Complications of multiple trauma.
Patients who acquire sepsis, ARDS, ARF, or MSOF subsequent to multiple trauma have a high mortality rate. The pathophysiology of these complications is complex and is thought to involve ischemia, the generation of mediators, alterations in regional perfusion, and cellular oxygen use. Because of the critical nature of the patient with these complications, nursing care requires indepth knowledge as well as competent nursing management, necessitating use of both the art and science of nursing.