Evidence-based practice for penetrating trauma to the chest.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T A O'Callaghan.
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Traumatically injured Jehovah's Witnesses pose difficult management problems because of their refusal to accept blood transfusions. This retrospective review of all inpatient traumatically injured Jehovah's Witnesses at a level I trauma center over the past 16 years revealed 77 patients with 92% blunt and 8% penetrating injuries. The primary physician was aware of their unique religious status in only 32% of cases. Transfusion was performed in only 4 (5.2%) cases even though it was desired by the physician in 11 (14%) cases. One transfusion was performed against the patient's will. One minor was transfused using a court order. Two transfusions were performed in the trauma room before the patients' religious status was known. Major changes in therapeutic plans were made as a result of the patients' Jehovah's Witness status in 10 cases (13%). Early knowledge of the patient's religious status is essential to optimize patient care.
The purpose of this report was to describe the tolerance of hyperosmolar nutritionally complete solutions infused peripherally, as a bridge to enteral therapy in the surgical patient. Solutions providing approximately 40% of calories as carbohydrates were administered to 23 surgical patients with the fats, amino acids, and dextrose mixed in one container. Final osmolarity, when measured directly with additives, ranged from 1200-1350 mOsm/L. Approximately 85% of the patients had acceptable tolerance to this new technique. The patient tolerance of the high osmolar admixture in peripheral veins might be attributed to the buffering and dilution effect of the IV fats in combination with the higher pH of the amino acid solutions and the addition of heparin to the admixture. Strong support for this technique was voiced by experienced nutritional support physicians and hospital personnel for use in surgical patients who have immediate short-term needs.