Bulletin of Emergency And Trauma
Volume:5 Issue: 3, Jul 2017

Intracranial hypertension (IH) is one of the final pathways of acute brain injury. In severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI), it independently predicts poor outcomes. Its control represents a key aspect of the management. Lack of response to conventional therapies signals a state of ‘’refractory IH’’, with an associated mortality rate of 80-100%. In such cases, hypothermia, barbiturates at high doses (BBT), decompressive craniectomy (DC), and extreme hyperventilation are utilized. However, none of them has proven efficacy. Indomethacin (INDO), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, may be an option with an acceptable safety profile and easy to administer. Reported series showed encouraging results. We herein present a case of refractory IH after sTBI in which INDO was utilized. In refractory IH, INDO can help to decrease ICP and improve cerebral perfusion pressure. However, it requires administration under strict protocol since it’s not free of adverse effects after withdrawal.

To study the functional, histopathological and immunohistochemical effect of cyclosporine A on sciatic nerve regeneration using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model.
Thirty male white Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 10), randomly: Normal control group (NC), allograft group (ALLO), CsA treated group (ALLO/ CsA). In NC group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In the ALLO group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibio-peroneal bifurcation where a 10 mm segment was excised. The same procedure was performed in the ALLO/ CsA group and the animals were treated with interaperitoneal administration of cyclosporine A. The harvested nerves of the rats of ALLO group were served as allograft for ALLO/ CsA group and vice versa. The NC and ALLO groups received 300 μL sterile olive oil interaperitoneally once a day for one week and the ALLO/ CsA group received 300 μL CsA (1mg/kg/day) interaperitoneally once a day for one week.
Behavioral, functional, biomechanical and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group (p=0.001). Histomorphometic and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/ CsA than in ALLO group (p=0.034).
Administration of CsA could accelerate functional recovery after nerve allografting in sciatic nerve. It may have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after nerve transection in emergency conditions.

To evaluate the efficacy of the gallbladder for reconstruction of the inferior vena cava in a canine model.
The experimental study was conducted on 5 dogs; an oval window with a diameter of (4×1 cm) was made in the inferior vena cava and then repaired using the autologous gallbladder patch with preservation of gallbladder function. The patency and functionality of the graft were assessed macroscopically and microscopically at 2 months postoperatively.
All the dogs were euthanized at 2 months, showing excellent patency of the vena cava macroscopically. In the microscopic examination, all the patches were completely endothelialized. No evidence of infection and inflammation and thrombosis was noted.
The gallbladder patch is an available and safe alternate for reconstruction of the inferior vena cava at least in animal model. However, further well designed prospective studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

To compare the efficacy of combination therapy with ketorolac and morphine with monotherapy with each in patients with acute renal colic.
This triple-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted during a 6-month period from March to September 2014 in Northern Iran. We included 300 patients with clinical diagnosis of acute renal colic and pain score greater than 4 on 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Patients were randomly assigned to three study groups to receive 0.1 mg/kg morphine in combination with 30 mg ketorolac (n=100), or only 0.1 mg/kg morphine (n=100) or only 30mg ketorolac (n=100). All the patients were evaluated at 0, 20 minute,40 minute later. Our outcomes were pain reduction and need for additive morphine in 20 and 40 minutes. We also recorded and compared the adverse effects between the study groups.
There was no significant difference between the study groups. The pain intensity was comparable between three study groups after 20-min of intervention. However, we found that the pain intensity was significantly lower in balanced analgesia group when compared to morphine (3.01±0.98 vs. 3.66±1.02; p=0.012) or ketorolac alone (3.01±0.98 vs. 3.68±0.88; p=0.018). However, those receiving the balanced analgesia, required significantly less rescue analgesia when compared to morphine (16% vs. 20%; p=0.041) or ketorolac (16% vs. 24%; p=0.012) alone.
Balanced analgesia with morphine and ketorolac is more effective compared to morphine or ketorolac alone determine by lower pain scores after 40-min of injection and lower need for rescue analgesia.

To demonstrate an architecture to automate the prehospital emergency process to categorize the specialized care according to the situation at the right time for reducing the patient mortality and morbidity.
Prehospital emergency process were analyzed using existing prehospital management systems, frameworks and the extracted process were modeled using sequence diagram in Rational Rose software. System main agents were identified and modeled via component diagram, considering the main system actors and by logically dividing business functionalities, finally the conceptual architecture for prehospital emergency management was proposed. The proposed architecture was simulated using Anylogic simulation software. Anylogic Agent Model, State Chart and Process Model were used to model the system.
Multi agent systems (MAS) had a great success in distributed, complex and dynamic problem solving environments, and utilizing autonomous agents provides intelligent decision making capabilities. The proposed architecture presents prehospital management operations. The main identified agents are: EMS Center, Ambulance, Traffic Station, Healthcare Provider, Patient, Consultation Center, National Medical Record System and quality of service monitoring agent.
In a critical condition like prehospital emergency we are coping with sophisticated processes like ambulance navigation health care provider and service assignment, consultation, recalling patients past medical history through a centralized EHR system and monitoring healthcare quality in a real-time manner. The main advantage of our work has been the multi agent system utilization. Our Future work will include proposed architecture implementation and evaluation of its impact on patient quality care improvement.

To compare the outcomes of early excision and grafting between pediatric and adult patients with deep burns of less than 40% total body surface area burns (TBSA).
This is a prospective comparative study. Overall, 106 patients admitted to Ghotbodin Burn Center in Shiraz, Iran from September 2012 to September 2013, were included in the study. All patients had less than 40% TBSA burn and had excision and grafting under 14 days from their injury. Patients were divided into two age groups of younger than 14 (n=49) and older than 14 (14-65) years old (n=57). During a 6-month follow-up period, the two groups were compared regarding mean percentage of graft take, total scar score, duration of hospital stay and itching score.
During follow-up, the two groups did not show a significant difference in graft take, total scar score and itching score (p=0.461, p=0.363 and p=0.637, respectively). Clinically, the pediatric group showed less hospital stay (12.25±9.1 vs. 16±12.9), however this was not statistically significant (p=0.091).
Adults and elderly patients (14–65 years old) compared to pediatric patients (less than 14 years old) with less than 40% TBSA burns, can expect similar results regarding scar score, graft take, itch score and hospital stay, after excision and grafting performed less than two weeks from their initial injury.

To investigate the determinants of mortality and the lethal area 50 (LA50) in large series of Iranian burn patients admitted to a single burn center.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shahid Motahari burn center of Tehran, Iran during a 1-year period from 2011 to 2012. We included all the burn patients who were admitted to our center during the study period. Those with incomplete medical records and those referred to other centers were excluded from the study. The medical records of the included patients were reviewed and the demographic, clinical, laboratory and outcome measures were recorded. The mortality rate was recorded and the determinants of LA50 were analyzed in a univariate and stepwise multivariate model.
Overall we included a total number of 1200 subjects with mean age of 30.8 ±18 years. There were 907 (75.6%) men and 293 (24.4%) women among the patients. The total LA50 was 55.5% (95% CI: 52.98%-58.3 %). There was a significant difference between age group >61 years and two 11-20 and 21-30 groups regarding LA50. The advanced age (p The LA50 determine din our study is still much lower than that reported in developed countries, as a result, the quality of medical care is lower. Female gender, age, inhalational injury and extension of burn determined by TBSA% were found to be the independent risk factors of mortality in burn patients in our series.

To investigate the determinants of outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) undergoing decompressive craniectomy (DC) in a large level I trauma center in southern Iran.
This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted during an 18-month period from 2013 to 2014 in Shahid Rajaei hospital, a Level I trauma center in Southern Iran. Patients with TBI who had undergone DC were included and the medical charts were reviewed regarding demographics, clinical, radiological and outcome characteristics. The outcome was determined by extended Glasgow outcome scale (GOS-E) after one year of surgery. The variables were compared between those with favorable and unfavorable outcome to investigate the outcome determinants.
Overall 142 patients with mean age of 34.8 ± 15.5 (ranging from 15 to 85) years were included. There were 127 (89.4%) men and 15 (10.6%) women among the patients. After 1-year, the mortality rate was 58 (40.8%) and 8 (5.6%) patients were persistent vegetative state. The final outcome was found to be unfavorable in 77 (54.2%) patients. Unfavorable outcome was associated with lower GCS on admission (p DC in patients with TBI is associated with favorable outcome in most of them. On admission GCS, postoperative hydrocephalus and presence of postoperative subdural hygroma are among the important predictors of outcome in TBI patients undergoing DC.

To assess the psycho-social and mental variables associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a series of Iranian patients.
A total of 528 eligible accident survivors in pre-sampling of a randomized controlled trial targeting PTSD were included in this cross-sectional study. Psycho-social characteristics associated to PTSD were explored in these survivors in an outpatient clinic. They completed the questionnaires via interview between six weeks to six months after accident. Data collection tools were PSS (DSM-V version) for PTSD and BDI-II for depression and a researcher-made questionnaire for psycho-social variables.Multivariate logistic regression indicated that some variables were associated with PTSD such as accident perceived severity, (p There was a significant association between PTSD and the following variables; family communication, current depression, return to work, history of death of relatives, witnessed the death, length of amnesia, hospitalization, injured situation, and accident severity. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that some variables were associated with PTSD such as accident severity, (p Psychiatric nursing prevention efforts is best directed toward motorcycle depressed drivers with severe accident and poor family communication who do not return to work. Thus, routine assessment of PTSD, depression and psycho-social variables after traffic accidents must be taken into account.

To report the incidence, socio-demographic characteristics, otorhinolaryngological presentations and outcomes of management of patients at the Jos University Teaching Hospital following terror attacks.
A prospective descriptive hospital based study of consecutive patients presenting with ear, nose and throat injuries as a result of bomb blasts and ethno-religious crises within a six-year period and managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital were studied for age, gender, ear, nose and throat presentations, injury mechanism, interventions and outcome of interventions. A designed proforma was used for data collection.
There were 107 ear, nose and throat injuries from a total 468 terror-related injuries consisting of 66 (61.7%) males and 41 (38.3%) females (M:F ratio of 1.6:1), aged between 5 and 77 years (mean= 36.7 years; SD= 16.2). Two peak age incidences of injuries in the first and third decades were recorded. The commonest source of injuries was bomb blasts in 47 (44%) patients. Multiple facial fractures with soft tissue injuries were the commonest seen in 78 (72.9%) patients. The commonest associated injuries were head injuries (n= 36). Ninety-four (87.9%) patients presented via the Accident and Emergency department, 16 (15%) received pre-hospital care. Patients with multiple injuries stayed longer in the hospital (p-value= 0.028). Complications were recorded in 19 (17.8%) patients. A case fatality rate of 5.6% was recorded.
Bomb blasts were the major form of terror attacks in our region. The presence of multiple injuries is a significant negative predictor of patient outcomes.

Fracture and intrathoracic dislocation of the humeral head are extremely rare and often the result of a severe trauma. We herein report a case of humeral head fracture and dislocation with displacement into the chest cavity. A 75-year-old man fell down the stairs at home, landing on the right half of his body. Clinical impressive was a massive skin emphysema on the right hemithorax. A chest x-ray was performed. Conspicuous was a dubious opacity in the right subfield of the lung. The following CT-scan showed an additional fracture of the right scapula, a lung contusion and as “corpus delicti” a right intrathoracic dislocated humeral head fracture. The current case is extremely rare pattern of injury and the surgical emergency management is discussed. In most patients, a thoracotomy, which is related to a higher lethality and higher morbidity, can be avoided, if after stabilization a video assisted thoracoscopy is performed for revision of the pleural cavity and extraction of the humeral head.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare clinicoradiological entity characterized by neurological symptoms. It is associated with various conditions like hypertension, renal diseases and use of cytotoxic agents. It occurs more often in adults than children. PRES has been described in pediatric patient with renal diseases like nephrotic syndrome, nephritis and in acute renal failure as in cases of Hemolytic-uremic syndrome but there are no reports of PRES in cases of recovery from acute kidney injury due to prerenal cause like hypovolemia. We herein present an interesting case of 6-year-old girl with traumatic amputation who developed PRES days after recovery of acute kidney injury. The patient was successfully managed medically. The presented clinical scenario demonstrates the fact that PRES can develop in a trauma patient in acute setting of recovering from hypovolemic acute kidney injury. Prompt recognition and treatment is important and can lead to complete recovery.