Talking Trauma

Blunt abdominal trauma makes up a significant proportion of traumatic injuries in Australia. Dr Joseph Matthew, from Alfred Hospital helps us to gain a better understanding of blunt force mechanisms & the impact of a shift to more conservative management approaches has seen on trauma outcomes.

Current at date of publication, 29/1/2020

Children are vulnerable to injury for a variety of reasons and trauma continues to be their leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Dr Claire Wilkin, Consultant Paediatric Emergency Physician joins us to talk through the challenges of managing a paediatric trauma patient and shares her experience, tips and tricks to assist clinicians the next time they care for a Paediatric Major Trauma.

Current at date of Publication 28/1/2020

This episode will get you thinking about intravenous fluid choices for when you are next managing a hypovolaemic trauma patient. Dr. John Dyett, an Intensive Care Specialist at Eastern Health & Retrieval Consultant at Adult Retrieval Victoria discusses the key principles of fluid resuscitation in the severely hypovolemic Major Trauma patient. John explains the aims for haemostatic resuscitation, rationales for blood product administration and how to prevent or modify the effects of the lethal triad.

Lifesaving pin hole surgery! Why, when, where, how, and who?

Dr Gerard Goh, Interventional Radiologist at Alfred Health, explains the role of Interventional radiology, a minimally invasive technique in the management of life threatening injuries in Major Trauma. Current at time of publication 30/10/2019.

The role of ultrasound has evolved over the past 30 years and now plays an important role in trauma care, both diagnostically & procedurally. In this episode Dr. Amaali Lokuge an Emergency Physician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital & Clinical Lead for Ultrasound talks us through how ultrasound has become an extension of her clinical practice with the rapid assessment and diagnosis of traumatic injuries. Current at date of publication; 13/08.

The exchange of clinical information is critical in reducing risk and prioritising care for the trauma patient. Dr Helen Stergiou an Emergency & Trauma Physician from Alfred Health explains why it is important to be prepared & use a structured approach to handover the clinical information & accountability across the patients care pathway. Current at date of publication; 06/08/2019.

Victorian State Trauma Outcomes Registry Monitoring Group (VSTORM) is a fundamental element of the Victorian State Trauma System. Dr Ben Beck the Deputy Head of Prehospital, Emergency & Trauma Research at Monash University joins us to explain VSTORM’s role in monitoring system performance, informing service provision & development with an aim to reduce preventable deaths and permanent disability from major trauma. Current at date of publication;05/08/2019.

Yvonne Singer the Victorian Burns Program Coordinator has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to managing burns. In this episode Yvonne talks us through how current burns literature is guiding best practice, giving valuable tips to clinicians for assessing & managing major burns, and gives us an inside perspective of the Victorian Adults Burns Service, at the Alfred. Current at date of publication, 22/7/2019

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is often the first responder to a major traumatic incident. Ian Hunt, MICA Paramedic and Manager of the Emergency Management Unit explains how AV respond, coordinate & communicate in the event of a major trauma incident, whilst ensuring AV’s normal business and service to the community has little interruption. If only there was a big red button. Current at date of publication; 09/07/2019. 

Managing patients and families psychological trauma is challenging & is often delayed as we are absorbed in the initial management and lifesaving treatment of a major trauma patient.

Connie Montagner joins us to explain why psychological trauma should not be forgotten and talks us through an easy to use framework to provide psychological first aid to our trauma patients, their families and ourselves. Current at date of publication; 09/07/2019.

Are you providing consistent burns care? Listen in as Toby St Clair, a MICA Flight Paramedic & Yvonne Singer the Victorian Burns Program Coordinator talk us through the initial management of burns. Toby discusses some of the challenges & priorities of pre-hospital burns management and provides a practical approach to their care. Yvonne provides us insight into the continuum of care on arrival to the Victorian Adult Burns service & management advice supported by burns literature. Current at date of publication; 11/06/2019.

A collaborative discussion with two passionate advocates for older people after major trauma, Dr Mya Cubitt, an Emergency Physician, and Dr. Kwang Lim, a Geriatrician. This discussion will highlight the complexities and challenges of caring for this patient group, which includes; physiological differences, initial assessment, management, systems and processes to ensure appropriate ongoing care. Current at date of publication; 13/05/2019.

Pre-hospital management of older trauma patients is challenging. James Marshall, Paramedic Educator with Ambulance Victoria, explains how physiological changes and co-morbidities complicate pre-hospital initial assessment and triage. James shares his own experiences and strategies to ensure optimal pre-hospital care for the older person trauma. Current at date of publication; 10/05/2019.

Did you know there are systems designed that send major trauma patients to the best hospital for their condition? The technology used gets patients to help in the most safe and timely manner.

Michael (Mick) Stephenson, Executive Director of Clinical Operations at Ambulance Victoria talks to us about the Ambulance Victoria response to major trauma patients. Mick describes activation systems that the initial 000 call will trigger to ensure an appropriate response; with extra consideration to ensure an accurate assessment, triage and management. Current at date of publication; 18/04/2019.

We chat with Dr. Jonathan Papson, the Director of Emergency Education at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, about the importance of teamwork and communication in managing major trauma. We discuss proven techniques for developing a functional team structure, using effective communication and demonstrate strategies to manage conflict. Jonathan also shares some of his own personal experiences in practice. Current at date of publication; 18/04/2019. 

Traumatic cardiac arrest can be a highly stressful scenario. Dr David Camilleri, an Emergency Physician and Retrieval Consultant, discusses cardiac arrest in the setting of major trauma. David explains the need for synthesis and preparation, a shared mental model and the benefits of guidelines so we can deliver the lifesaving treatment these patients require. Current at date of publication; 18/04/2019.

In this episode Professor Peter Cameron talks us through the history & development of the Victorian State Trauma System (VSTS) and the Trauma Guidelines . He explains how a state-wide approach, evidence base, robust planning, & ongoing monitoring drive continuous quality improvement, seeing the VSTS evolve as a world leading trauma system. Current at date of publication:18/04/2019.