title: A treatment plan for rapid assessment of the patient with massive blood loss and pelvic fractures.
abstract: Exsanguinating retroperitoneal hemorrhage secondary to pelvic fractures is a frequent cause of death in the injured pedestrian. Attempts at lowering the mortality from these injuries have led to a variety of suggested treatment modalities, including observation, arterial ligation, or direct suturing of the bleeding sites. Arteriographic embolization is perhaps the newest modality but requires implementation of a rapid and efficient triage and treatment plan. Each of the suggested modalities and the formulation of such a treatment plan are discussed and a case report showing the feasibility of immediate arteriographic embolization as the preferred mode of management is presented.
mesh_terms: D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011859:Radiography; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D014218:Triage