Epidemiology of traumatically injured Yemeni civilians treated at the Omani National Trauma Centre over a 2-year period: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Armed conflict is a growing global cause of death, posing a significant threat to the resilience of global health systems. However, the burden of disease resulting from the Yemeni Civil War remains poorly understood. Approximately half of healthcare facilities in Yemen are non-operational, and around 15% of the population has been displaced. Consequently, neighbouring countries' trauma systems have been providing care to the injured. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and management of Yemeni civilian victims injured during the war who were subsequently extracted and treated at the study centre in Oman. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including all Yemeni civilians treated for traumatic injuries at the study centre from January 2015 to June 2017. We extracted data on age, sex, date of attendance, mechanism of injury, injuries sustained and treatment. RESULTS: A total of 254 injured patients were identified. Their median age was 25 (range 3-65) years and 244 (96.1%) were male. Explosions (160 patients, 63.0%) were the most common mechanism of injury, and fractures (n=232 fractures, 42.3% of all injuries; in 149 patients, 58.7% of all patients) the most common injury. Eighty-four of the 150 patients (56%) who received operative management at the study centre were receiving a second procedure after an index procedure outside of Oman.One hundred and twenty-eight (50.4%) patients experienced permanent loss of function in at least one body part and/or limb loss. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the downstream needs of Yemeni civilians who were evacuated to the study centre, revealing a considerable burden of morbidity associated with this population. The findings emphasise key areas that receiving hospitals should prioritise in resource allocation when managing conflict-wounded evacuees. Additionally, the study underscores the need for holistic rehabilitation for civilian casualties displaced by conflict.

The incidence and magnitude of fibrinolytic activation in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a global disease, with over 2.5 million deaths annually from hemorrhage and coagulopathy. Overt hyperfibrinolysis is rare in trauma, and is associated with massive fatal injuries. Paradoxically, clinical trials suggest a much broader indication for antifibrinolytics. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and magnitude of fibrinolytic activation in trauma patients and its relationship to clot lysis as measured by thromboelastometry. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 303 consecutive trauma patients admitted between January 2007 and June 2009 was performed. Blood was drawn on arrival for thromboelastometry (TEM) and coagulation assays. Follow-up was until hospital discharge or death. TEM hyperfibrinolysis was defined as maximum clot lysis of > 15%. Fibrinolytic activation (FA) was determined according to plasmin-antiplasmin (PAP) complex and D-dimer levels. Data were collected on demographics, mechanism, severity of injury, and baseline vital signs. The primary outcome measure was 28-day mortality. The secondary outcome measures were 28-day ventilator-free days and 24-h transfusion requirement. RESULTS: Only 5% of patients had severe fibrinolysis on TEM, but 57% of patients had evidence of 'moderate' fibrinolysis, with PAP complex levels elevated to over twice normal (> 1500 µg L(-1)) without lysis on TEM. TEM detected clot lysis only when PAP complex levels were increased to 30 times normal (P < 0.001) and antiplasmin levels were < 75% of normal. Patients with FA had increased 28-day mortality as compared with those with no FA (12% vs. 1%, P < 0.001), fewer ventilator-free days, and longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: FA occurs in the majority of trauma patients, and the magnitude of FA correlates with poor clinical outcome. This was not detected by conventional TEM, which is an insensitive measure of endogenous fibrinolytic activity.

Epidemiology and outcome of vascular trauma at a British Major Trauma Centre.

OBJECTIVES: In the United Kingdom, the epidemiology, management strategies and outcomes from vascular trauma are unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the vascular trauma experience of a British Trauma Centre. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of all patients admitted to hospital with traumatic vascular injury between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: Vascular injuries were present in 256 patients (4.4%) of the 5823 total trauma admissions. Penetrating trauma caused 135 (53%) vascular injuries whilst the remainder resulted from blunt trauma. Compared to penetrating vascular trauma, patients with blunt trauma were more severely injured (median ISS 29 [18-38] vs. ISS 11 [9-17], p < 0.0001), had greater mortality (26% vs. 10%; OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-5.9; p < 0.01) and higher limb amputation rates (12% vs. 0%; p < 0.0001). Blunt vascular trauma patients were also twice as likely to require a massive blood transfusion (48% vs. 25%; p = 0.0002) and had a five-fold longer hospital length of stay (median 35 days (15-58) vs. 7 (4-13), p<0.0001) and critical care stay (median 5 days (0-11) vs. 0 (0-2), p < 0.0001) compared to patients with penetrating trauma. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age, ISS, shock and zone of injury were independent predictors of death following vascular trauma. CONCLUSION: Traumatic vascular injury accounts for 4% of admissions to a British Trauma Centre. These patients are severely injured with high mortality and morbidity, and place a significant demand on hospital resources. Integration of vascular services with regional trauma systems will be an essential part of current efforts to improve trauma care in the UK.

Factors affecting outcome after traumatic limb amputation.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic leg amputation commonly affects young, active people and leads to poor long-term outcomes. The aim of this review was to describe common causes of disability and highlight therapeutic interventions that may optimize outcome after traumatic leg amputation. METHODS: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases was performed, using the terms 'leg injury', 'amputation' and 'outcome'. Articles reporting outcomes following traumatic leg amputation were included. RESULTS: Studies demonstrated that pain, psychological illness, decreased physical and vocational function, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were common causes of disability after traumatic leg amputation. The evidence highlights that appropriate preoperative management and operative techniques, in conjunction with suitable rehabilitation and postoperative follow-up, can lead to improved treatment outcome and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo leg amputation after trauma are at risk of poor long-term physical and mental health. Clinicians involved in their care have many opportunities to improve their outcome using a variety of therapeutic variables. Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clinical and biomarker profile of trauma-induced secondary cardiac injury.

BACKGROUND: Secondary cardiac injury has been demonstrated in critical illness and is associated with worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to establish the existence of trauma-induced secondary cardiac injury, and investigate its impact on outcomes in injured patients. METHODS: Injured adult patients eligible for enrolment in the Activation of Coagulation and Inflammation in Trauma 2 study, and admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2008 and January 2010, were selected retrospectively for the study. Markers of cardiac injury (brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and troponin I) were measured on admission, and after 24 and 72 h in blood samples from injured patients. Individual records were reviewed for adverse cardiac events and death. RESULTS: During the study period, 135 patients were enrolled (106 male, 78·5 per cent) with a median age of 40 (range 16-89) years. Eighteen patients (13·3 per cent) had an adverse cardiac event during admission and these events were not associated with direct thoracic injury. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher among the adverse cardiac event cohort: 44 per cent (8 of 18) versus 17·1 per cent (20 of 117) (P = 0·008). Raised levels of H-FABP and BNP at 0, 24 and 72 h, and troponin I at 24 and 72 h, were associated with increased adverse cardiac events. BNP levels were higher in non-survivors on admission (median 550 versus 403 fmol/ml; P = 0·022), after 24 h (794 versus 567 fmol/ml; P = 0·033) and after 72 h (1043 versus 753 fmol/ml; P = 0·036), as were admission troponin I levels. CONCLUSION: Clinical and cardiac biomarker characteristics support the existence of trauma-induced secondary cardiac injury, which is associated with death, and unrelated to direct thoracic injury.

Endovenous laser ablation for persistent and recurrent venous ulcers after varicose vein surgery.

A 75-year-old woman presented with painful recurrent venous ulcers (VU) continuously for the past 33 months on a background of frequent intermittent problems for the last 16 years. She had previously been treated with varicose vein surgery and trials of compression bandaging. Subsequently, she underwent endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) targeting the distal incompetent remnant of her great and small saphenous veins. This resulted in complete healing of her ulcers within four weeks. The dramatic response demonstrated in this case suggests that EVLA may represent an effective intervention in the management of postsurgery refractory VU.