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Pericardial Decompression - Resuscitative Thoracotomy
Archived series ("Inactive feed" status)
When? This feed was archived on December 01, 2020 15:08 (). Last successful fetch was on March 24, 2020 17:09 ()
Why? Inactive feed status. Our servers were unable to retrieve a valid podcast feed for a sustained period.
What now? You might be able to find a more up-to-date version using the search function. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.
Manage episode 176612311 series 1416701
Most fatalities from blunt or penetrating cardiac injuries occur prior to hospital arrival. The main reversible pathology is acute cardiac tamponade, which may be present without external signs of injury, abnormal clinical signs, or ECG abnormalities. The cause of the tamponade is usually a laceration to a low-pressure cardiac cavity. In recent years the widespread use of ultrasound in the initial assessment of severely injured patients has facilitated the early diagnosis of cardiac tamponade and associated cardiac injuries. Trauma patients with no signs of life and pulseless electrical activity at the time of hospital arrival have a consistently poor outcome despite resuscitative thoracotomy performed in the Trauma Centre. Therefore, resuscitative thoracotomy is reserved for those unstable patients in extremis, with deteriorating physiology and proven cardiac tamponade on ultrasound.
Incidence
From 2008 to 2013 inclusive, there were 9 independent survivors of the 27 patients who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy in the Alfred Trauma Centre. Over this time period, Alfred Trauma Registry data shows that 89% of the resuscitative thoracotomies were for blunt trauma. Survival was 29% and 66% in blunt and penetrating trauma respectively.
The primary aims of resuscitative thoracotomy are:
- Release of cardiac tamponade
- Temporary control of haemorrhage
- Access for internal cardiac massage
Release of cardiac tamponade and digital control of cardiac bleeding is the primary procedure. There is no evidence that aortic cross clamping improves outcome.
Indications
A consensus-based indication for immediate resuscitative thoracotomy:
- Unresponsive hypotension with a systolic blood pressure of less than 70 mmHg and...
- FAST positive for pericardial tamponade and...
- Cardiac electrical activity must be present
Contraindications
- No signs of life and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) on hospital arrival
- Signs of life include:
- Pupillary response
- Spontaneous ventilation
- Presence of carotid pulse
- Extremity movement
- Severe multisystem injury
- Severe head injury
- Lack of training in the procedure
- Lack of timely cardiothoracic surgery back-up following the procedure
Join us at The Procedures Course in Melbourne to practice this and other life and limb saving procedures.
Podcast »
Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS
Further Reading »
Schipper, P., Sukumar, M., & Mayberry, J. C. (2008). Pertinent Surgical Anatomy of the Thorax and Mediastinum. In Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. (pp. 227-251). Elsevier Inc
8 episodes
Archived series ("Inactive feed" status)
When? This feed was archived on December 01, 2020 15:08 (). Last successful fetch was on March 24, 2020 17:09 ()
Why? Inactive feed status. Our servers were unable to retrieve a valid podcast feed for a sustained period.
What now? You might be able to find a more up-to-date version using the search function. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.
Manage episode 176612311 series 1416701
Most fatalities from blunt or penetrating cardiac injuries occur prior to hospital arrival. The main reversible pathology is acute cardiac tamponade, which may be present without external signs of injury, abnormal clinical signs, or ECG abnormalities. The cause of the tamponade is usually a laceration to a low-pressure cardiac cavity. In recent years the widespread use of ultrasound in the initial assessment of severely injured patients has facilitated the early diagnosis of cardiac tamponade and associated cardiac injuries. Trauma patients with no signs of life and pulseless electrical activity at the time of hospital arrival have a consistently poor outcome despite resuscitative thoracotomy performed in the Trauma Centre. Therefore, resuscitative thoracotomy is reserved for those unstable patients in extremis, with deteriorating physiology and proven cardiac tamponade on ultrasound.
Incidence
From 2008 to 2013 inclusive, there were 9 independent survivors of the 27 patients who underwent resuscitative thoracotomy in the Alfred Trauma Centre. Over this time period, Alfred Trauma Registry data shows that 89% of the resuscitative thoracotomies were for blunt trauma. Survival was 29% and 66% in blunt and penetrating trauma respectively.
The primary aims of resuscitative thoracotomy are:
- Release of cardiac tamponade
- Temporary control of haemorrhage
- Access for internal cardiac massage
Release of cardiac tamponade and digital control of cardiac bleeding is the primary procedure. There is no evidence that aortic cross clamping improves outcome.
Indications
A consensus-based indication for immediate resuscitative thoracotomy:
- Unresponsive hypotension with a systolic blood pressure of less than 70 mmHg and...
- FAST positive for pericardial tamponade and...
- Cardiac electrical activity must be present
Contraindications
- No signs of life and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) on hospital arrival
- Signs of life include:
- Pupillary response
- Spontaneous ventilation
- Presence of carotid pulse
- Extremity movement
- Severe multisystem injury
- Severe head injury
- Lack of training in the procedure
- Lack of timely cardiothoracic surgery back-up following the procedure
Join us at The Procedures Course in Melbourne to practice this and other life and limb saving procedures.
Podcast »
Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS
Further Reading »
Schipper, P., Sukumar, M., & Mayberry, J. C. (2008). Pertinent Surgical Anatomy of the Thorax and Mediastinum. In Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. (pp. 227-251). Elsevier Inc
8 episodes
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