Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic.

Ocean plastic can persist in sea surface waters, eventually accumulating in remote areas of the world's oceans. Here we characterise and quantify a major ocean plastic accumulation zone formed in subtropical waters between California and Hawaii: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Our model, calibrated with data from multi-vessel and aircraft surveys, predicted at least 79 (45-129) thousand tonnes of ocean plastic are floating inside an area of 1.6 million km2; a figure four to sixteen times higher than previously reported. We explain this difference through the use of more robust methods to quantify larger debris. Over three-quarters of the GPGP mass was carried by debris larger than 5 cm and at least 46% was comprised of fishing nets. Microplastics accounted for 8% of the total mass but 94% of the estimated 1.8 (1.1-3.6) trillion pieces floating in the area. Plastic collected during our study has specific characteristics such as small surface-to-volume ratio, indicating that only certain types of debris have the capacity to persist and accumulate at the surface of the GPGP. Finally, our results suggest that ocean plastic pollution within the GPGP is increasing exponentially and at a faster rate than in surrounding waters.

Urgent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography the stable trauma patient.

Major ductal injury is a determinant of outcome after blunt pancreatic trauma. The retroperitoneal location makes physical examination and diagnostic peritoneal lavage unreliable, and computed tomography does not demonstrate ductal integrity. Urgent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography clearly delineates ductal anatomy, facilitating management of this potentially devastating injury.

Blunt diaphragm injuries. A five-year experience.

Between 1983 and 1988, 33 (21 men, 12 women) patients were treated for blunt diaphragmatic injuries following motor-vehicle (90%) or auto-pedestrian (10%) accidents at the Presley Trauma Center. Thirteen patients (39%) were right sided and 19 (56%) were left sided. One patient sustained bilateral ruptures. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) in both those that lived and those that died was not significantly different when right- and left-sided injuries were compared. Admission chest films were abnormal in 28 patients and diagnostic in nine patients (27%). The chest x ray was abnormal in 10 (78%) of those with right-sided injury. Twenty-three patients had diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL); 19 were initially positive, two were initially negative but became positive on relavage. There were two false-negative lavages. CT scan (4 patients) and barium enema (1 patient) were nondiagnostic. Diagnosis was delayed in four patients, two were diagnosed by repeat chest x ray and two by repeat lavage. All patients had multiple associated injuries, with 82 per cent having concomitant intra-abdominal injuries. All patients were explored via the transabdominal route. Complications occurred in 55 per cent and there were eight deaths (24%), all unrelated to the diaphragmatic injury. There was no relationship to mortality and hemidiaphragm injured. Chest x ray remains the single most beneficial diagnostic test for diaphragmatic injury. DPL is an insensitive test for isolated diaphragm injuries; however, the combination of CXR and DPL will lead to the diagnosis in the majority of cases. Ancillary radiologic tests are not beneficial. An elevated or obscured right hemidiaphragm should raise suspicion for blunt rupture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Scapulothoracic dissociation: a devastating injury.

Scapulothoracic dissociation, although rare, causes significant morbidity and mortality by completely disrupting the attachments of the scapula to the axial skeleton with the skin remaining intact. The defining constellation of injuries is subclavian or axillary vascular disruption, lateral displacement of the scapula, separation of the clavicular articulations with or without fracture of the clavicle, and cervical nerve root avulsion or brachial plexus injury. Orthopedic stabilization, vascular repair, and brachial plexus exploration are mandatory. Above elbow amputation, either primarily or within 24 hours, is recommended for the flail extremity.