Effects of Hemoperitoneum Driven Carbon Monoxide on Post-Traumatic Stability and Platelet Aggregation

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Hospitalized males 18 years of age or older,
2. Diagnosis of isolated blunt OR blunt and penetrating trauma,
3. Admitted or expecting to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit,
4. On mechanical ventilation, and
5. Written informed consent obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Female gender, (Females will be excluded from this study as the menstrual cycle and other estrogen variations are known to be associated with cyclic changes in CO production adding a potential confounder to the interpretations of our findings.)
2. Diagnosis of isolated penetrating trauma,
3. Acute hemothorax or pneumothorax,
4. Treatment with antiaggregants (ASA, clopidogrel, aggrenox or ticlopidine),
5. Enrollment in another research study,
6. Prisoners,
7. Inability to perform CO measurement within 96 hours after hospital admission.