Emerging topics in the surgical and critical care treatment of trauma patients

In 1896, Bridget Driscoll had the dubious honor of becoming the fi rst fatality from an auto versus pedestrian collision. At the coroner's inquiry, the judge stated that he "trusted that this sort of nonsense will never happen again" (How the UK's fi rst fatal car accident unfolded. BBC News Magazine. 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10987606). Unfortunately, more than 100 years later, fatalities still occur, but the treatment of trauma patients has greatly improved as a result of both the basic science and clinical research of traumatic injuries. The purpose of this discussion is to include a brief description of 3 topics in the surgery of trauma that have been widely discussed at national conferences and have had important new publications in the past year. Although this discussion cannot be all inclusive, it should highlight the important facts and help provide a general overview of these exciting advances in the critical care of trauma patients.