What is Trauma?
 Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.
It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.
This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding
Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.
As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.
Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.
Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions. |
Definition | Reasons for Test | Possible Complications | What to Expect | Call Your Doctor
DefinitionProstate specific antigen
(PSA) is a protein made by the prostate. Prostate is a walnut-sized gland in men that makes a fluid for semen.
Most PSA is released into semen. Some of it is released into the blood. If there is a problem with the prostate, the PSA level in the blood can become elevated. Reasons for TestThe PSA test is used to: - Monitor treatment effectiveness for prostate cancer
- Help determine if cancer has returned in men who have already been treated for prostate cancer
-
Test for other conditions, like
prostatitis, or
benign prostatic hyperplasia
The PSA test may also be used as a screening tool for
prostate cancer. However, this use is controversial. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the PSA test, and your personal risk factors for prostate cancer. Possible ComplicationsThere are no major complications associated with this test. What to Expect- Ejaculation can cause PSA levels to rise. Avoid sexual activity for 24 hours before testing.
-
Some procedures can elevate PSA levels. Schedule your PSA test several weeks after any of these:
- Wait several weeks after successful treatment of prostate infections.
-
Some medicines can lower PSA levels. Tell your doctor if you are taking:
You will be asked to sit. An area inside your elbow will be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe. A large band will be tied around your arm. The needle will then be inserted into a vein. A tube will collect the blood from the needle. The band on your arm will be removed. Once all the blood is collected, the needle will be removed. Some gauze will be placed over the site to help stop bleeding. You may also be given a bandage to place over the site. After the blood sample is collected, you may need to stay seated for 10-15 minutes. If you are lightheaded, you may need to stay seated longer. Once you feel better, you can leave. The process takes about 5-10 minutes. It may be uncomfortable when the needle pierces your skin. The results are usually available in a few days to a week. Your doctor will talk to you about your results. If your PSA level is slightly elevated, but there are no other reasons to suspect prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend closely following your PSA levels. If your PSA level is too high, has risen significantly, or the doctor notices a lump during a digital rectal exam, you will probably need to schedule other tests, such as a prostate biopsy. Call Your DoctorAfter the test, call your doctor if any of the following occurs: - Bleeding from the puncture site
- Red, swollen, or painful puncture site
- If you have not heard from your doctor in 1-2 weeks
Fang J, Metter EJ, et al. PSA velocity for assessing prostate cancer risk in men with PSA levels between 2.0 and 4.0 ng/mL.
Urology. 2002;59:889-893.
How did the USPSTF arrive at this recommendation? US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatecancerfaq.htm. Published May 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
Members of the Prostate-Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement Panel (2009). Prostate-Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement: 2009 Update. Available at:
http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/main-reports/psa09.pdf. Accessed April 17, 2013.
Prostate cancer screening. EBSCO DynaMed website.
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 15, 2013. Accessed April 17, 2013.
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/PSA. Updated July 24, 2012. Accessed April 17, 2013.
Screening for prostate cancer: current recommendation. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening.htm. Published May 2012. Accessed April 17, 2013.
Stephan C, Stroebel G, et al. The ratio of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to prostate volume (PSA density) as a parameter to improve the detection of prostate carcinoma in PSA values in the range of < 4 ng/mL.
Cancer. 2005;104:993-1003.
5/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Schröder FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ, et al. Screening and prostate-cancer mortality in a randomized European study.
N Engl J Med. 2009;360:1320-1328. Last reviewed March 2013 by Adrienne Carmack, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved. |
|
 |
Physicians & Related Services |
|
|
|
|