[Polyspecialistic treatment of a polytrauma. Case report]. / Politrauma complesso: gestione poli-specialistica. Caso clinico.

The Authors report the clinical course of M.L., a 22 years old man. He came to our observation after a road accident, in third care. In the former hospital admissions hemodynamic stabilization, surgical haemostasis of multiple hepatic lacerations with hemoperitoneum and right leg amputation were performed. He arrived to our department in a critical condition owing to mild respiratory insufficiency due to many rib fractures with sero-haematic spillage into the pleural cavity, in dialytic treatment for acute renal insufficiency consequent to right renal artery damage, soft tissues necrosis of the amputation stump with sepsis and persistent fever until 40 degrees C. The treatment and care of this patient required a team-work with the collaboration of many specialists, namely surgeons, nephrologists, anaesthetists, interventionist radiologists and hyperbaric oxygen therapy experts. Thanks to such collaboration we achieved an excellent quoad vitam result. The aim of this paper is to confirm and emphasize the central role of a Trauma Team, fed in a Trauma Center and in a Trauma System, in the management of complex traumas.

Utilidad del uso de la ecocardiografía transesofágica durante la inserción de una endoprótesis de aorta torácica. Caso clínico / Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography during insertion of a thoracic aorta endoprosthesis. A case report

El uso de la ecocardiografía transesofágica (ETE) durante la inserción de una endoprótesis aórtica torácica percutánea puede ser de gran utilidad. Esto es porque se trata de una técnica de monitorización escasamente invasiva con la que se obtienen imágenes de la aorta en tiempo real y de alta calidad, sin interferir en el campo quirúrgico. Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente de alto riesgo portador de una disección de aorta torácica tipo B al que se le instaló con éxito una endoprótesis bajo visión angiográfica y ecocardiográfica. La ETE fue muy útil durante este procedimiento, pues permitió una excelente visión anatómica de la aorta. Además, con el uso de Doppler color fue posible evaluar la ausencia de endofugas paraprotésicas durante el procedimiento. En conclusión, la ETE puede ser una técnica de imágenes útil y complementaria de la angiografía durante la instalación de una endoprótesis de aorta torácica.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can be very useful during endovascular treatment of the thoracic aorta. TEE is a minimally invasive monitoring technique that provides high qua lit y images of the aorta without interfering the surgical field. A successful endovascular repair of a thoracic aortic dissection monitored by angiography and TEE is reported. The excellent images of the aorta provided by TEE and color Doppler were very useful for its anatomical evaluation and for demonstrating the absence of paraprosthetic endoleaks. In conclusion, during the implantation of a stent-graft in the aorta, TEE must be installed because it provides additional in formation to angiography.

O uso da ecocardiografia transesofágica (ETE) durante a colocação de uma endoprótese aórtica torácica percutanea pode ser de grande utilidade, por tratar-se de uma técnica de monitoramento minimamente invasiva que gera imagens da aorta de alta qualidade em tempo real e sem interferir no campo cirúrgico. É apresentado o caso clínico de um paciente de alto risco, portador de uma dissecção de aorta torácica tipo B, ao qual se colocou com exito uma endoprótese sob visão angiográfica e ecocardiográfica. A ETE foi de grande utilidade durante este procedimento, pois permitiu uma excelente visão anatómica da aorta. Além disso, o uso do Doppler em cores possibilitou avaliar a ausencia de endofugas paraprotéticas durante o procedimento. Em conclusão, a ETE pode ser uma técnica de imagens útil e complementar da angiografia durante a colocação de uma endoprótese de aorta torácica.

Treatment of renal-vascular injury by transcatheter embolization: immediate and long-term effects on renal function.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of superselective embolization for treatment of renal-vascular injuries on renal function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2004, four male patients and one female patient with a mean age of 45.4 years underwent embolization to control bleeding from renal-vascular injuries resulting from iatrogenic interventions (N = 4) or blunt abdominal trauma (N = 1). Angiography depicted a pseudoaneurysm in all patients, together with an arteriovenous fistula in one. Superselective embolization was achieved with 0.035- or 0.018-inch coils combined with a mixture of Histoacryl and Lipiodol in one patient. RESULTS: Bleeding was controlled in all patients and did not recur. No complications occurred after the procedure. Hematuria ceased within 3 days. The serum creatinine concentration returned to pre-injury values within 10 days. Embolization caused an immediate parenchymal ischemic area of 0 to 20% (mean 9%). The contrast-enhanced CT scan 6 months after the procedure revealed a parenchymal perfusion deficit of 0 to 10% (mean 5%). CONCLUSIONS: Superselective embolization resulted in permanent cessation of bleeding. Renal function was preserved in all the patients, and serum creatinine concentrations returned to the pre-injury values. Transcatheter embolization should be considered the treatment of choice in the management of renal-vascular injuries.

Nuclear medicine and complementary modalities in renal trauma.

The diagnosis of renal trauma for many years was achieved through history, clinical findings, the performance of a survey film of the abdomen, urinalysis, excretory urography, aortography, and selective renal artery arteriography. The development of the scintillation camera and the availability of 99mTc, as well as 99mTc labeled pharmaceuticals, approximately fifteen years ago has widened this diagnostic horizon. Exquisite new imaging modalities have become available recently. As a result of constantly improving technology, these techniques--including computed tomography, sonography, with real time enhancement, and digital video subtraction angiography--are utilized more and more frequently. The full impact of these newest wonders is not yet realized. Cost-effectiveness, radiation exposure, accumulative drug side-effects, availability of facilities and personnel and professional and technical training have become major considerations.