Search

Landslides are one of the natural hazards, which have significant negative effects on both humans and the environment. Thus, slope stability analyses and stabilization processes are necessary to obviate or mitigate landslides. In this study, the effect of groundwater level fluctuations and the construction of a building (i.e., a recently built church) on slope stability was investigated on the eastern slope of the Avas Hill, at Miskolc, in Northeast Hungary. Soil movements and groundwater levels were monitored and geological and slope stability models were constructed. Furthermore, the possibility of constructing a retaining system was evaluated to minimize the detrimental effects of both groundwater level fluctuations and the construction of the church. The findings showed that the fluctuation in groundwater levels had a destructive effect on slope stability due to pore-water pressure, which decreased the soil strength of the slope and slope stability. On the other hand, the church added an external load onto the underlying soil leading to an increase in slope instability. Hence, we suggested constructing retaining structures such as gravity retaining walls to increase the soil shear strength and enhance slope stability in the long term.

Introduction: A haemodynamically unstable patient with abdominal injury associated with pelvic fractures is a serious challenge for trauma surgeons and anesthesiologists. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of patients' treatment with combined abdominal-pelvic lesions using the TRISS and ASCOT predictive scores. Patients and methods: The study included polytraumatized patients with haemodynamic instability or signs of acute abdomen witch required emergency laparotomy. Between 2008 and 2010, 124 patients were operated for abdominal trauma, 12 cases (9.6%) being associated with pelvic fracture. Results: The mean age was 50.1 years (range 25-80 years).The lesions associated with pelvic fractures were the following: rupture of spleen (2 cases), liver rupture (2 cases), lung rupture (2 cases), diaphragm rupture and detachment (3 cases), small intestine and colon lesions (3 ca-ses), rupture of the urinary bladder (4 cases), urethra rupture (3 cases), and head trauma (3 cases). In the treatment of retroperitoneal bleeding in 6 cases it was necessary to perform packing control of the pelvic haemorrhage. Four patients died, giving an overall mortality rate of 33.3%. The mortality was not influenced by age (p = 0.31), ISS (p = 0.42) and pH (p = 0.63). The probability of survival calculated using TRISS was 62.3% and the probability of death calculated using ASCOT was 28.6%. Conclusions: The control of haemostasis and peritoneal decontamination are priorities in the case of adominal-pelvic lesions. The packing control of haemorrhage proved to be effective in the management of bleedings caused by rupture of a retroperitoneal hematoma in the peritoneal cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic asphyxia is a rare condition that occurs after compressive thoracoabdominal trauma, which is characterized by subconjunctival hemorrhage, cervicofacial cyanosis, edema and petechiae. Serious life-threatening thoracic and abdominal injuries may coexist. After conservatory treatment in most cases complete recovery is achieved, but in isolated cases permanent neurological lesions may occur. We present the case of the 39-year-old male patient who suffered a compressive thoracoabdominal trauma. The physical examination showed the characteristic "ecchymotic mask". After surgical treatment of the abdominal injuries and intensive therapy the patient was discharged with permanent vision loss. The high retrograde venous pressure in the head and neck may be associated with neuronal ischemia, which can lead to irreversible optic nerve atrophy. It is therefore important to carry out an early, routine and complete ophtalmologic examination, especially in the intubated and poorly cooperative patients. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(22): 864-868.