List Archives

Thu Jan 18 14:14:23 GMT 2007

Isn't the X-match the only REALLY necessary test, as it is the only one who will potentially avoid death (if you give blood).  All the other tests will help you decide where you're going, but as a whole and combined with the other informations, not as a single test.  You're not going to avoid giving blood to an shocked bleeding patient just because his Hb/Hct is normal.  
I think we ask them in everyday trauma because 1) each of them can be an indicator of the severity of the case when other information is contradictory (a good example is base deficit), and 2) we have to face it, medicine pushes us to ask a bunch of tests all the time, to the point of creating iatrogenic anemia (especially on medicine wards!). But I think the first point is more important!

JP Arsenault
community surgeon
Rivière-du-Loup, Québec

----- Original Message ----
From: Ian Seppelt <SeppelI at wahs.nsw.gov.au>
To: joe.nemeth at mcgill.ca; trauma-list at trauma.org
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:09:58 PM
Subject: Blood tests during a disaster

Following this to get some discussion going ....

In a disaster situation [or even just a trauma surge in your ED] what
are the minimum laboratory requirements / blood tests? Just a Hb / Hct
and cross match? What else is REALLY necessary, and why? Lactate? And if
you don't need all the other tests in a surge situation, then why do you
need them in "everyday" trauma??

Cheers, Ian

Ian Seppelt FANZCA FJFICM
Senior Staff Specialist
Dept of Intensive Care Medicine
The Nepean Hospital, PO Box 63 Penrith NSW 2751
Clinical Lecturer, University of Sydney

>>> joe.nemeth at mcgill.ca 18/01/2007 1:40pm >>>

Question/Survey....

J Trauma Jan 2007....article from Hermann...

who uses 1:1 from the get go? i.e. in the ED/trauma bay...

joe
Emergency Medicine
McGill University
Montreal
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://www.trauma.org/traumalist.html

######################################################################
Attention: 
This message is intended for the addresses named and may contain 
confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please
delete it and notify the sender. Views expressed in this message are 
those of the individual sender, and are not necessarily the views of 
Sydney West Area Health Service.

This e-mail has been scanned for viruses
######################################################################
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://www.trauma.org/traumalist.html

____________________________________________________________________________________
Need a quick answer? Get one in minutes from people who know.
Ask your question on www.Answers.yahoo.com

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

Blood tests during a disaster