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DONALD D. TRUNKEY, MD

Arch Surg. 1988;123(12):1517.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In this month's ARCHIVES, Nuytinck and his coinvestigators¹ review in depth the autopsy findings in 35 cases of patients who died after severe injury. They point out there is a pathologic accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and abnormal organ weights in these patients. Although the investigators have exercised a fair amount of restraint in their conclusions, they hypothesize that "ARDS [adult respiratory distress syndrome] See also p 1519. and MOF [multiple organ failure] are the results of a generalized and massive activation of inflammatory mediators." They focus particularly on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and complement. I have no doubt in the validity of the observations made in this particular study; however, one must exercise some caution in assigning cause and effect. One can also learn from earlier observations.

In August 1917, the Medical Research Committee of Great Britain appointed a special investigation committee to undertake the coordination of inquiries into surgical shock . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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