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Background: Previous studies revealed evidence that induced hypothermia attenuates ischemic organ injuries after severe trauma. In the present study, the effect of hypothermia on liver damage was investigated in a porcine long term model of multi-system injury, consisting of blunt chest trauma, penetrating abdominal trauma, musculoskeletal injury, and hemorrhagic shockMETHODS: In 30 pigs, a standardized polytrauma including blunt chest trauma, penetrating abdominal trauma, musculoskeletal injury, and hemorrhagic shock of 45% of total blood volume was induced. Following trauma, hypothermia of 33∘C was induced for 12 h and intensive care treatment was evaluated for 48 h. As outcome parameters, we assessed liver function and serum transaminase levels as well as a histopathological analysis of tissue samples. A further 10 animals served as controls.Results: Serum transaminase levels were increased at the end of the observation period following hypothermia without reaching statistical significance compared to normothermic groups. Liver function was preserved (p⩽ 0.05) after the rewarming period in hypothermic animals but showed no difference at the end of the observation period. In H&E staining, cell death was slightly increased hypothermic animals and caspase-3 staining displayed tendency towards more apoptosis in hypothermic group as well.Conclusions: Induction of hypothermia could not significantly improve hepatic damage during the first 48 h following major trauma. Further studies focusing on multi-organ failure including a longer observation period are required to illuminate the impact of hypothermia on hepatic function in multiple trauma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Despite recent advances in treatment of severe injured patients, e.g. due to damage control orthopaedics, multi organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and sepsis are major complications in daily practice. During one year 94 patients were prospectively collected.Inclusion Criteria: ISS 16, age 18-60 y, primary admission to our level-1 trauma center, survival > 48 hours after trauma. The development of MODS and sepsis were observed and different groups were formed (+/-). Demographic data revealed no significant differences between the subgroups. Comparing groups +MODS and -MODS significant differences on admission day were observed, when PCT showed first on day 2 after trauma differences. Regarding the development of sepsis PCT was advantageous to IL-6 showing significant higher plasma levels in group +sepsis from the first day after trauma. Serum levels of IL-6 and PCT could be useful in early identification of high risk patients to develop posttraumatic MODS. For sepsis PCT is the better prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]