Surgical management of chest injuries in patients with multiple and/or severe trauma- a systematic review and clinical practice guideline update.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to update evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations for the surgical and interventional management of blunt or penetrating injuries to the chest in patients with multiple and/or severe injuries on the basis of current evidence. This guideline topic is part of the 2022 update of the German Guideline on the Treatment of Patients with Multiple and/or Severe Injuries. METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to May and June 2021 respectively for the update and new questions. Further literature reports were obtained from clinical experts. Randomised controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and comparative registry studies were included if they compared interventions for the surgical management of injuries to the chest in patients with multiple and/or severe injuries. We considered patient-relevant clinical outcomes such as mortality, length of stay, and diagnostic test accuracy. Risk of bias was assessed using NICE 2012 checklists. The evidence was synthesised narratively, and expert consensus was used to develop recommendations and determine their strength. RESULTS: One study was identified. This study compared wedge resection, lobectomy and pneumonectomy in the management of patients with severe chest trauma that required some form of lung resection. Based on the updated evidence and expert consensus, one recommendation was modified and two additional good practice points were developed. All achieved strong consensus. The recommendation on the amount of blood loss that is used as an indication for surgical intervention in patients with chest injuries was modified to reflect new findings in trauma care and patient stabilisation. The new good clinical practice points (GPPs) on the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in patients with initial circulatory stability are also in line with current practice in patient care. CONCLUSION: As has been shown in recent decades, the treatment of chest trauma has become less and less invasive for the patient as diagnostic and technical possibilities have expanded. Examples include interventional stenting of aortic injuries, video-assisted thoracoscopy and parenchyma-sparing treatment of lung injuries. These less invasive treatment concepts reduce morbidity and mortality in the primary surgical phase following a chest trauma.

[Management of thoracic trauma and intrathoracic injuries]. / Management beim Thoraxtrauma und bei intrathorakalen Verletzungen.

More than 45% of polytraumatized patients in Germany suffer from severe thoracic trauma. Due to the urgent time factor (e.g. respiratory insufficiency and severe bleeding), a structured procedure in the diagnostics and treatment according to the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) criteria is necessary both prehospital and in the emergency room in order to provide the patient with adequate care. If a patient is stable or can be stabilized there is the option of using extended diagnostics, such as whole body computer tomography (CT) scanning with contrast medium, to select a treatment that is optimally adapted to the injury pattern. This can be performed by open surgery, minimally invasive surgery and interventional radiologically/endoscopically and depends on the injured organ as well as the extent of the injury. This means that only an interdisciplinary approach guarantees optimal care for patients with thoracic trauma.

[An exceptional cause of a penetrating thoracic trauma : High-pressure injection injury of the left upper lung lobe]. / Eine außergewöhnliche Ursache des penetrierenden Thoraxtraumas : Hydrauliköldurchschuss des linken Lungenoberlappens.

We report a thoracic high-pressure injection injury caused by hydraulic fluid. Immediate surgical intervention without resection of lung tissue ensured an uneventful postoperative course. High-pressure injection injuries often affect the hands, face, and eyes. Acute tissue damage and chronic late-onset complications may be observed. The unimpressive entry wound conceals the underlying tissue damage. Hence, prompt surgical inspection, basic wound debridement, and drainage or open wound therapy determine the outcome.

[Prevention of small bowel fistulas during open abdominal treatment: lessons learned]. / Prävention von Dünndarmfisteln beim Laparostoma: Lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal vacuum therapy has simplified the treatment of a laparostoma. But is that all that it can achieve? The role of abdominal vacuum therapy concerning the development of small bowel fistulas is still under discussion. Treatment of the bowel surface seems to be crucial for the prevention of fistulas. As military surgeons, we need a simple, standardised regimen, leading to reproducible good results and low complication rates. The question is: are we able to eliminate small bowel fistula during open abdominal treatment? PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 28  consecutive patients with open abdominal treatment in the period of 2004 to 2009. From June 2006 on, we implemented an algorithm, using the KCI V.A.C.® Abdominal Dressing (Kinetic Concepts Inc., San Antonio, Texas, USA) and a vicryl mesh between the non-adherent layer and the foam to prevent fascial retraction. The patients treated -after the installation of the new algorithm were compared to a group treated from 2004 to May 2006 before its installation. Fistula rates, mortality, the fascial closure rate, the number of abdominal dressing changes and the duration of open -abdominal treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: After implementation of our new algorithm, the fistula rate decreased from 45 % to 0 %. The mortality during open abdominal treatment decreased from 45 % to 6 %. In addition, the duration of open abdominal treatment was reduced as well as the number of dressing changes. The primary fascial closure rate was 87 %. CONCLUSION: We implemented a regimen, which is suitable for our mission in Afghanistan, as well as for medical evacuation and for the treatment of patients in our hospitals in Germany. It ensures a standardised treatment of the open abdominal cavity with an ideal protecting treatment of the bowel surface. Our algorithm utilises the advantages of the laparostoma while minimising the complications. The development of a small bowel fistula was eliminated in the evaluated patient group and mortality was clearly reduced.

[German military surgeons in deployment abroad: life and working conditions]. / Deutsche Militärchirurgen im Auslandseinsatz : Lebens- und Arbeitsbedingungen.

Since 1992 the German Bundeswehr has been deployed for securing peace and peacekeeping abroad. Since then 83 German soldiers have been killed and overall 129 wounded in action as of 07.12.2009. In Northern Afghanistan the German Bundeswehr runs a combat support hospital (role 3) in Mazar-e-Sharif providing a multidisciplinary capability profile. Furthermore, there are two role 2 medical treatment facilities for primary surgical trauma care located in Kunduz and Feyzabad. In these role 2 facilities life saving procedures and damage control operations are performed in order to enable rapid evacuation to a higher level of care. Thereby military surgeons are often confronted with various medical and logistic challenges. The German Navy also has two equivalent role 2 medical treatment facilities (Naval Rescue Centers) aboard its two combat support ships (CSS) "Berlin" and "Frankfurt am Main" to support maritime task groups operating worldwide. These floating field hospitals provide an indispensable asset in the medical emergency care of naval operations with difficult space-time factors. Due to the specific operating alliance between CSS and Naval Rescue Center, special operations as well as evacuation and humanitarian missions following disasters near the coastline can be effectively accomplished.

Multidetector CT (MD-CT) in the diagnosis of uncertain open globe injuries.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of multislice CT for the diagnosis of uncertain penetrating globe injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on a retrospective chart review between 2002 and 2007, we identified 59 patients presenting with severe ocular trauma with uncertain rupture of the globe due to massive subconjunctival and/or anterior chamber hemorrhage. The IOP (intraocular pressure) was within normal range in all patients. High resolution multidetector CT (MD-CT) scans (16 slice scans) with axial and coronar reconstructions were performed in all patients. The affected eye was examined for signs of penetrating injury such as abnormal eye shape, scleral irregularities, lens dislocation or intravitreal hemorrhages. Four experienced radiologists read the CT scans independently. Beside the diagnosis, the relevant morphological criteria and the optimal plane orientation (axial or coronar) were specified. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive value were calculated. Additionally the interobserver variability was determined by applying the Cohen's kappa test. Surgical sclera inspections were performed in all cases as a standard of reference. The evaluations of the CT examination were compared with the surgery reports. RESULTS: 59 patients were evaluated (42 men, 17 women). The mean age was 29 years (range 7 - 91). In 17 patients a rupture of the globe was diagnosed during surgery. 12 of these 17 penetrating injuries (70.6 %) were classified correctly by MDCT, 5 of the 17 (29.4 %) were not detectable. 42 patients did not have an open globe injury. 41 of these patients were diagnosed correctly negative by MDCT, and one patient was classified false positive. This results in a sensitivity of 70 % with a specificity of 98 %. There was high inter-rater agreement with kappa values between 0.89 - 0.96. Most discrepancies were caused by wrong negative findings. The most frequent morphologic criteria for open globe injury were the deformation (n = 10) and the volume reduction (n = 7) of the globe. These changes were most certain and visible in the axial orientation. CONCLUSION: In about one third of all unclear cases with rupture of the globe due to severe trauma, CT evaluation failed to correctly diagnose the open globe injury, which might lead to a delay in necessary surgical intervention. Thus, surgical sclera inspection is always mandatory in such unclear trauma cases regardless of the MD-CT results.

New perfusion imaging of tissue transplants with Contrast Harmonic Ultrasound Imaging (CHI) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in comparison with laser-induced Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence angiography.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of post-surgery tissue perfusion of free flaps of the lower leg with contrast enhanced harmonic imaging (CHI), laser-induced indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 patients with free flaps of the lower limb were evaluated with CHI, ICG-fluorescence angiography and perfusion weighted MRI. Perfusion weighted MRI was performed after intravenous bolus injection of 25 ml Gd-DTPA. The ICG fluorescence was detected by a near-infrared-laser device (lambda em = 780 nm). Ultrasound was carried out by an experienced examiner with a linear probe after intravenous bolus injection of 2.4 ml SonoVue. For MRI time intensity curves as well as color-coded blood volume maps of the whole free flap were qualitatively evaluated. For CHI and ICG time intensity curves in selected regions of interest were analyzed. A score from 1-5 (1 = low, 5 = excellent) was used for analysis of perfusion images by three independent readers. RESULTS: In 3 cases (radialis, parascapular and lateral thigh flap) CHI, MRI and ICG perfusion imaging showed an excellent (score 4-5) contrast enhancement of the cutaneous and subcutaneous part of the free flaps. In 2 cases of osteocutaneous flaps perfusion in central and distal parts of the free flaps was reduced (score 2). Correlation between CHI, MRI and ICG was 0.69-0.83 for the distal parts of the free flaps and 0.74-0.87 for the center of the flaps (Spearman test). Perfusion in the center of the free flaps was significantly different for MRI and ICG and also for MRI and CHI (p<0.05, Wilcoxon test). CONCLUSION: These first results introduce CHI and MRI perfusion imaging as a promising post-surgery monitoring in patients with free flaps.

A new method to quantify the effect after subcutaneous injection of lipolytic substances.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of patients request lipolytic injection therapy for aesthetic indications. However, only the clinical results of these therapies have been published to date. In most cases, pre- and postprocedure photographs and measurements have been presented. As with every other medical procedure, it is necessary to ensure that the results of lipolytic injections are quantified on an objective and scientific basis with comparable data. METHODS: In the past, the size of fat tissue could not be measured properly with conventional ultrasound systems. High-resolution, real-time three-dimensional (RT-3D) ultrasound is a fairly new method for measuring the volume of tissue. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the interscapular fat bodies of New Zealand rabbits before and after lipolytic therapy with Lipostabil, phosphatidycholine and orciprenalin (Alupent). RESULTS: The ultrasound-controlled injection of the lipolytic substances into the interscapular fat body ensured a precise injection. The RT-3D ultrasound data were compared with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements performed at the same time. The greatest decrease in volume, up to 44%, was measured with orciprenalin (Alupent). There was a significant correlation between the data from ultrasound imaging and MRI. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that RT-3D ultrasound imaging could be a simple and fast method for proving the effects on volume size after lipolytic procedures. Of the three investigated substances, orciprenalin (Alupent) showed the highest lipolytic effect in our animal model.

Dissociation Pressure of Aluminum Carbide Using a Rotating Knudsen Cell.

An attempt was made to eliminate surface depletion effects in the vaporization of aluminum carbide (Al4C3) by carrying out measurements in a Knudsen cell rotating at an angle of 45 deg from the vertical. Results showed that the surface depletion effects encountered with this material are due to formation of layers of graphite over individual particles of aluminum carbide rather than to formation of a macroscopic layer of graphite over the sample. In order to achieve near-equilibrium pressures, vaporization experiments were carried out in which the sample was ground prior to each experiment and the amount of aluminum vaporized during each experiment minimized. Third law treatment of these data yielded ΔH° (298) of 91.6 kcal mol-1 (383.3 kJ mol-1) for the decomposition of »Al4C3 to form Al(g) and ¾C(C), in good agreement with data based on calorimetric studies.