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Sepsis after major trauma
Analysis of the large Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery between 1993 and 2008 revealed that the rate of sepsis among patients with major trauma decreased significantly during the study period. Sepsis remains an important complication, with 3042 patients developing sepsis out of 29 829 on the registry (Crit Care Med 2011;39:621–8).
More ventilated burns
A study from The Netherlands reports an increase in the proportion of patients with extensive burn injuries whose initial care involved mechanical ventilation (J Trauma 2011;70:611–15). A doubling in the rate of ventilation coincided with more aggressive initial resuscitation and adoption of the Advanced Trauma Life Support training course.
European guidelines on atrial fibrillation
Recently published guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology on the management of atrial fibrillation are the focus of attention in the BMJ (2011;342:989–90). In keeping with previous guidance, the top priority for management remains the prevention of stroke. The direct thrombin inhibitory agent dabigatran is of considerable potential interest in this respect as, …