ARDS
• Acute respiratory failure in the post
traumatic period characterized by a
decreased PaO2 and a diffuse and often
massive extravasation of fluid from the
pulmonary vasculature to the interstitial
space of the lungs.
ARDS
Outcome
• Significant Cause of Mortality
• Major Cause of Death in Patients with the
Lowest ISS scores
• 40% - 50% Mortality Rate
– Mortality Rate Slowly Decreasing with
Changing & Improving Therapy
Fat Embolism Syndrome
(FES)
• A Causative Factor In ARDS
• Occurs Following A Long Bone Fracture
• Characterized by:
– Hypoxia
– Mental Confusion
– Petechial Rash
FES
• Unanticipated Respiratory Distress
• Diagnosis of Exclusion
• Often Placed in The Category of ARDS
• R/O other Causes of Hypoxia
– Pulmonary Contusion
– ARDS
– Pneumonia
Mechanical Etiology
• Systemic Fat
Embolization
– Patent Foramen Ovale
– Pulmonary Pre-
Capillary Shunts
FES To Brain On MRI
Biochemical Etiology
• Chemical Mediators Released @ time of
Fracture
• Fat Released at Time of Fracture
• Fat Metabolism by Lipase releases Free
Fatty Acids
• Free Fatty Acids Result in Endothelial Lung
Damage
Gurd et al
FES Diagnosis
• Major Criteria
– Hypoxemia
– CNS Depression
– Petechial Rash
– Pulmonary Edema
• Minor Criteria
– Tachycardia
– Pyrexia
– Retinal Emboli
– Fat in Urine
– Fat in Sputum
– Thrombocytopenia
– Decreased Hematocrit
Gurd et al
FES Diagnosis
• 1 Major Criteria
• 4 Minor Criteria
Type of Fracture Fixation
-Controversial-
• IM Nail - Reamed vs Un-Reamed
– Increased Pulmonary Dysfunction With Reamed
technique
– Decreased with Unreamed Technique
– Pape et al
• IM Nail Reamed vs Plate Osteosynthesis
– No Difference In Pulmonary Dysfunction
• Bosse et al
Effect of IM Nailing
• Canal Opening
• Reaming
• Nail Insertion
• Unreamed Nail Insertion
• All Cause Increased IM Pressure
• All Cause Embolic Showers On
Echocardiograms
Systemic Effects of Trauma
Injury
12 hours 24 hours
Postinjury
Inflammatory
Response
Second Insult
MOF
IM Nailing As A cause of Secondary Systemic Injury
DVT Incidence
• DVT occurance
60% if ISS >9.
• 35%-60% DVT in
pelvic fracture
• PE-Most common
preventable cause of
death in trauma.
Endothelial Injury
• Direct Trauma to Vein @ time of Injury
• Compression of the Vein Secondary to
Fracture Position
• Vein Manipulation @ Time of Fracture
Fixation
IVC Filter Indications
• Anticoagulation
Prohibited
• High Risk Patients
• DVT Prior to
Necessary Surgery
• PE Despite
Anticoagulation
IVC Filter
• Prevents Major PE
• Low Morbidity
– 96% Patent
– 8% Migration
– 4% PE
• Filter insertion in the
ICU
• Expensive
• Invasive
• Does not treat DVT
• Venous Insufficiency
• Filter Occlusion
• Permanent
Advantages Disadvantage
Heparin
• Heparin Potentiates Anti-Thrombin III
Activity
• Complex Inhibits
– Thrombin (IIa), IXa, Xa
• Heparin effect relative short duration
– Reversed with Protamine Sulfate
• Significant hemorrhage risk
SQ Heparin
• Low Cost
• No Monitoring
• Convenient
• Relatively Low
Incidence of
Bleeding
• Insufficient
Efficacy in High
Risk Patients
• Unpredictable
Responses
• Heparin Induced
Thrombocytopenia
Advantages Disadvantage
Low Molecular Weight Heparin
(LMWH)
• Potentiates Antithrombin III
• Specific for Factor Xa
• Minimal effects on other Factors
LMWH
• No Monitoring
• Increased Efficacy
• Longer 1/2 life
• Predictable
Response
• Lower risk of
thrombocytopenia
• Parenteral
Administration
• Cost
Advantages Disadvantage
Aspirin
• Inhibits cyclooxygenase
• Decreases Platelet Adherence
• ? Effectiveness in Musculoskeletal Trauma
– Venous clots not typically found to have
Platelet aggregates
Aspirin
• Oral Administration
• Tolerated well
• In-expensive
• No Monitoring
• ? Efficacy when used
alone
• GI Intolerance
• Prolonged anti-platelet
effect
Advantages Disadvantage
Warfarin
• Blocks Vit K conversion in Liver
• Effects Vit K Dependent Factors
• Effects the Extrinsic Clotting System
• Factor VII Effected first, Short Half Life
• Monitored with Pro-Time
– INR 2.0-2.5
• Reversed With Vitamin K or FFP
Ascending Contrast Venography
• Sensitive for detection
• Invasive
• Dye Problems
(allergies, renal)
• Injection Site Irritation
• Poor Pelvic Vein
Evaluation
• Gold Standard
*Invasiveness,expense make ACV a poor screening tool
Doppler/Duplex Ultrasound
• Comparable to Venogram
• Non Invasive
• No Morbidity
• Poor Axial (i.e Pelvic)
Vein Evaluation
• Operator Dependent
• Good Screening Tool
– Noninvasive, reproducible
Magnetic Resonance Venography
• Non Invasive
• Good Visualization of
Pelvic Veins
• Difficult in Polytrauma
Patient
• Excellent specificity and
sensitivity for suspected
DVT
• Controversial for screening
Ventilation Perfusion Scan
• Ventilation Perfusion mismatch
• Results
– Low probabiltity
• 15% False Negative
– Medium
• Need Angiogram
– High probability
• 15% False Positive
• Screening Tool
Pulmonary Angiogram
• Angiographic Evaluation of
pulmonary vascular tree
• Allows Placement of IVC
Filter in same setting if
indicated
• Sensitive - Standard in PE
Detection. Diagnostic
Treatment PE
• Anticoagulation
• Filter for recurrent
event despite
anticoagulation
• Thrombectomy
– Serious Acute PE
– Patient in extremous
– Large identifiable PE
Treatment DVT/PE
• Heparin
– Bolus 10-15K units
– Continuous Infusion
• 1000Units/Hr
– Goal → PTT 2x Control
• Prevent Clot
propagation and
recurrent PE
– Discontinue when
Therapeutic on Wafarin
• Warfarin
– INR 2.0-3.0
– 3-6 Month Duration
– Contraindicated in:
• Pregnancy
• Liver insufficieny
• Poor Compliance
– Prolonged Therapy may
decrease recurrence
rates (6 mos)
DVT/PE Outcome
• No Diagnosis and Treatment
– 30% Mortality
• Correct Diagnosis and Therapy
– 11% Mortality in First Hour
– 8% Mortality After First Hour
DVT/PE Outcome
• Post Thrombotic Syndrome
– Valvular Incompetence
– Venous Stasis
– Edema
– Cutaneous Atrophy
• Recurrent DVT
– 20% of Patients
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