Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA): a population based gap analysis of trauma patients in England and Wales

INTRODUCTION: Non-compressible torso haemorrhage (NCTH) carries a high mortality in trauma as many patients exsanguinate prior to definitive haemorrhage control. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an adjunct that has the potential to bridge patients to definitive haemostasis. However, the proportion of trauma patients in whom REBOA may be utilised is unknown. METHODS: We conducted a population based analysis of 2012-2013 Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) data. We identified the number of patients in whom REBOA may have been utilised, defined by an Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3 to abdominal solid organs, abdominal or pelvic vasculature, pelvic fracture with ring disruption or proximal traumatic lower limb amputation, together with a systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg. Patients with non-compressible haemorrhage in the mediastinum, axilla, face or neck were excluded. RESULTS: During 2012-2013, 72 677 adult trauma patients admitted to hospitals in England and Wales were identified. 397 patients had an indication(s) and no contraindications for REBOA with evidence of haemorrhagic shock: 69% men, median age 43 years and median Injury Severity Score 32. Overall mortality was 32%. Major trauma centres (MTCs) received the highest concentration of potential REBOA patients, and would be anticipated to receive a patient in whom REBOA may be utilised every 95 days, increasing to every 46 days in the 10 MTCs with the highest attendance of this injury type. CONCLUSIONS: This TARN database analysis has identified a small group of severely injured, resource intensive patients with a highly lethal injury that is theoretically amenable to REBOA. The highest density of these patients is seen at MTCs, and as such a planned evaluation of REBOA should be further considered in these hospitals

Wartime vascular injuries in the pediatric population of Iraq and Afghanistan: 2002–2011

Background: Contemporary war-related studies focus primarily on adults with few reporting the injuries sustained in local pediatric populations. The objective of this study is to characterize pediatric vascular trauma at US military hospitals in wartime Iraq and Afghanistan. Methods: Reviewof the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DoDTR) (2002–2011) identified patients (1– 17 years old) treated at US military hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan using ICD-9 and procedure codes for vascular injury. Results: US military hospitals treated 4402 pediatric patients between 2002 and 2011. One hundred fifty-five patients (3.5%) had a vascular injury. Mean age, gender, and injury severity score (ISS) were 11.1 ± 4.1 years, 79% male, and 34 ± 13.5, respectively. Vascular injuries were primarily from penetrating mechanisms (95.6%; 58.0% blast injury) to the extremity (65.9%), torso (25.4%), and neck (8.6%). Injuries were ligated (31%), reconstructed (63%), or observed (2%). Limb salvage rate was 95%. Mortality rate was 9%. Conclusions: This study is the first to report vascular trauma in a pediatric population at wartime. Vascular injuries involve a high percentage of extremity and torso wounding. Torso vascular injury in children is four times lethal relative to other injury patterns, and therefore should be considered in operational planning both in the military and civilian setting regarding pediatric vascular injuries

Recent Advances in Understanding Cholangiocarcinoma [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy that arises from damaged epithelial cells, cholangiocytes, and possibly de-differentiated hepatocytes. CCA has a poor overall survival rate and limited therapeutic options. Based on this data, it is imperative that new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions be developed. Recent work has attempted to understand the pathological mechanisms driving CCA progression. Specifically, recent publications have delved into the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) during CCA pathology. CSCs are a specific subset of cells within the tumor environment that are derived from a cell with stem-like properties and have been shown to influence recurrence and chemoresistance during CCA. MSCs are known for their anti-inflammatory activity and have been postulated to influence malignancy during CCA, but little is known about their exact functions. miRNAs exert various functions via gene regulation at both the transcriptional and the translational levels, giving miRNAs diverse roles in CCA progression. Additionally, current miRNA-based therapeutic approaches are in clinical trials for various liver diseases, giving hope for similar approaches for CCA. However, the interactions among these three factors in the context of CCA are unknown. In this review, we focus on recently published data (within the last 3 years) that discuss the role of CSCs, MSCs, and miRNAs and their possible interactions during CCA pathogenesis