OBJECTIVE To examine the perceived importance of needs and the extent to which they are met among a sample of family members in an inpatient polytrauma setting. METHOD The Family Needs Questionnaire was administered to 44 family members of patients at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center over a 30-month period. RESULTS Families rated health informa...

Just as data from civilian trauma registries have been used to benchmark and evaluate civilian trauma care, data contained within the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR) present a unique opportunity to benchmark combat care. Using the iterative steps of the benchmarking process, we evaluated data in the JTTR for suitability and established benchmarks for 24-hour mortality in casualties with po...

Major trauma induces marked metabolic changes which contribute to the systemic immune suppression in severely injured patients and increase the risk of infection and posttraumatic organ failure. The hypercatabolic state of polytrauma patients must be recognized early and treated by an appropriate nutritional management in order to avoid late complications. Clinical studies in recent years have ...

A ppropriate management of a polytrauma patient begins at the scene of the accident. Early initiation of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols by emergency medical personnel and rapid transport to an appropriate facility is essential to maximize a patient’s chance of survival. Fifty percent of trauma deaths occur within minutes of the accident, usually due to hemorrhage or head injuries...

BACKGROUND Previous research suggests adolescent trauma patients can be managed equally effectively at pediatric and adult trauma centers. We sought to determine whether this association would be upheld for adolescent severe polytrauma patients. We hypothesized that no difference in adjusted outcomes would be observed between pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) and adult trauma centers (ATCs) for t...

OBJECTIVE Acute multiple-trauma induces activation of neuroendocrine system. Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is considered to be associated with adverse outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study was aimed to assess dynamic changes of neuroendocrine hormones in patients with polytrauma and their association with the polytrauma score (PTS). METHODS Blood samples from 24 cri...

BACKGROUND The leading cause of morbidity and mortality from the end of the first year of life to the forty fifth is trauma. This is true worldwide but especially so in our environment. In no other situation are the complexities of the management of trauma more manifest than in the context of polytrauma. For this we undertake to study the problem of polytrauma in Jos. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To d...