Talking Trauma Trauma Victoria

In the most recently published Victorian State Trauma Registry report, 39% of all trauma cases were transport related. Trauma prevention and road safety continues to play a huge part in the reduction of major trauma in Victoria and today we are joined by Samantha Cockfield, Head of Road Safety for the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to provide insight into current issues facing Victorian road users and the role of the TAC. Current at date of publication 14/01/2021.

Victims of major trauma have a varied profile, including age, demographic & geographic location. Today Danielle speaks with Melissa Webb, trauma and orthopaedic allied health team leader at The Alfred Hospital to gain an understanding of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care and consider rehab and planning beginning from the roadside. Current at date of publication 04/01/2021.

Children are vulnerable to injury for a number of reasons with motor vehicle collisions (MVC’S) accounting for almost half of the fatalities in children. In Victoria, the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) service is available to retrieve critically injured children from referring hospitals and provide safe, expert, emergency inter-hospital care. Today we speak with Dr Sile Smith, a Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant from the Royal Children’s Hospital and Medical Co-lead for PIPER about the role PIPER has in Paediatric Major Trauma. Current at date of publication 28/12/2020.

Emergency management of a difficult airway in the major trauma patient is always a daunting task. Complications may arise as a result of emergency intubations, but failure or delay in securing an adequate airway may contribute to unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. Today we are talking to Dr Peter Fritz, Consultant Emergency Physician at The Alfred Hospital about Airway Management in the trauma patient. Current at date of Publication 21/12/2020.

Early specialist care of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) can have a significant effect on long-term outcomes for these patients. The natural progression of SCI, in particular rising spinal cord oedema, may lead to an exacerbation of symptoms in the hours following an accident. Today we speak with Associate Professor Andrew Nunn, Director of the Victorian Spinal Cord Services at Austin Health who provides insight into early management of the patient suffering a potential spinal injury. Current at date of publication 21/12/2020.

The Victorian State Trauma System is one of the best in the world, with Adult Retrieval Victoria playing a significant role in making this a success. Today Danielle talks with Dr David Anderson, Acting Medical Director of Ambulance Victoria and an Intensivist at The Alfred Hospital to discuss how Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV) operates within the state trauma system and gives you an inside look into behind the scenes of coordinating the care and retrieval of a major trauma patient. Current at date of publication 7/12/2020.