODS: Physiology, pathophysiology of endothelial glycocalyx: Endothelial glycocalyx is a 0.2 to 5 micrometres thin heteropolysaccharide layer that covers the endothelium on its intraluminal side. Backbone molecules of the glycocalyx include proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans. Damage of the endothelial glycocalyx was described in trauma patients, in patients with septic shock, in ischemia and reperfusion injury, and during extensive surgical procedures. Approaches to prevent endothelial glycocalyx damage: Remote ischemic preconditioning was tested as a method of ischemia and reperfusion injury prevention during and after surgery. Nevertheless, the expected effect was not confirmed in performed meta-analyses. Endothelial glycocalyx damage can be prevented pharmacologically with a broad spectrum of substances, such as antithrombin III, doxycycline, hydrocortisone, etanercept, or nitric oxide donors. Hydrogen inhalation or albumin affects glycocalyx positively. Sulodexide provides a positive effect on the protection and reparation of endothelial glycocalyx. This proteoglycan with antithrombotic, fibrinolytic, hypofibrinogenemic, and lipolytic function is used for the treatment of venous diseases, ischaemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease. A positive effect of sulodexide on renal dysfunction was documented in a model of ischaemia and reperfusion injury. Equally, a positive effect of sulodexide was described on endothelium repair after its mechanical damage. CONCLUSION: Further research needs to be performed to evaluate the effect of endothelium-protectives on glycocalyx damage prevention and repair in ischaemia and reperfusion models involving large laboratory animals or in clinical trials in patients undergoing surgical revascularisation procedures.

[Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Major Trauma Treated at a Level I Trauma Centre]. / Vliv pandemie Covid-19 na závazné úrazy osetrované v traumacentru I. typu.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The paper aims to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on a change in the number of major trauma cases, their mechanism and length of hospital stay as seen by a Level I Trauma Centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS The retrospective study included a total of 755 major trauma patients (ISS ≥ 16) treated at our Level I Trauma Centre in the period 2018-2019 ("pre-COVID-19 time") and 2020-2021 ("COVID-19 time"). The effect of COVID-19 infection on the change in the number and nature of major trauma, mechanism of injury, length of treatment during prehospital care, length of hospital stay, and mortality. RESULTS Of the total number of 755 patients with major trauma, in the "pre-COVID-19 time" 399 patients were treated, while in the "COVID-19 time" it was 356 patients (p = 0.10). The mechanism of major trauma did not change, road traffic accidents prevailed (61% vs. 56%, p = 0.25), the proportion of injuries due to falls from height increased (25% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.08), a significant decrease was observed in the category of severe skiing injuries (7 vs. 2, p = 0.003). The severity of injuries evaluated by Injury Severity Score remained unchanged (25 vs. 25, p = 0.08), but an increased number of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) marked by the Abbreviate Injury Score (AIS) ≥ 4 was observed (38 vs. 56, p = 0.03). The total length of a hospital stay shortened (18 vs. 15 days, p = 0.04), but the mortality rate spiked (52 vs. 73 patients, p = 0.08). DISCUSSION In the "COVID-19 time", the total number of major trauma cases dropped just like in the other European countries. Despite restrictive measures imposing mobility restrictions, no change was reported in the mechanism of injury, with traffic accidents still prevalent, except for skiing injuries. Unlike the US, we did not see an increase in penetrating injuries due to interpersonal violence or suicidal behaviour. However, there was an increase in the percentage of patients with an isolated TBI as a result of a fall from height. An increase in mortality was reported due to an increase in severe TBI. The length of hospital stay was reduced as a result of efforts to maintain hospital bed availability. CONCLUSIONS During the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the two years immediately preceding, no significant decrease in the number of major trauma cases was reported, despite the introduction of restrictive measures. The proportion of road traffic injuries remained the same, whereas the number of falls from height slightly increased, which consequently led to an increase in the number of severe TBI. The number of penetrating injuries due to acts of violence did not increase, but due to the lockdown there was a significant decrease in severe skiing-related injuries. The anti-epidemic measures in place did not prolong the pre-hospital care for severely injured patients. Key words: major trauma, Injury Severity Score, COVID-19, mechanism of injury.

[Role of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) to Save Life in Bleeding in a Patient with a Pelvic Ring Injury]. / Role balonové endovaskulární okluze aorty (REBOA) pri záchrane zivota u pacientu s krvácením z pánve.

The author presents a case study of the use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion (REBOA) as a suitable alternative to thoracotomy and clamping of the descending aorta to control retroperitoneal bleeding in a patient with a pelvic injury. The patient who suffered multiple trauma after car accident, type C pelvic injury and retroperitoneal bleeding among other things, was following the pre-hospital ambulance care transported to the department of emergency medicine, with catecholamine infusion to support the blood flow. After the primary survey following the ATLS principles, the patient was taken for a CT scan. The CT examination revealed also multiple sources of retroperitoneal bleeding. Subsequently, the patient was brought to the operating room, where endovascular balloon occlusion of the descending aorta was performed to temporarily control retroperitoneal bleeding, which provided more time to treat the patient in line with the damage control surgery principles. In bleeding patients who suffered blunt torso traumas and serious haemorrhagic shock, or patients "in extremis", the survival after emergency thoracotomy ranges only around 1%. The to date results of REBOA technique applied in same indications are very promising globally. The survival rate increases multiple times especially in hypotensive patients, without the necessity of their immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Key words:resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta, REBOA, haemorrhagic shock, retroperitoneal bleeding.

Quality of life after proximal gastrectomy a review.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of life in cancer patients has received increasing interest recently. The results published to date have shown a potential benefit of proximal gastrectomy compared to total gastrectomy as regards long-term improvement in the quality of life. Up to 70% of gastrectomized patients suffer from various symptoms negatively influencing the postoperative quality of life. These symptoms are collectively referred to as postgastrectomy syndrome. Proximal gastrectomy may be more beneficial as opposed to total gastrectomy since it preserves a functional part of the stomach and allows alleviation of these symptoms. Numerous questionnaires are used to evaluate the quality of life in gastric cancer patients. The PGSAS-45 questionnaire of the Japanese Postgastrectomy Syndrome Working Party is probably the best validated one. Results of works published to date evaluating the quality of life after proximal gastrectomy are summarized in the text and an overview of basic evaluated parameters is presented. CONCLUSION: The works published so far related to quality of life after proximal gastrectomy have described outcomes only in patients with early gastric cancers or in cT2N0 patients. Further studies with more patients involved, comparison between every single modification of proximal gastrectomy and also inclusion of advanced stages will be necessary to determine the optimal type of surgery. Nevertheless, the majority of studies published to date favor proximal gastrectomy against total gastrectomy in terms of better postoperative quality of life. Key words: gastric cancer - esophagogastric junction cancer - quality of life - proximal gastrectomy.

[Extracapsular Proximal Femoral Fractures - Retrospective Evaluation of a Group of Patients with a Focus on Complications of Treatment]. / Extrakapsulární zlomeniny proximálního femuru ­ retrospektivní vyhodnocení souboru pacientu se zamerením na komplikace lécby.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the treatment and the complications in patients with extracapsular proximal femoral fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS The evaluation focused on a group of patients who underwent a surgery at the authors department in the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. The inclusion criteria were a simple fall and a monotrauma. The injury-to-surgery interval, course of the surgery and hospital stay, occurrence of early and late complications were assessed. RESULTS In the respective period 286 patients underwent surgery, with the mean age of 79 years (36-101). A basicervical fracture was suffered by 20 patients, a pertrochanteric fracture by 228 patients and 38 patients sustained a subtrochanteric fracture. Osteosynthesis using the DHS was applied in 113 patients, in 110 patients PFNA osteosynthesis was performed and in 51 patients osteosynthesis using an Ender nail was conducted. Yet another type of plate osteosynthesis was opted for in 12 patients. The most frequent postoperative complication was delirium, which was reported in a total of 38 patients. Non-infectious early seroma and hematoma type collection was observed in 6 patients. An infection occurred in one patient. Apart from 8 patients who died during the primary hospital stay, the fracture healing was followed up in 252 patients (91% of 278). The length of healing was 15 weeks on average, delayed healing was reported in five patients. Primary malposition was seen in 9 patients (3%) and secondary malposition occurred in five patients (2%). There were five cases of non-union (2% of 278) in our group of patients. In the followed-up period, a total of 86 patients (30 % of 286) died within one year after the injury. In cases of death, the follow-up was 100% thanks to the data obtained from the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic (UZIS). Death as a direct consequence of proximal femur fracture occurred in 66 patients (23% of 286). DISCUSSION The results of complications in our group (infection, delayed healing, malposition and non-union) are comparable to those identified by other authors, with the exception of one-year lethality, which is lower in the presented group. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of complications after proximal femur surgeries is affected by multiple factors. The most important are the choice of a suitable implant, technically correct execution of osteosynthesis and intensive postoperative treatment, including the continuity of care after hospital discharge. Key words:extracapsular proximal femoral fractures, complications.

In vitro safety assessment of food ingredients in canine renal proximal tubule cells.

In vitro models are useful tools to initially assess the toxicological safety hazards of food ingredients. Toxicities of cinnamaldehyde (CINA), cinnamon bark oil, lemongrass oil (LGO), thymol, thyme oil (TO), clove leaf oil, eugenol, ginger root extract (GRE), citric acid, guanosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate and sorbose (SORB) were assessed in canine renal proximal tubule cells (CPTC) using viability assay and renal injury markers. At LC50, CINA was the most toxic (0.012mg/ml), while SORB the least toxic (>100mg/ml). Toxicities (LC50) of positive controls were as follows: 4-aminophenol (0.15mg/ml in CPTC and 0.083mg/ml in human PTC), neomycin (28.6mg/ml in CPTC and 27.1mg/ml in human PTC). XYL displayed lowest cytotoxic potency (LC50=82.7mg/ml in CPTC). In vivo renal injury markers in CPTC were not significantly different from controls. The LGO toxicity mechanism was analyzed using qPCR and electron microscopy. Out of 370 genes, 57 genes (15.4%) were significantly up (34, 9.1%) or down (23, 6.2%) regulated, with the most upregulated gene gsta3 (∼200-fold) and the most affected pathway being oxidative stress. LGO induced damage of mitochondria, phospholipid accumulation and lack of a brush border. Viability assays along with mechanistic studies in the CPTC model may serve as a valuable in vitro toxicity screening tool.

[Personalised antibiotic therapy in a surgical intensive care unit overview of current knowledge and the results of an observational kinetic study]. / Personalizovaná antibiotická terapie na chirurgické jednotce intenzivní péce prehled soucasných znalostí a výsledky observacní kinetické studie.

INTRODUCTION: The current efforts of intensivists focused on individual antibiotic treatment in patients suffering from sepsis has inspired us to conduct an open prospective clinical study to assess the relationship between body fluid retention (>10 L/24 hours) and the efficiency of hydrophilic time-dependent antibiotics used in critically ill patients. Polytrauma and abdominal catastrophes are the most frequent causes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Consequent body liquid retention is taken for a pathophysiological covariate modifying the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of hydrophilic time-dependent antibiotics (betalactams and carbapenems). Not only body fluid retention but also changes in renal clearance are thought to be responsible for failure in PK/PD target attainment necessary for effective antimicrobial activity. To describe the importance of the pathophysiological covariates for the individual kinetic variables of a representative antibiotic (piperacillin) is the primary goal of this kinetic observational study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three patients with polytrauma and SIRS admitted at the ICU of the Surgical Department, Teaching Hospital Hradec Králové, whose condition was characterized by cumulative body fluid retention (>10 L), were eligible for enrolment. As per standard hospital protocol, the patients were administered with 4 g of piperacillin in combination with tazobactam 0.5 g intravenously by 1-hour (h) infusion every 8 h. A series of blood samples were taken 1, 2.5, and 5 h after the termination of the infusion. Urine was collected over each dosing interval and for 24 h. Piperacillin was detected using a previously validated HPLC method. Individual pharmacokinetic variables were estimated using non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. Cumulative body fluid retention was calculated as the difference between fluid intake and output. Creatinine clearance (Cl) was used for renal function evaluation. PK/PD target attainment was analysed according to Carlier (2013). RESULTS: In three patients with polytrauma and SIRS, great interindividual and intraindividual differences in extravascular volume expansion, i.e. cumulative body fluid retention 2030 L and changes in renal function, were recorded. In 2/3 patients these pathophysiological changes as well as the clinical interventions administered resulted in augmented piperacillin clearance and an increase in distribution volume (Vd) (>20 L) with a maximum at Day 28 after initiation of therapy. In such patients treated with a standard dose of piperacillin, only minimum PK/PD target attainment (50% Ft >MIC) was obtained. In contrast, a patient suffering from renal dysfunction attained both minimum (50% ft >MIC) and maximum PK/PD target (100% ft >MIC). CONCLUSIONS: In three critically ill patients with polytrauma and SIRS, pathophysiological changes (covariates) had a profound effect on the key determinants of the pharmacokinetics (Cl and Vd), resulting in significant intraindividual variability in pharmacodynamic /pharmacokinetic target attainment necessary for therapeutic time-dependent antibacterial activity of piperacillin. Consequently, patients with augmented clearance of piperacillin may be at risk for treatment failure, and/or bacterial resistance without dose up-titration. A subsequent clinical study will be conducted to describe personalised kinetically guided antibiotic therapy.

Reamed versus unreamed nail in the treatment of tibia shaft fractures.

PURPOSE: The aim of the prospective randomized study was to compare the results of the treatment of tibia shaft fractures (TSF) by reamed or unreamed intramedullar nail. METHODS: There were 103 patients with 104 TSF enrolled in the study within the period from December 2005 to June 2010. Seven patients were excluded from the study. Factors of injury severity, course of surgery and hospitalization, and incidence of early and delayed complications were recorded. X-ray was performed every 4 weeks until the fracture was healed. Functional results were evaluated at least 1 year after the surgery. Closed fractures were classified according to Tscherne classification and the open ones according to Gustilo classification. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients with 49 TSF were treated by unreamed tibial nail. There were 15 women and 33 men in this group. Injury severity score (ISS) ranged from 4 to 25 (ø 6.63). There were 45 closed fractures (0 16; I 22; II 7) and four open fractures (I 2; II 1; IIIA 1). In the reamed nail group there were 48 TSF. ISS ranged from 4 to 18 (ø 6.13). There were 35 closed (0 17; I 13; II 5) and 13 open (I 5; II 5; IIIA 3) fractures in this group. The time of operation was on average 15 min shorter in the unreamed nail group. X-ray healing was the same in both groups (18.12 versus 17.92 weeks). We had four patients in the unreamed nail group and six patients in the reamed nail group with delayed healing (28-44 weeks). We recorded no infection, loss of reduction or re-operation in both groups. Follow-up of functional results was 90 %. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in clinical and functional results between the groups. We suggest that both methods are comparable.