Experimental Trauma Models: An Update

Abstract

Treatment of polytrauma patients remains a medical as well as socioeconomic challenge. Although diagnostics and therapy improved during the last decades, multiple injuries are still the major cause of fatalities in patients below 45 years of age. Organ dysfunction and organ failure are major complications in patients with major injuries and contribute to mortality during the clinical course. Profound understanding of the systemic pathophysiological response is crucial for innovative therapeutic approaches. Therefore, experimental studies in various animal models are necessary. This review is aimed at providing detailed information of common trauma models in small as well as in large animals.

Giant life-threatening external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm caused by a mandibular condylar fracture

“…[8][9][10][11][15][16][17] Vascular injuries are quite rare when their cause is associated with a very common facial fracture, the mandibular condylar fracture. Here, we presented a case of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the ECA, which evolved into a lifethreatening condition after an erroneous attempt to drain it.…”

“…Despite their rarity, vascular lesions in condylar fractures should be considered an important issue, as they can evolve to life-threatening situations because of the involvement of the main branches of the carotid artery. [8][9][10][11] Anatomically, the risk of vascular lesion is high because of the close anatomic relationship between the mandibular condyle and the external carotid artery or its terminal branch, the maxillary artery. 12 Besides that, this topic is relatively unexplored in the literature, and practices for diagnosis and treatment have not yet been fully established.…”

“…[13][14][15][16][17][18] The most significant vascular lesions include severe bleeding, hematomas, aneurysms, and pseudoaneurysms. 8,9,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Of these, pseudoaneurysms call attention because of their late development and potential associated risks. 12,15,22,23 A pseudoaneurysm occurs as a consequence of the partial rupture of a blood vessel; thus, there is blood leakage into surrounding tissue.…”

Experimental Models of Hemorrhagic Shock: A Review

“…The important advantages of these animals are their cheapness, easy accessibility, short breeding time and life span, as well as the easy possibility to perform genetic modifications (knock-outs and transgenic animals). Their main disadvantages are small size and low total blood volume, which significantly complicate surgical and sampling procedures [7]. …”

Intravenous hemostats: challenges in translation to patients

“…In vivo models of hemostasis are generally designed to assess the impact of a treatment (or knockout of a specific pathway) on clotting time, blood loss, degree of shock, and/or survival. 41 These models consist of controlled hemorrhage, uncontrolled hemorrhage, specific organ systems (e.g. CNS), or polytrauma.…”