In the most recently published Victorian State Trauma Registry report, 39% of all trauma cases were transport related. Trauma prevention and road safety continues to play a huge part in the reduction of major trauma in Victoria and today we are joined by Samantha Cockfield, Head of Road Safety for the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to provide insight into current issues facing Victorian road users and the role of the TAC. Current at date of publication 14/01/2021.

Talking Trauma

The role of the Transport Accident Commission in Trauma

Victims of major trauma have a varied profile, including age, demographic & geographic location. Today Danielle speaks with Melissa Webb, trauma and orthopaedic allied health team leader at The Alfred Hospital to gain an understanding of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care and consider rehab and planning beginning from the roadside. Current at date of publication 04/01/2021.

Rehab from the Roadside

Children are vulnerable to injury for a number of reasons with motor vehicle collisions (MVC’S) accounting for almost half of the fatalities in children. In Victoria, the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) service is available to retrieve critically injured children from referral hospitals and provide safe, expert, emergency inter-hospital care. Today we speak with Dr Sile Smith, a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant from the Royal Children’s Hospital and Medical Co-lead for PIPER about the role PIPER has in Paediatric Major Trauma. Current at date of publication 28/12/2020.

The role of Paediatric and Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) in Trauma

Emergency management of airway in the major trauma patient is always a daunting task. Complications may arise as a result of emergency intubations but failure or delay in securing an adequate airway causes unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. Today we are talking to Dr Peter Fritz, consultant emergency physician at The Alfred hospital about Airway Management in the trauma patient.

Emergency Management of Airway in Trauma

Children are vulnerable to injury for a number of reasons with motor vehicle collisions (MVC’S) accounting for almost half of the fatalities in children. In Victoria, the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) service is available to retrieve critically injured children from referral hospitals and provide safe, expert, emergency inter-hospital care. Today we speak with Dr Sile Smith, a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant from the Royal Children’s Hospital and Medical Co-lead for PIPER about the role PIPER has in Paediatric Major Trauma. Current at date of publication 21/12/2020.

Early care of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) can have a significant effect on long-term outcomes for these patients. The natural progression of SCI, in particular rising spinal cord oedema, may lead to an exacerbation of symptoms in the hours following an accident. Today we speak with A/Prof Andrew Nunn, Director of the Victorian Spinal Cord Services at The Austin who provides insight into early management of the patient suffering a potential spinal injury. Current at date of publication 21/12/2020.

Spinal Trauma

The Victorian State Trauma System is one of the best in the world, with Adult Retrieval Victoria playing a significant role in making this a success. Today Danielle talks with Dr David Anderson, Acting Medical Director of Ambulance Victoria and an Intensivist at The Alfred Hospital to discuss how ARV operates within the state trauma system and gives you an inside look into behind the scenes of coordinating a trauma patient retrieval. Current at date of publication 7/12/2020.

Adult Retrieval Victoria & the Victorian State Trauma System

Limbs can often be involved in traumatic injuries from accidents in the workplace or farming for example. They can have a devastating impact on not only the patient but on bystanders. Today Danielle speaks to Mr Andrew Oppy, lead orthopaedic trauma surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to discuss how to approach the trauma patient with a significant extremity injury and provides some great insight into management of the affected limb. Current at date of publication 26/10/2020.

Traumatic Limb Injuries

As with all trauma care, an organised approach to patient assessment is essential: ensuring life threatening injuries are identified and the patient is stabilised is the priority. Facial injuries that are not affecting the airway or causing life threatening haemorrhage can be assessed as part of the secondary survey, no matter how disfiguring the injuries may appear. Today we are joined by Alf Nastri, Head of the Maxillofacial department at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Maxillofacial Trauma

 Haemorrhage is a major contributor to mortality in the pelvic trauma patient, and a large number of these patients go on to have other associated injuries. Today we are joined by Dr George Plunkett, Emergency Physician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to discuss the assessment, identification of injuries and management of pelvic trauma patients including George's tips for ensuring good pelvic binder control. Current at date of publication 28/09/2020. 

Pelvic Trauma

Thoracic trauma is a common injury in the multi-trauma patient and a significant cause of mortality. Life threatening injuries identified in the primary survey need to be addressed at the time before moving on to the secondary survey. In this episode Danielle is joined by Mr Phillip Antippa, Cardiothoracic surgeon and Head of Cardiothoracic surgery service at Royal Melbourne Hospital to discuss early identification & management of traumatic chest injuries

Thoracic Trauma management

Early management of head injury is directed at minimising secondary brain injury by avoiding periods of hypoxia and hypotension and applying basic management principles in support of the injured brain. In this podcast we are joined by Prof Kate Drummond, director of Neurosurgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital to discuss one of the most common and significant causes of mortality in Australia. Current at date of publication 08/08/2020.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Trauma patients are predisposed to hypothermia for a variety of reasons including exposure to the environment and disordered homeostasis. Serious sequelae for major trauma patients that remain hypothermic include coagulopathy and acidosis and an associated increased risk of mortality. Today we are chatting with Dr Sharyn Ireland, a clinical nurse educator at The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre about early identification of the hypothermic patient, physiological effects of hypothermia and strategies to manage it in the major trauma patient. Current at date of publication 13/07/2020.

Hypothermia in trauma

 The critical trauma patient undergoes a number of moves throughout their care journey and can be a challenging group to safely manage. Today Danielle is chatting with Dr Shaun Baxter, an Emergency Consultant at The Alfred Hospital as well as Consultant Retrievalist and Clinical Coordinator at Adult Retrieval Victoria to discuss his process for safely moving the unwell trauma patient, including how best to prepare and the importance of clear communication. Current at date of publication 20.06.2020. 

Moving the critical trauma patient

 Stopping the bleeding following trauma is of paramount importance in the critical first moments post injury for trauma care providers of both Paediatrics and Adults. Dr Peter Archer, Emergency Medicine consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital and consultant retrievalist for Adult Retrieval Victoria joins us to discuss principles related to haemorrhage control in trauma resuscitation, as well as addressing the topic of compressive devices to control extremity haemorrhage. Current at date of publication 10/06/2020. 

Stop the bleeding

Trauma focused educational miniseries produced for health care clinicians involved in the care of major trauma patients in Victoria. Each episode brings evidence based information through discussions with trauma experts on pertinent topics for trauma care. The series is produced on behalf of Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with State Trauma Committee.