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Biomedical subjects

Johan Pillgram-Larsen

Publications and source records attributed to Johan Pillgram-Larsen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Nonoperative management of splenic injuries: improved results with angioembolization.

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative management (NOM) of patients with severe splenic injuries carries a significant risk of failure. We hypothesized that adding angiographic embolization (AE) to the NOM protocol would decrease the laparotomy rate, and increase the success rate of NOM and splenic salvage rate. METHODS: A protocol introducing AE in the treatment of splenic injuries was implemented. AE was performed in OIS splenic injury grades 3 to 5 and in all cases where signs of ongoing bleeding were encountered regardless of injury grade. Patients included in a prospective study during a 24-month period were compared with a historic control group. RESULTS: Group 1 (before AE) consisted of 69 patients with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 31, and group 2 (after introducing AE) included 64 patients with a mean ISS of 30. In group 1, 30 patients underwent immediate laparotomy (43%), and the NOM success rate was 79%. After introducing AE, 17 patients underwent immediate laparotomy (27%; p = 0.04), with a NOM success rate of 96% (p = 0.02). Overall splenic salvage rate increased from 57% to 75% (p = 0.02). Angiography was performed in 31 patients in group 2. Embolization was performed in 27 of these patients. AE failure rate was 4%. NOM was successful in 14 of 15 patients with OIS injury grades 4 and 5 after the introduction of AE (93%). CONCLUSION: A formal protocol adding mandatory AE to NOM for severe splenic injuries increased the percentage of patients in whom NOM was attempted, the NOM success rate, and the splenic salvage rate.

Adolescent↗

The impact of patient volume on surgical trauma training in a Scandinavian trauma centre.

OBJECTIVE: Some of the problems faced in trauma surgery are increasing non-operative management of abdominal injuries, decreasing work hours and increasing sub-specialisation. We wanted to document the experience of trauma team leaders at the largest trauma centre in Norway, hypothesising that the patient volume would be inadequate to secure optimal trauma care. METHODS: Patients registered in the hospital based Trauma Registry during the 2-year period from 1 August 2000 to 31 July 2002 were included. RESULTS: Of a total of 1667 patients registered, 645 patients (39%) had an Injury Severity Score (ISS)>15. Abdominal injuries were diagnosed in 205 patients with a median ISS of 30. An average trauma team leader assessed a total of 119 trauma cases a year (46 patients with ISS>15) and participated in 10 trauma laparotomies. CONCLUSION: Although the total number of trauma cases seems adequate, the experience of the trauma team leaders with challenging abdominal injuries is limited. With increasing sub-specialisation and general surgery vanishing, fewer surgical specialties provide operative competence in dealing with complicated torso trauma. A system of additional education and quality assurance measures is a prerequisite of high quality, and has consequently been introduced in our institution.

Abdomen↗

Advanced surgical trauma care training with a live porcine model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of a compulsory operative trauma care course for general surgeons in Norway utilising a live porcine model. METHODS: The participants rated their expertise in 23 situations pre- and post-session on a scale 1-5, where 1 meant "not competent" and 5 meant "fully competent". RESULTS: Mean total score increased 43% from pre- to post-session. The increase reached significance with all levels of experience. Procedures rarely performed, like suturing on a beating heart, showed a greater educational benefit than more frequently performed procedures, like inserting a chest tube. CONCLUSION: The operative trauma care animal session increased the participants' perceived competence significantly. Its use seems justified for education in trauma related lifesaving surgical procedures.

Animals↗

[Vacuum pack technique--a good method for temporal abdominal closure].

UNLABELLED: Abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS) is a clinical entity characterised by increased intraabdominal pressure leading to multiple organ failure, fatal if left untreated. The treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome is surgical decompression with a temporary abdominal wall substitute. To avoid the development of abdominal compartment syndrome, temporary abdominal closure (TAC) should be considered after celiotomy for trauma. A new method for TAC was introduced at Ullevaal University Hospital in 2002, the "vac pac". METHOD: The "vac pac" technique is described and the patients treated with "vac pac" during the first year after introduction are presented. RESULTS: Five patients were treated using the "vac pac". One patient had acute pancreatitis and developed abdominal compartment syndrome. The other patients were severely injured and the indication for TAC was abdominal compartment syndrome in one patient, intestinal oedema in another, and damage control surgery with packing in two patients. Delayed primary closure was achieved within five days in all our patients. There were no fatalities and no complications related to the use of "vac pac" were registered. CONCLUSION: The "vac pac" technique seems to be a good method for TAC.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Challenges of major incident management when excess resources are allocated: experiences from a mass casualty incident after roof collapse of a military command center.

During a military exercise in northern Norway in March 2000, the snow-laden roof of a command center collapsed with 76 persons inside. Twenty-five persons were entrapped and/or buried under snow masses. There were three deaths. Seven patients had serious injuries, three had moderate injuries, and 16 had minor injuries. A military Convalescence Camp that had been set up in a Sports Hall 125 meters from the scene was reorganized as a causality clearing station. Officers from the Convalescence Camp initially organized search and rescue. In all, 417 persons took part in the rescue work with 36 ambulances, 17 helicopters, three ambulance airplanes and one transport plane available. Two ambulances, five helicopters and one transport aircraft were used. Four patients were evacuated to a civilian hospital and six to a field hospital. The stretcher and treatment teams initially could have been more effectively organized. As resources were ample, this was a mass casualty, not a disaster. Firm incident command prevented the influx of excess resources.

Cold Climate↗