OBJETIVE: This study evaluated retroperitoneal hematomas produced by bilateral injury of iliac arteries (uncontrolled hemorrhage), blood volume loss, transcapillary refill, the effects of volume replacement on retroperitoneal bleeding and the hemodynamic changes with and without treatment. METHODS: Initial blood volume was determined with Tc99m-labelled red cells, and bleeding was evaluated by means of a portable scintillation camera positioned over the abdomen. Previously splenectomized mongrel dogs (16.8 ± 2.2 kg) were submitted to hemorrhage for 30 minutes and randomized into three groups: I - no treatment (n=7); II - treatment with 32 mL/kg of Lactated Ringer's for three to five minutes (n=7); and III - treatment with 4 mL/kg of 7.5% NaCl plus 6.0% dextran 70 for three to five minutes (n=7). They were studied for an additional 45 minutes. RESULTS: Volume replacement produced transitory recovery in hemodynamic variables, including mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index, with significant increase in dogs treated with 32 mL/kg of Lactated Ringer's and 7.5% NaCl plus 6.0% dextran 70 (p<0.001, against no treatment), along with a decrease (p<0.001) in the systemic vascular resistance index. Groups II and III had significant initial decreases in hematocrit and hemoglobin. The treated dogs (groups II and III) presented rebleeding, which was greater during treatment with 32 mL/kg of Lactated Ringer's (group II). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the rebleeding observed in treated groups, the utilization of hypertonic saline solution with dextran proved to be effective in the initial reanimation, producing evident transcapillary refill, while the Lactated Ringer's solution produced capillary extravasation and was ineffective in the initial volume replacement in this model of uncontrolled hemorrhage.

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar as regiões corpóreas mais atingidas em vítimas de acidentes de transporte e mapear a gravidade das lesões e do trauma. Foi realizada revisão sistemática da literatura, utilizando-se descritores relacionados aos acidentes de trânsito, acidentes de transporte, ferimentos e lesões, totalizando 248 artigos. As bases eletrônicas pesquisadas foram LILACS, MEDLINE e PAHO, entre 1990 e dezembro de 2006. Essa revisão destacou uma série de estudos conclusivos sobre as regiões corpóreas mais freqüentes e aquelas de maior gravidade atingidas nesses eventos e apontou lacunas de conhecimento na literatura nacional. Acredita-se que esses achados possam ser de grande valia para as equipes nos cenários de pré-hospitalar e intra-hospitalar e apontem caminhos na direção de novas pesquisas.

The objective of this study was to identify the body regions most affected in traffic accident victims and to map the trauma and severity of the lesions. A systematic literature review using key words related to traffic accidents, transportation accidents, wounds and injuries found a total of 248 articles. The electronic bases LILACS, MEDLINE, and PAHO were surveyed between the years 1990 and December 2006. This review emphasized a series of conclusive studies about the most frequent body regions involved and the major injuries occurring in these situations. It also indicated information gaps in the Brazilian literature. We believe that these findings are valuable for pre-hospital and intra-hospital teams and point the way to new investigations.

El objetivo del estudio fue identificar las regiones corpóreas más afectadas en víctimas de accidentes de transporte e identificar la gravedad de las lesiones y del trauma. Fue realizada una revisión sistemática de la literatura, utilizándose descriptores relacionados a los accidentes de tránsito, accidentes de transporte, heridas y lesiones, totalizando 248 artículos. Las bases electrónicas investigadas fueron LILACS, MEDLINE y PAHO, entre 1990 y diciembre de 2006. Esta revisión destacó una serie de estudios conclusivos sobre las regiones corpóreas más frecuentes y aquellas de mayor gravedad afectadas en esos eventos y apuntó lagunas de conocimiento en la literatura nacional. Pensamos que lo encontrado puede ser de gran importancia para los equipos en los escenarios de prehospitalario e intrahospitalario y apuntan caminos en dirección de nuevas investigaciones.

The objective of this study was to identify the body regions most affected in traffic accident victims and to map the trauma and severity of the lesions. A systematic literature review using key words related to traffic accidents, transportation accidents, wounds and injuries found a total of 248 articles. The electronic bases LILACS, MEDLINE, and PAHO were surveyed between the years 1990 and December 2006. This review emphasized a series of conclusive studies about the most frequent body regions involved and the major injuries occurring in these situations. It also indicated information gaps in the Brazilian literature. We believe that these findings are valuable for pre-hospital and intra-hospital teams and point the way to new investigations.

El objetivo del estudio fue identificar las regiones corpóreas más afectadas en víctimas de accidentes de transporte e identificar la gravedad de las lesiones y del trauma. Fue realizada una revisión sistemática de la literatura, utilizándose descriptores relacionados a los accidentes de tránsito, accidentes de transporte, heridas y lesiones, totalizando 248 artículos. Las bases electrónicas investigadas fueron LILACS, MEDLINE y PAHO, entre 1990 y diciembre de 2006. Esta revisión destacó una serie de estudios conclusivos sobre las regiones corpóreas más frecuentes y aquellas de mayor gravedad afectadas en esos eventos y apuntó lagunas de conocimiento en la literatura nacional. Pensamos que lo encontrado puede ser de gran importancia para los equipos en los escenarios de prehospitalario e intrahospitalario y apuntan caminos en dirección de nuevas investigaciones.

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar as regiões corpóreas mais atingidas em vítimas de acidentes de transporte e mapear a gravidade das lesões e do trauma. Foi realizada revisão sistemática da literatura, utilizando-se descritores relacionados aos acidentes de trânsito, acidentes de transporte, ferimentos e lesões, totalizando 248 artigos. As bases eletrônicas pesquisadas foram LILACS, MEDLINE e PAHO, entre 1990 e dezembro de 2006. Essa revisão destacou uma série de estudos conclusivos sobre as regiões corpóreas mais freqüentes e aquelas de maior gravidade atingidas nesses eventos e apontou lacunas de conhecimento na literatura nacional. Acredita-se que esses achados possam ser de grande valia para as equipes nos cenários de pré-hospitalar e intra-hospitalar e apontem caminhos na direção de novas pesquisas.