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Biomedical subjects

C A Soderstrom

Publications and source records attributed to C A Soderstrom.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Psychoactive substance dependence among trauma center patients.

INTRODUCTION: The practice of assessing only trauma patients with elevated blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) or positive drug screens for psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUDs) was evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-four BAC-negative (BAC-) (BAC, 0) and 21 BAC-positive (BAC+) (BAC, greater than or equal to 22 mmol/L or 100 mg/dL; mean, 41 mmol/L; range, 24.3 to 79 mmol/L) adult trauma patients were evaluated for alcoholism and other PSUDs using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCI) from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition (DSM-III-R). Approximately half were vehicular crash victims and 78% were men. RESULTS: A total of 64 PSUDs were diagnosed in 31 (68.9%) of the 45 patients; all but one was for dependence (vs abuse). Of the BAC+ patients, 14 (66.7%) met DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependence, 11 (78.6%) of whom also had other PSUDs not related to alcohol. Two other BAC+ patients had nonalcohol PSUDs. Of the BAC- patients, 11 (45.8%) had alcohol dependence, six (54.5%) of whom also had nonalcohol PSUDs. Another four BAC- patients had nonalcohol PSUDs. Overall, 76.2% of the BAC+ patients and 62.5% of the BAC- patients had a diagnosis of psychoactive substance dependence. CONCLUSION: All patients admitted to trauma centers should be assessed for alcoholism and other PSUDs.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

Helmet use, patterns of injury, medical outcome, and costs among motorcycle drivers in Maryland.

A comprehensive study was conducted of all motorcycle traffic crashes occurring in Maryland during a one-year period. All available medical and cost data were linked with police crash reports. During the study period, 1,900 motorcycle drivers were involved in crashes. The data indicated that (i) helmet usage was 35% overall, 30% among fatally injured drivers, and only 16% among drivers with a history of drug/alcohol conviction, (ii) unhelmeted drivers seen at an emergency department were almost twice as likely to have sustained head injury (40%) as were helmeted drivers (21%) (the corresponding percentages for hospitalized drivers were 55% and 38%), and (iii) acute care cost for unhelmeted drivers was three times ($30,365) that of helmeted drivers.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1992

Pre-existing disease in trauma patients: a predictor of fate independent of age and injury severity score.

Improvement in trauma management requires a better understanding of the effect of a patient's preinjury health status on outcome. Specific historical findings and laboratory criteria were used to define pre-existing disease (PED) states and determine if they were independent predictors of fate in trauma victims. Of 7,798 adult patients admitted to a level I trauma center from July 1986 through June 1990, 16.0% (1,246) had greater than or equal to 1 PED. The PED+ and PED- patients had no significant difference in Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) (15.7 versus 15.6) and admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (13.9 versus 13.8). The PED+ patients were older (49.2 versus 30.6 years) (p less than 0.001) and had a higher mortality rate (9.2% versus 3.2%) (p less than 0.001) than PED- patients. Mortality rates were also elevated for patients with greater than or equal to 2 PEDs (18%) and for those with renal disease (38%), malignancy (20%), and cardiac disease (18%) (p less than 0.001) compared with PED- patients. Controlling for age and ISS, there was an association between PED and mortality (Mantel-Haenszel p less than 0.03). Multivariate regression showed that PED is an independent predictor of mortality (R2 = 0.1918; p less than 0.0001). The greatest increases in mortality were found among patients less than 55 years and with ISS less than 20. Changes in prehospital triage criteria and outcome scoring are needed. Improvements in the management of trauma victims with chronic disease may decrease their mortality rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Injured drivers and alcohol use: culpability, convictions, and pre- and post-crash driving history.

The culpability, crash-related traffic convictions, and pre- and post-crash driving records of a group of injured impaired (blood alcohol level greater than 80 mg/dl) drivers (N = 58) who were admitted to a Level I trauma center were compared with a group of admitted unimpaired drivers (N = 92). Both groups of drivers were 21 years of age or older, sustained moderate injuries (defined as having no injury of the brain, spinal column or cord, extremity, or pelvis with an Abbreviated Injury Score of greater than 2), and were discharged home. In the 140 crashes in which culpability was clearly defined, the impaired drivers caused a significantly greater percentage of their crashes (92.7%) compared to unimpaired (64.7%) drivers (p less than 0.001). Of the 55 unimpaired drivers who were considered culpable of causing their crashes, 12.7% received a traffic conviction compared with 39.2% of the 51 culpable impaired drivers. The mean number of total pre-crash traffic violations was higher for impaired drivers than for unimpaired drivers (p less than 0.01). While the mean number of total post-crash convictions for unimpaired and impaired was not significantly different, the mean number of pre- and post-crash alcohol convictions was significantly higher for impaired drivers compared to unimpaired drivers (p less than 0.02). The data suggest that injury protects from legal prosecution and does not alter impaired driving practices.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1979

Open diagnostic peritoneal lavage in blunt trauma victims.

Open diagnostic peritoneal lavage was 97.8 per cent accurate for diagnosis of intra-abdominal injury in 2,072 blunt trauma victims. The only significant injuries missed were in certain patients with a ruptured hemidiaphragm, renal trauma and extraperitoneal bladder rupture. However, these injuries were identified by other means. False-postive lavage results are generally a consequence of technical error and can be minimized by careful surgical technique. Hemoperitoneum must be explained for all patients to prevent needless morbidity and mortality. Only diagnostic tests of proved value in blunt abdominal trauma should be used and risk to the patient must be minimized. We currently rely upon diagnostic laparotomy to evaluate hemoperitoneum in patients with a weakly positive lavage result confirmed by a second infusion. With this policy, approximately one of every four to five laparotomies was for injuries not requiring surgical therapy; and, the over-all morbidity rate and mortality was 12 and 3.5 per cent, respectively, in this group. By using open diagnostic peritoneal lavage in essentially all blunt trauma victims, we have had no deaths from either unrecognized intra-abdominal injury or delayed treatment.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1978

A new nonpenetrating ballistic injury.

A new, nonpenetrating ballistic injury mechanism involving individuals protected by soft body armor is described. Experimental studies using laboratory animals have demonstrated that despite stopping missile penetration, the heart, liver, spleen, and spinal cord are vulnerable to injury. The rapid jolting force of an impacting bullet is contrasted with the usually encountered mechanisms producing blunt trauma injury. The experimental methodology used to assess a 20% increase in survival probability and an 80% decrease in the need for surgical intervention with a new soft body armor is reviewed. Five cases of ballistic assaults on law enforcement personnel protected by soft body armor are presented. Four emphasize the potentially lifesaving qualities of the armor, while the fifth indicates the need for torso encircling design. Hospitalization should follow all assaults, regardless of the innocuous appearance of the skin lesion and the apparent well being on the assaulted individual. Therapeutic guidelines for patient management are suggested.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1978

Transcatheter embolization of autologous clot in the management of bleeding associated with fractures of the pelvis.

Extraperitoneal hemorrhage, associated with a fracture of the pelvis, is a major cause of death in pedestrian accidents. Transfusion alone may be unsatisfactory. Direct control of bleeding may be required. Surgically, this may be technically difficult or inadequate. Transcatheter embolization of autologous clot was used to control hemorrhage in three patients with such a fracture. If laparotomy is required immediately, arteriography of the pelvic area may be done postoperatively, If laparotomy is not performed, arteriography may define pelvic bleeding sites. Transcatheter embolization of autologous clot controls hemorrhage from branches of the hypogastric artery.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1977

Speeding.

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Accident Prevention↗