Infective abdominal aortic aneurysms due to Haemophilus influenza are rarely reported. We report a case in a 65 year old female presenting with abdominal pain, weight loss, pyrexia and elevated inflammatory markers. The patient was found to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm clinically and on CT scanning. At surgery, an inflammatory aneurysm was successfully repaired using an autogenous vein panel-graft. Tissue samples were analysed using the polymerase chain reaction, identifying H. influenza as the causative organism. H. influenza is a scarcely reported cause of infective aortic aneurysms. The mechanism of infection is unknown. Reference is made to existing reports of such infection.

The management of gunshot wounds of the abdomen and extremities is evolving with centres who treat large volumes of such injuries tending to the application of a policy of selective non-operative management. This article discusses the management of gunshot wounds to the abdomen and extremities and reviews the evidence supporting these changing practices. Special situations such as wounding by shotguns or air rifles are also examined as are the special considerations needed when dealing with the gunshot injured pregnant women or in a child.

The spleen remains a vulnerable organ to blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma and recognition of its important immunological role has meant that alternatives to mandatory splenectomy for splenic injury are now available. This article examines the alternatives to splenectomy and then discusses the post-splenectomy management of patients.

To date, the specific role of gelatins in trauma resuscitation remains under-investigated. Their adverse affects are well described and relate principally to the provocation of allergic responses whilst their influence upon haemostasis is relatively benign in comparison to the other colloids. However, their benefits are only sparsely documented and the evidence to choose one gelatin over another virtually non-existent. As knowledge of the microcirculatory dysfunction inherent in the shocked state increases, the role of the gelatins in trauma resuscitation is being increasing sidelined by other colloids--notably the starches. Their role beyond a basic resuscitation tool is now uncertain.