Management of calciphylaxis in a burn center: A case series and review of the literature.

Calciphylaxis is a rare, necrotizing skin disorder usually associated with kidney disease, but also caused by many other systemic illnesses. This disease is associated with mortality rates as high as 80% at 1year. We present the demographic and clinical data of nine patients with calciphylaxis treated at our burn center over a 10year period. We review the literature on the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease. We propose that these patients be treated similar to patients with thermal burn injury; meaning intensive wound care, surgical management, critical care and physical therapy. Burn centers are uniquely capable of caring for these incredibly complex patients due to their experience in managing patients with extensive skin and soft tissue defects, wounds and diseases.

Bicarbonate and mannitol treatment for traumatic rhabdomyolysis revisited.

BACKGROUND: A rhabdomyolysis protocol (RP) with mannitol and bicarbonate to prevent acute renal dysfunction (ARD, creatinine >2.0 mg/dL) remains controversial. METHODS: Patients with creatine kinase (CK) greater than 2,000 U/L over a 10-year period were identified. Shock, Injury Severity Score, massive transfusion, intravenous contrast exposure, and RP use were evaluated. RP was initiated for a CK greater than 10,000 U/L (first half of the study) or greater than 20,000 U/L (second half). Multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of ARD and the independent effect of the RP. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were identified, 24 (31%) developed ARD, and 4 (5%) required hemodialysis. After controlling for other risk factors, peak CK greater than 10,000 U/L (odds ratio 8.6, P = .016) and failure to implement RP (odds ratio 5.7, P = .030) were independent predictors of ARD. Among patients with CK greater than 10,000, ARD developed in 26% of patients with the RP versus 70% without it (P = .008). CONCLUSION: Reduced ARD was noted with RP. A prospective controlled study is still warranted.

Accuracy and Reliability of Triage at the Point of Injury During Operation Enduring Freedom.

BACKGROUND: Accurate point-of-injury reports and casualty evacuation requests allow for optimal resource utilization. However, the accuracy of these reports has not been previously studied. METHODS: All trauma patients treated at one of three forward surgical elements (FSE) in Western Afghanistan during May-August 2012 were prospectively included. North American Treaty Organization (NATO) 9-line medical evacuation request and mechanism, injuries, signs, and treatments (MIST) reports were compared to the initial findings on arrival to the FSE. RESULTS: There were 179 casualty evacuation reports and 298 patients. NATO 9-line and/or MIST reports were available for 70% of these. Triage was accurate for 77%, but there was 17% overtriage and 6% undertriage (k = .619). The number of patients was accurate in 95% of reports, the mechanism of injury was accurate for 98%, and the body region involved was accurate for 92% (k = .850, .943, and .870, respectively). There was no difference between the mean vital signs at the point of injury or on arrival at the FSE. When analyzed individually, however, there was no correlation between each casualty's pulse, mean arterial pressure, or respiratory rate between the two time points. DISCUSSION: There was a high degree of correlation between the triage category of casualty evacuation reports and the patient's actual medical needs. There was also a highly significant association with the number of patients, mechanism of injury, and bodily injuries. However, there was discordance between the vital signs at an individual level, which may represent regression toward the resuscitation threshold.

Concomitant rib fractures and minor liver or spleen injuries in blunt trauma: what is the potential for missed diaphragmatic injuries?

Nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt liver or spleen injuries (LSI) is widely accepted, but diaphragmatic injuries (DI) can be elusive. We hypothesize that rib fractures and minor LSI (RF+ minor LSI) are associated with DI. Patients with blunt injury undergoing exploratory laparotomy between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, were identified from our registry. The association between injury variables and DI was examined with logistic regression. Organ Injury Scores of the liver and spleen of Grade I/II were defined as "minor." A potentially nonoperative (PNO) patient had a rib fracture and minor LSI but no bowel injury or hypotension (systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg). The incidence of DI was 7.5 per cent (53 of 705) overall but 20 per cent (seven of 35) in patients with RF + minor LSI. Nineteen PNO patients had four (21.1%) DIs. RF + LSI (3.26 [1.74-6.12], P < 0.001) and motor vehicle collisions (4.93 [2.36-10.32], P < 0.001) were independently associated with DI. The incidence of laparotomy in all critically ill blunt injury patients (n = 2177) decreased significantly (P = 0.003). RF + minor LSI are associated with DI even when there are no other operative injuries. Because NOM is increasingly accepted, the potential for missed DI exists. When high-quality imaging is not available or is equivocal, further studies should be considered.