Jonathan B. Lundy

Continuous venovenous hemofiltration in severely burned patients with acute kidney injury: a cohort study

IntroductionAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and devastating complication in critically ill burn patients with mortality reported to be between 80 and 100%. We aimed to determine the effect on mortality of early application of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) in severely burned patients with AKI admitted to our burn intensive care unit (BICU).MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study comparing a population of patients managed with early and aggressive CVVH compared with historical controls managed conservatively before the availability of CVVH. Patients with total body surface area (TBSA) burns of more than 40% and AKI were treated with early CVVH and their outcomes compared with a group of historical controls.ResultsOverall, the 28-day mortality was significantly lower in the CVVH arm (n = 29) compared with controls (n = 28) (38% vs. 71%, P = 0.011) as was the in-hospital mortality (62% vs. 86%, P = 0.04). In a subgroup of patients in shock, a dramatic reduction in the pressor requirement was seen after 24 and 48 hours of treatment. Compared with controls (n = 19), significantly fewer patients in the CVVH group (n = 21) required vasopressors at 24 hours (100% vs 43%, P < 0.0001) and at 48 hours (94% vs 24%, P < 0.0001). In those with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), there was a significant increase from baseline in the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio at 24 hours in the CVVH group (n = 16, 174 ± 78 to 327 ± 122, P = 0.003) but not the control group (n = 20, 186 ± 64 to 207 ± 131, P = 0.98).ConclusionsThe application of CVVH in adult patients with severe burns and AKI was associated with a decrease in 28-day and hospital mortality when compared with a historical control group, which largely did not receive any form of renal replacement. Clinical improvements were realized in the subgroups of patients with shock and ALI/ARDS. A randomized controlled trial comparing early CVVH to standard care in this high-risk population is planned.

Enterocutaneous Fistulas in the Setting of Trauma and Critical Illness

One of the most devastating complications to develop in the general surgical patient is an enterocutaneous fistula (ECF). Critically ill patients suffering trauma, thermal injury, infected necrotizing pancreatitis, and other acute intraabdominal pathology are at unique risk for this complication as well. By using decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome and leaving the abdomen open temporarily for other acute processes, survival in some instances may be improved. However, the exposed viscera are at risk for fistulization in the presence of an open abdomen, a newly defined entity termed the enteroatmospheric fistula (EAF). The purpose of this article is to describe the epidemiology of ECF in the setting of trauma and critical illness, nutrition in injured/critically ill patients with ECF, pharmacologic adjuncts to decrease fistula effluent, wound care, surgical management of the EAF/ECF, and techniques for prevention of these dreaded complications in patients with an open abdomen.

Diagnosis and management of inhalation injury: an updated review.

In this article we review recent advances made in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inhalation injury. Historically, the diagnosis of inhalation injury has relied on nonspecific clinical exam findings and bronchoscopic evidence. The development of a grading system and the use of modalities such as chest computed tomography may allow for a more nuanced evaluation of inhalation injury and enhanced ability to prognosticate. Supportive respiratory care remains essential in managing inhalation injury. Adjuncts still lacking definitive evidence of efficacy include bronchodilators, mucolytic agents, inhaled anticoagulants, nonconventional ventilator modes, prone positioning, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Recent research focusing on molecular mechanisms involved in inhalation injury has increased the number of potential therapies.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in wartime military burns: application of the Berlin criteria.

BACKGROUND Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) prevalence and related outcomes in burned military casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan have not been described previously. The objective of this article was to report ARDS prevalence and its associated in-hospital mortality in military burn patients. METHODS Demographic and physiologic data were collected retrospectively on mechanically ventilated military casualties admitted to our burn intensive care unit from January 2003 to December 2011. Patients with ARDS were identified in accordance with the new Berlin definition of ARDS. Subjects were categorized as having mild, moderate, or severe ARDS. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors for developing moderate-to-severe ARDS. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of ARDS in a cohort of patients burned as a result of recent combat operations. RESULTS A total of 876 burned military casualties presented during the study period, of whom 291 (33.2%) required mechanical ventilation. Prevalence of ARDS in this cohort was 32.6%, with a crude overall mortality of 16.5%. Mortality increased significantly with ARDS severity: mild (11.1%), moderate (36.1%), and severe (43.8%) compared with no ARDS (8.7%) (p < 0.001). Predictors for the development of moderate or severe ARDS were inhalation injury (odds ratio [OR], 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–3.54; p = 0.046), Injury Severity Score (ISS) (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07; p = 0.0021), pneumonia (OR, 198; 95% CI, 1.07–3.66; p = 0.03), and transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01–1.72; p = 0.04). Size of burn was associated with moderate or severe ARDS by univariate analysis but was not an independent predictor of ARDS by multivariate logistic regression (p > 0.05). Age, size of burn, and moderate or severe ARDS were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION In this cohort of military casualties with thermal injuries, nearly a third required mechanical ventilation; of those, nearly one third developed ARDS, and nearly one third of patients with ARDS did not survive. Moderate and severe ARDS increased the odds of death by more than fourfold and ninefold, respectively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.

Conservative Management of Retained Cardiac Missiles: Case Report and Literature Review

Intracardiac foreign bodies may be caused by direct penetrating trauma, embolization from injury to another area of the body, or iatrogenically from fragments of intravascular access devices. Penetrating cardiac trauma commonly presents with a hemodynamically unstable patient necessitating emergent life-saving procedures. Missile embolization to the heart can occur after injury to systemic and pulmonary veins. Central venous access devices may fracture after placement and embolize. Especially in the setting of penetrating cardiac trauma, these intracardiac foreign bodies require expeditious removal. Limited data exist regarding the conservative management of intracardiac material after trauma. We present the case of a 42-year-old male soldier injured in a mortar blast in Iraq who suffered multiple injuries to include a right hemopneumothorax and soft tissue injuries to the chest and both lower extremities that was found to have a 2-cm by 2-mm intracardiac metal fragment. Additional imaging revealed a metallic fragment localized to the interatrial septum. The patient suffered no adverse sequelae from nonoperative management. A review of the world literature regarding the subject of posttraumatic retained cardiac missiles (RCMs) is also included to help future surgeons in the management of this rare entity.

Historical Perspectives in the Care of Patients with Enterocutaneous Fistula

Evidence can be found throughout surgical history of how devastating an enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) can be for both patient and surgeon. From antiquity, this complication of abdominal surgery, malignancy, radiation, trauma, or inflammatory processes has been a significant challenge to surgeons due to high associated mortality and significant morbidity. An ECF causes dehydration, malnutrition, skin excoriation, and sepsis, and has profound psychological effects on the patient. Recent mortality rates of patients suffering an ECF approach 20%. The authors illustrate the history of management of patients with ECF and discuss advances in perioperative care including parasurgical care, nutrition, wound care, and the history of surgical techniques.

Massive fecal impaction presenting with megarectum and perforation of a stercoral ulcer at the rectosigmoid junction

A 25-year-old male with lifelong constipation presented to the emergency department with an acute abdomen. Initial resuscitation was performed, and the patient underwent urgent laparotomy. He was found to have feculent peritonitis with megabowel involving the rectum and sigmoid colon and a stercoral ulcer with full thickness erosion, and perforation was also identified on the anti-mesocolic surface at the rectosigmoid junction. Abdominal irrigation and subtotal colectomy with proximal fecal diversion was performed. This case illustrates that recognition of severe, chronic constipation should lead to interventions including disimpaction and aggressive medical management. When indicated, megabowel can be managed surgically in an elective setting based on anatomic findings and physiologic studies. Peritonitis is an ominous late finding in patients with severe constipation.

Lack of precision of burn surface area calculation by UK Armed Forces medical personnel

OBJECTIVE Accurate determination of the severity of burn is essential for the care of thermally injured patients. We aimed to examine the accuracy and precision of TBSA calculation performed by specialist military burn care providers and non-specialist but experienced military clinicians. METHODS Using a single case example with photographic montages and a modified Lund and Browder chart, the two cohorts of clinicians were each given 10min to map and calculate the case example TBSA involvement. The accuracy and precision of results from the two cohorts were compared to a set standard %TBSA. RESULTS The set standard %TBSA involvement was 64.5%. Mean %TBSA mapped by non-specialists (52.53±10.03%) differed significantly from the set standard (p<0.0001). No difference was observed when comparing results from the burn care providers (65.68±10.29%; p=0.622). However, when comparing precision of calculation of TBSA burned, there was no evidence of a difference in heterogeneity of results between the two cohorts (F test, p=0.639; Levenes test, p=0.448). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that experienced military burn care providers overall more accurately assess %TBSA burned than relatively inexperienced clinicians. However, results demonstrate a lack of precision in both groups.

Frequency and relevance of acute peritraumatic pulmonary thrombus diagnosed by computed tomographic imaging in combat casualties.

BACKGROUND Posttraumatic pulmonary embolism is historically diagnosed after clinical deterioration within the first week after injury. An increasing prevalence of immediate and asymptomatic pulmonary embolism have been reported in civilian and military trauma, termed hereafter as acute peritraumatic pulmonary thrombus (APPT). The objective of this study was to define the frequency of APPT diagnosed by computed tomographic (CT) imaging in wartime casualties. An additional objective was to identify factors, which may be associated with this radiographic finding METHODS A 1-year retrospective cohort analysis conducted using the US and UK Joint Theater Trauma Registries performed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for the diagnosis of APPT in casualties admitted to Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan. APPT imaging characteristics were collected, and demographics, injury severity and mechanism, and risk factors were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with APPT. RESULTS APPT was found in 66 (9.3%) of 708 consecutive trauma admissions, which received a CT chest with intravenous contrast as part of their initial evaluation. Diagnosis of APPT at the time of injury was made in 23 patients (3.2%), while thrombus was detected in 43 additional patients (6.1%) at the time of reexamination of CT images. Of the APPTs, 47% (n = 31) were central, 38% (n = 25) were segmental, and 15% (n = 10) were subsegmental. Forty-seven percent (n = 31) had bilateral APPT. Logistic regression found presence of deep venous thrombosis on admission (odds ratio, 5.75; 95% confidence interval, 2.44–13.58; p < 0.0001) and traumatic amputation (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–5.85; p = 0.030) to be independently associated with APPT. All APPTs were felt to be incidental and likely would not have required interventions such as anticoagulation or vena caval interruption. CONCLUSION This report is the first to characterize acute, peritraumatic pulmonary thrombus in combat injured. Nearly 1 in 10 patients with severe wartime injury has findings of pulmonary thrombus on CT imaging, although many instances require repeat examination of initial images to identify the clot. APPT is a phenomenon of severe injury and associated with deep venous thrombosis and lower-extremity traumatic amputation. Additional study is needed to characterize the natural history of peritraumatic pulmonary thrombus and the indications for anticoagulation or vena cava filter devices. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic and prognostic study, level III.

Diagnostic Pelvic Computed Tomography in the Rectal-Injured Combat Casualty

BACKGROUND The current standard for evaluating trauma patients for penetrating rectal injury is to perform a rigid proctoscopy. This can be laborious and inaccurate. Injuries are often not visualized and a small number of unnecessary colostomies may be created. Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the pelvis may be useful in identifying penetrating rectal injuries. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective analysis was performed on data regarding all casualties admitted to the 10th Combat Support Hospital during the period of November 2005 through March 2006. Nineteen patients were identified. Patients that were hemodynamically stable underwent preoperative CT scanning. All rectal injuries diagnosed preoperatively were confirmed through a different diagnostic modality in the OR. RESULTS Nineteen patients with rectal injury or suspected rectal injury were identified. Eight of the 19 were hemodynamically unstable in the emergency medical treatment area and were taken emergently to surgery. For discussion, only stable patients with gunshot wound or blast/fragmentation injury mechanisms were included. No injuries were missed by CT scanning, but there were two false-positive scans. CONCLUSIONS In our brief experience, CT scanning was a useful screening tool to assist in identifying patients with penetrating traumatic rectal injuries. It allowed us to improve triage and make effective use of limited operative resources.