David W. Tuggle

Management of rectal trauma

A 9 year review of rectal trauma was conducted. Forty-seven patients had major rectal trauma requiring diversion. Twenty-seven percent of patients presented in shock. Routine perioperative antibiotics were administered. Ninety-five percent of patients had positive findings on digital rectal examination or proctoscopy. There were 91 associated injuries. Rectal injuries were repaired in 19 patients. The absence of repair had no influence on postoperative morbidity or length of hospital stay. Ninety-five percent of patients had presacral drainage. One patient had distal rectal irrigation. Both loop and divided colostomies were utilized with no difference in morbidity or hospital stay. There were no deaths. Proctoscopy is essential in patients with wounds in proximity to the rectum. Diversion and presacral drainage for rectal injury is associated with a low mortality and acceptable morbidity. Rectal washout does not appear to be essential in civilian rectal injuries.

Abdominal wall defects in infants. Survival and implications for adult life.

OBJECTIVE The authors study reviewed patients who underwent operations for omphalocele and gastroschisis to determine survival, morbidity, and long-term quality of life. METHOD Clinical follow-up of 94 patients cared for with omphalocele and gastroschisis during a 10- to 20-year period after birth. RESULT Eighty-three patients survived initial treatment. Sixty-one had long-term follow-up. Mean follow-up in the group was 14.2 years. Survival was favorable in the absence of lethal or co-existing major congenital anomalies. Nineteen patients required 31 reoperations, most for abdominal wall hernias and the sequelae of intestinal atresia. Current quality of life was described as favorable (good) in 80% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Survival rate in patients with abdominal wall defects is favorable and deaths occur substantially in patients with co-existing lethal, or multiple, congenital anomalies. Reoperative surgery is necessary principally in those patients who have postclosure abdominal wall hernias, and in those with bowel atresia at birth. Reoperations are not likely to be necessary after school age. Quality of life in survivors is patient-perceived as entirely satisfactory.

Morbidity and mortality of an endemic pathogen: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

Over an 8-year period, two epidemics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred in a burn unit. Sources of sepsis were the burn wound and lung. Fourteen percent of the patients colonized with MRSA became bacteremic. The mean postburn day of bacteremia was 19 and the mortality rate was 5 percent. MRSA was introduced to the burn unit when a patient was transferred from another unit, on readmission of a previously infected patient, or heavy burn census when MRSA was epidemic in the hospital. Although the morbidity rate associated with MRSA infections was high, the mortality rate was low. Gram-negative sepsis has continued to be more lethal.

The Spectrum of Pediatric Injuries After a Bomb Blast

The spectrum of pediatric injuries seen after a bomb blast is poorly documented. The pathophysiology of blast injuries differ significantly from other forms of trauma and typically result in large numbers of distinctly patterned injuries. On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb was detonated directly adjacent to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A total of 816 adults and children were injured or killed as a direct result of the blast. Twenty infants and children were seated by the window of the second floor day care center at the time of the explosion. The injuries incurred by all children involved in the blast were studied. Nineteen children, 16 of whom were in the day care center, died as a direct result of the blast. The injury patterns among the 19 dead children included a 90% (17 of 19) incidence of skull fractures, 15 of those with cerebral evisceration (skull capping); 37% with abdominal or thoracic injuries; 31% amputations; 47% arm fractures, 26% leg fractures; 21% burns; and 100% with extensive cutaneous contusions, avulsions, and lacerations. Forty-seven children sustained nonfatal injuries with only seven children requiring hospitalization. The injuries sustained by the seven hospitalized children included two open, depressed skull fractures, with partially extruded brain, two closed head injuries, three arm fractures, one leg fracture, one arterial injury, one splenic injury, five tympanic membrane perforations, three corneal abrasions, and four burn cases (1 > 40% body surface area [BSA]). After a bomb blast, pediatric patients sustain a high incidence of cranial injuries. Fractures and traumatic amputations are common. Intraabdominal and thoracic injuries occur frequently in the deceased but infrequently in survivors.

The safety and cost-effectiveness of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution bowel preparation in infants and children

Golytely, a polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (Braintree Laboratories, Braintree, MA), was evaluated in the preoperative bowel preparation of 21 infants and children. Weight, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and electrolyte concentrations were documented before and after mechanical bowel preparation. All children were given 25 mL/kg/h of Golytely until rectal effluent was clear and free of particulate matter. All preparations were started and completed the afternoon prior to surgery. Weight, vital signs, and electrolyte concentrations did not change significantly. All preparations were felt to be fair or excellent. Follow-up for 1 month postoperatively revealed no infectious complications. Golytely is safe and effective in preparing the bowel prior to surgery in children. Using Golytely can eliminate the need for multiple-day hospitalizations for bowel preparation and thus decrease the cost of medical care.

The effect of trauma program registry on reported mortality rates.

BACKGROUND This study assesses the relationship that the brand of trauma program registry (TPR) has on mortality rate (MR) in the reports prepared by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACSCOT) trauma center (TC) site surveyors. METHODS Data from 242 ACSCOT adult TC survey reports (88 Level I, 115 Level II, and 39 Level III) were analyzed for annual trauma volume, injury severity score (ISS), MR, and TPR. Six TPR (A through F) were identified; group F was a composite of several infrequently used TPRs. This report focuses on the ISS range 16-24 because of the likelihood that the mean for each TC would be near 20 and MR is high enough so that a difference, if present, could be statistically documented. RESULTS For the total group, MR showed no correlation with TC volume or TC level for ISS 16-24. MR was significantly different according to which TPR was used by the TCs. The MR is less (4.8%) for 14 high volume TCs (over 1200 admits) using TPR A compared with 33 low volume TCs (below 800 admits) using TPR A (6.34%). CONCLUSION The MR for ISS 16-24 in ACSCOT-surveyed TCs differs within subgroups based on type of TPR utilized. This may reflect improper use of the software programs. Enhanced skill in the application of software programs designed to generate ISS scores is essential if meaningful studies on the effects of improved trauma care on MR are to be conducted. Hand scored ISS by trained personnel may circumvent this problem.

The abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with burn injury.

Abstract Introduction: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and subsequent abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in burned patients is common. This sequence of events typically occurs in patients with larger burns receiving high volume fluid resuscitation. Methods: A review of the literature was performed. The National Library of Medicine (PUBMED) was queried for “Burn” and “Abdominal Compartment Syndrome”. Twenty-nine articles were retained for study. Results: Abdominal pressure monitoring is appropriate in all patients with burns that require significant volume resuscitation (>30% total burned surface area- TBSA). Prevention of ACS in burns includes limiting fluid resuscitation, burn escharotomy, and percutaneous drainage when abdominal pressures are reaching perilous levels. Treatment includes all of the above and in addition, decompressive laparotomy when needed. However, despite decompressive laparotomy, mortality rates among burn victims with ACS remain unacceptably high. Conclusion: Increasing amounts of volume delivery are associated with an increased risk of IAH. Therefore, intra-abdominal pressure should be monitored in all burn patients requiring massive fluid resuscitation. Escharotomy, paracentesis, and decompressive laparotomy may all be needed to counter the side effects of appropriate fluid resuscitation in the severely burned patient. Nevertheless, the prognosis in burn patients developing ACS is grim.

Hypoalbuminemia may predispose infants to necrotizing enterocolitis.

Numerous risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) including prematurity, bowel ischemia, pathogenic bacteria, and hyperosmolar feedings have been proposed. Recent studies have demonstrated feeding intolerance and bowel dysfunction in children with hypoalbuminemia. No association between hypoalbuminemia and NEC has been suggested. The records of 45 patients with NEC and complete documentation of prenatal and birth histories were reviewed. A control (CONT) group of 90 children matched for maternal age (+/- 1 year), parity, gestational age (+/- 1 week), birth weight (+/- 20 g), type of delivery, sex, race, type of initial feeding, and perinatal stress was compiled. While all other measured parameters were similar in the two groups, premorbid albumin was significantly lower in the patients who subsequently developed NEC (P less than .001). These data suggest that newborns with hypoalbuminemia may have an increased risk of developing NEC.

Treating the snakebitten child in North America: A study of pit viper bites

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Snakebite envenomation is a potentially life-threatening form of trauma, the dangers of which are amplified in children because their smaller size increases the relative dose of venom received. The authors reviewed a large series of snakebitten children to address the medical and fiscal issues of treating these patients. METHODS The records of 37 snakebitten children (1987 through 1997) were analyzed for demographic data, signs of envenomation, use of specific therapies (antivenin, blood products, or surgery), length of hospitalization, complications, and cost of care. RESULTS Fifty-four percent of the children had a major envenomation demonstrated by systemic symptomatology, laboratory analysis, or need for surgery. All children made full recoveries with most receiving only supportive care (92%). The average time to emergency department presentation was 8 hours, where all children with major envenomations and those requiring specific therapies (surgery, clotting factors) were identified. Cost analysis showed an average of

Operative treatment of anterior ectopic anus: The efficacy and influence of age on results

2,450 dollars per child with the majority of expenses attributable to length of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS Most snakebitten children completely recover with minimal supportive care, and they can be cared for safely and cost effectively as outpatients if no signs of major envenomation are noted within 8 hours of the bite.