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There is little consensus in the literature regarding the effect of ethanol intoxication on trauma outcomes. Data on its effect in the elderly are even sparser. Our aim was to better define the impact of alcohol use in the geriatric trauma population.We conducted a retrospective review at a level I trauma center looking at admissions from January 2015 through December 2018. Patients were grouped by age: 15-64 y old (YOUNG) versus ≥ 65 y old (OLD). Blood alcohol content (BAC) ≤0.10 g/dL was ETOH (-), and BAC0.10 g/dL was ETOH (+). These were then propensity matched by injury severity score and mechanism of injury. Fisher's exact test and linear regression were applied as appropriate. Significance was defined as P 0.05.There were 8754 patients admitted during the study time frame. A total of 6106 patients were YOUNG and 2647 were OLD. A total of 146 (5.5%) OLD patients were ETOH (+), whereas 1488 (24.4%) YOUNG patients were ETOH (+) (P 0.0001). To assess the impact of alcohol between the two age groups, 285 OLD patients were propensity matched with 285 YOUNG patients. Mortality was significantly higher in the OLD (11.9%) group than that in the YOUNG (3.5%) group (P 0.001). Morbidity was also higher in OLD versus YOUNG patients overall (P 0.05). The presence of ethanol did not significantly impact morbidity or mortality in YOUNG or OLD patients.Higher mortality and morbidity is unsurprising in geriatric trauma patients; however, alcohol does not appear to play a significant role in these outcomes.

Trauma centers frequently accept patients from other institutions who are being sent due to the need for a higher level of care. We hypothesized that patients with minor traumatic injuries who are transferred from outside institutions would impart a negative financial impact on the receiving trauma center.We performed a retrospective review of all trauma patients admitted to our urban level I trauma center from October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2013. Patients were categorized as minor trauma if they did not require operation within 24 h of arrival, did not require ICU admission, did not die, and had a hospital length of stay24 h. Transferred patients and nontransfers (those received directly from the field) were compared with respect to injury severity, insurance status, and hospital net margin. Student's t-test and z-test for proportions were performed for data analysis.A total of 6951 trauma patients were identified (transfer n = 2228, nontransfer n = 4724). Minor injury transfers (n = 440) were compared to nontransfers (n = 689). Hospital net margin of transferred patients and nontransferred patients were $2227 and $2569, respectively (P = 0.22). Percentages of uninsured/underinsured for transfers and nontransfers were 27.3% and 36.1%, respectively (P = 0.002).During our study period, 19.7% of transfers and 14.6% of nontransfers can be categorized as having minor trauma. Minor trauma transfer patients are associated with a positive hospital net margin for the trauma center that is similar to that of the nontransfer group. The data also demonstrate a lower percentage of uninsured/underinsured in the transferred group.

Recently, there has been an increase in the usage of dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles in urban environments. Previously, it has been shown that crashes involving these urban off-road vehicles (UORVs) resulted in different injury patterns from crashes that occurred in rural environments. The aim of this study was to compare injury patterns of patients involved in crashes while riding UORVs versus motorcycles (MCs).A retrospective review (2005-2016) of patients who presented to our urban level I trauma center as a result of any MC or UORV crash was performed. Patients who presented after 48 h from the time of accident were excluded. A P 0.05 was considered significant.We identified 1556 patients who were involved in an MC or UORV crash resulting in injury (MC: n = 1324 [85%]; UORVs: n = 232 [15%]). Patients in UORV crashes were younger (26.2 y versus 39.6 y), less likely to be helmeted (39.6% versus 90.2%), required fewer emergent trauma bay procedures (28.4% versus 36.7%), and needed fewer operative interventions (45.9% versus 54.2%) (all P 0.05). Both groups had a similar Injury Severity Score (12.2 versus 12.6; P = 0.54) and Glasgow Coma Score (13.8 versus 13.5; P = 0.46). UORV patients had a lower mortality (0.9% versus 4.7%; P 0.05) compared to MC crash patients despite similar injury patterns.Our data demonstrate that patients sustaining UORV injuries were younger and less likely to be helmeted but have a lower mortality rate after a crash, despite sustaining similar injuries as motorcyclists. This study provides an overview of how crashes involving UORV usage is a unique phenomenon and not entirely comparable to MC crashes.

Traditionally, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and dirt bikes (DBs) have been used in rural locations for recreation and work. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of these vehicles in an urban environment. The aim of this study is to compare the injury patterns of patients involved in crashes while riding off-road vehicles in both urban (UORV) and rural (RORV) environment.A retrospective review (2005-2016) of patients who presented to an urban level 1 trauma center as a result of any ATV or DB crash was performed. UORV was defined as any ATV or DB accident that occurred on paved inner city, suburban, or major roadways. RORV was defined as those accidents that occurred on secondary roadways or off-road. Patients who presented more than 48 h from time of accident were excluded. A P 0.05 was considered significant.Five hundred and twenty-eight patients were identified to have an ATV or DB injury (RORV n = 296 [56%]; UORV n = 232 [44%]). UORV accidents had a higher Injury Severity Score (12.2 versus 9.7; P 0.05), lower presenting Glasgow Coma Scale (13.8 versus 14.3; P 0.05), more likely to need emergent trauma bay procedures (28.5% versus 17.9%; P 0.05), were less likely to have been helmeted (39.6% versus 71.2%; P 0.05) with a higher unhelmeted Abbreviated Injury Scale head of ≥3 (13.5% versus 5%;0.05), and more likely to have extremity injuries (53.5% versus 41.2%; P 0.05). There were no significant differences in additional injury patterns or hospital outcomes including mortality for the two groups.Our data suggest that UORV use was associated with decreased helmet use, higher mean Injury Severity Score, lower presenting Glasgow Coma Scale, an increased need for emergent trauma bay procedures, higher unhelmeted Abbreviated Injury Scale head scores, and higher rates of extremity injuries.

Acute care surgery encompasses trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency general surgery (EGS). While the first two components are well defined, the scope of EGS practice remains unclear. This article describes the work of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma to define EGS.A total of 621 unique International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev. (ICD-9) diagnosis codes were identified using billing data (calendar year 2011) from seven large academic medical centers that practice EGS. A modified Delphi methodology was used by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Committee on Severity Assessment and Patient Outcomes to review these codes and achieve consensus on the definition of primary EGS diagnosis codes. National Inpatient Sample data from 2009 were used to develop a national estimate of EGS burden of disease.Several unique ICD-9 codes were identified as primary EGS diagnoses. These encompass a wide spectrum of general surgery practice, including upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease, soft tissue infections, and hernias. National Inpatient Sample estimates revealed over 4 million inpatient encounters nationally in 2009 for EGS diseases.This article provides the first list of ICD-9 diagnoses codes that define the scope of EGS based on current clinical practices. These findings have wide implications for EGS workforce training, access to care, and research.

OBJECTIVE: The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) established surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines as part of a national patient safety initiative aimed at reducing surgical complications such as surgical site infection (SSI). Although these antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines have become well established in surgical patients, they remain largely unstudied in patients with injury from trauma undergoing operative procedures. We sought to determine the role of these antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines in preventing SSI in patients undergoing trauma laparotomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent emergency trauma laparotomy at two Level I trauma centers (2007Y2008) revealed 306 patients who survived more than 4 days after injury. Demographics and clinical risk SSI factors were analyzed, and patients were compared on the basis of adherence to the following SCIP guidelines: (1) prophylactic antibiotic given, (2) antibiotic received within 1 hour before incision, (3) correct antibiotic selection, and (4) discontinuation of antibiotic within 24 hours after surgery. The primary study end point was the development of SSI. RESULTS: The study sample varied by age (mean [SD], 32 [16] years) and injury mechanism (gunshot wound 44%, stab wound 27%, blunt trauma 30%). When patients with perioperative antibiotic management complying with the four SCIP antibiotic guidelines (n = 151) were compared with those who did not comply (n = 155), no difference between age, shock, small bowel or colon resection, damage control procedures, and skin closure was detected (p 9 0.05). After controlling for injury severity score, hypotension, blood transfusion, enteric injury, operative duration, and other potential confounding variables in a multivariate analysis, complete adherence to these four SCIP antibiotic guidelines independently decreased the risk of SSI (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.20Y0.94; p = 0.035). Patients adhering to these guidelines less often developed SSI (17% vs. 33%, p = 0.001) and had shorter overall hospital duration of antibiotics (4 [6] vs. 9 [11] days, p G 0.001) and hospital length of stay (14 [13] vs. 19 [23] days, p = 0.016), although no difference in mortality was detected (p 9 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that SCIP antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines effectively reduce the risk of SSI in patients undergoing trauma laparotomy. Despite the emergent nature of operative procedures for trauma, efforts to adhere to these antibiotic guidelines should be maintained. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;73: 452Y456. Copyright * 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

Background The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has developed a new grading system for uniform description of anatomic severity of emergency general surgery (EGS) diseases, ranging from Grade I (mild) to Grade V (severe). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of AAST grades for acute colonic diverticulitis with patient outcomes. A secondary purpose was to propose an EGS quality improvement program using risk-adjusted center outcomes, similar to National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and Trauma Quality Improvement Program methodologies. Methods This was a retrospective study of 1,105 patients (one death) from 13 centers. At each center, two reviewers (blinded to each other's assignments) assigned AAST grades. Interrater reliability was measured using κ coefficient. Relationship between AAST grade and clinical events (complications, intensive care unit use, surgical intervention, and 30-day readmission) as well as length of stay was measured using regression analyses to control for age, comorbidities, and physiologic status at the time of admission. Final model was also used to calculate observed-to-expected (O-E) ratios for adverse outcomes (death, complications, readmissions) for each center. Results Median age was 54 years, 52% were males, 43% were minorities, and 22% required a surgical intervention. Almost two thirds had Grade I or II disease. There was a high level of agreement for grades between reviewers (κ = 0.81). Adverse events increased from 13% for Grade I, to 18% for Grade II, 28% for Grade III, 44% for Grade IV, and 50% for Grade V. Regression analysis showed that higher disease grades were independently associated with all clinical events and length of stay, after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and physiology. O-E ratios showed statistically insignificant variations in risk of death, complications, or readmissions. Conclusion AAST grades for acute colonic diverticulitis are independently associated with clinical outcomes and resource use. EGS quality improvement program methodology that incorporates AAST grade, age, comorbidities, and physiologic status may be used for measuring quality of EGS care. High-quality EGS registries are essential for developing meaningful quality metrics. Level of evidence Prognostic study, level V.

Background: Airway establishment and hemorrhage control may be difficult to achieve in patients with massive oronasal bleeding from maxillofacial injuries. This study was formulated to develop effective algorithms for managing these challenging injuries. Methods: Trauma registries from nine trauma centers were queried over a 7-year period for injuries with abbreviated injury scale J.B.H., 3 and transfusion of ≥8 units of blood within 24 hours. Patients in whom no significant bleeding was attributed to maxillofacial trauma were excluded. Patient demographics, injury severity measures, airway management, hemostatic procedures, and outcome were analyzed. Results: Ninety patients were identified. Median injury severity scores for 60 blunt trauma patients was 34 versus 17 for 30 patients with penetrating wounds (p < 0.05). Initial airway management was by endotracheal intubation in 72 (80%) patients. Emergent cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy were necessary in 7 (8%) and 5 (6%) patients, respectively. Seventeen (57%) patients with penetrating wounds were taken directly to the operating room for airway control and initial efforts at hemostasis versus 12 (20%) patients with blunt trauma (p < 0.05). Anterior or posterior or both packing alone controlled bleeding in only 29% of patients in whom it was used. Transarterial embolization (TAE) was used in 12 (40%) patients with penetrating injuries and 20 (33%) patients with blunt trauma. TAE was successful for definitive control of hemorrhage in 87.5% of patients. Overall mortality rate was 24.4%, with 6 (7%) deaths directly attributable to maxillofacial injuries. Conclusions: Initial airway control was achieved by endotracheal intubation in most patients. Patients with penetrating wounds were more frequently taken directly to the operating room for airway management and initial efforts at hemostasis. Patients with blunt trauma were much more likely to have associated injuries which affected treatment priorities. TAE was highly successful in controlling hemorrhage.

Geriatric trauma patients have a worse outcome than the young with comparable injuries. The contribution of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to this increased mortality is unknown and has been confounded by the presence of other injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of age in the mortality and early outcome from isolated TBI.This was a retrospective analysis of all adult patients with isolated TBI (Abbreviated Injury Scale scoreor = 3) admitted during a 5-year period to two Level I trauma centers. Mortality, Glasgow Outcome Scale score at discharge, therapy, and complications were compared for elderly (ageor = 65 years) and younger patients.Of 694 patients, 22% were defined as elderly. The mortality for the elderly group was twice that of their younger counterparts (30% vs. 14%, p0.001), even for those with mild to moderate TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9-15). Thirteen percent of elderly survivors had a poor functional outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 2 or 3) at hospital discharge versus 5% in the young group (p0.01). Independent factors associated with a high mortality were age and Glasgow Coma Scale score.The mortality from TBI is higher in the geriatric population at all levels of head injury. In addition, functional outcome at hospital discharge is worse. Although some of this increased mortality may be explained by complications or type of head injury, age itself is an independent predictor for mortality in TBI.

Background: Plasma viral load has recently been associated with clinical outcome in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We hypothetized that, in addition to CD4 lymphocytes, plasma HIV-1 RNA counts are predictive of postoperative outcome. Methods: HIV-infected and AIDS patients admitted to a major teaching hospital requiring invasive or surgical procedures were retrospectively analyzed for postoperative outcome. Preoperative and postoperative immune cell counts including plasma HIV-1 RNA counts were recorded. Chi-square analysis, Fisher’s exact test, and multivariate regression were performed with statistical significance P ≤0.05. Results: Fifty-five consecutive patients between 14 and 62 years of age were admitted in a 1-year period and underwent 64 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Fourteen (22%) postoperative infections and 18 (28%) complications other than infection, with an overall mortality of 11%, were documented. Total preoperative white blood cell count ([WBC] P

Anesthetic standard of care is to restrict oral intake for 8 hours before elective surgery. There is no research addressing appropriate preoperative discontinuation of jejunostomy tube (J-tube) feedings. We hypothesized that patients could be fed safely, via a J-tube, until the time of surgery.Patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center, having J-tubes and undergoing a nonabdominal operation, were prospectively evaluated. Group I patients received J-tube feedings until transport to the operating room. Group II patients had tube feedings discontinued for at least 8 hours before surgery. Data were compared using the Student's t test and contingency table analysis.There were 46 patients in group I and 36 in group II. There was no incidence of aspiration. Patient groups did not differ in age, mortality, length of stay, injury severity score, or ventilator days. Group I patients had tube feedings discontinued for fewer hours before and after surgery than group II patients (before surgery: 1.40 +/- 1.20 vs 11.61 +/- 5.01, respectively; p.001; after surgery: 2.99 +/- 7.49 vs 7.11 +/- 9.03, respectively; p = .043); received more kilocalories/ grams of protein on the day of surgery (group I vs group II, 1676.15/89.57 +/- 1133.21/38.04 vs 791.14/57.58 +/-498.66/79.87, respectively; p = .001/p = .032) and more kilocalories/grams of protein on the first postoperative day (group I vs group II, 1580.74/92.57 +/- 600.53/37.96 vs 1152.47/63.53 +/- 733.96/39.40, respectively; p = .006/p = .001).Patients receiving J-tubes who are undergoing nonabdominal operations may safely continue enteral nutrition at maximum protein and caloric intake until surgery.

Background: Products of the hemeoxygenase enzyme include carboxyhemoglobin (COH) and bilirubin, which have protective effects in stressed states. Hemeoxygenase-1 enzyme up-regulates in states of oxidative stress. We hypothesized that COH is elevated in septic trauma patients compared with nonseptic patients. Methods: A prospective study was carried out at a Level I trauma center involving all patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit. During a 3.5-month period, 45 patients were enrolled, with 76 samples being drawn on admission and at later time points. The samples were classified as septic (Bone's criteria), stressed (based on expired gas analysis), or nonstressed nonseptic. Correlations with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score, white blood cell count, temperature, partial pressure of oxygen, and percentage of inspired oxygen were evaluated. Results: COH levels in samples drawn from patients presenting in shock (systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mm Hg) were significantly higher than levels in samples from patients not in shock (systolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg) (3.27 ± 1.09 vs. 2.75 ± 0.64; p = 0.013). Samples from septic patients with infection were associated with significantly higher Injury Severity Scores (34.1 ± 11.2 vs. 21.8 ± 18.3; p ≤ 0.05) and a lower percentage of inspired oxygen (41.6 ± 10.3 vs. 61.0 ± 26.3; p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: COH was significantly elevated in samples drawn during stress, sepsis, and shock states. There was overlap between sepsis and stress COH sample values, limiting the clinical usefulness of the assays in predicting sepsis. Further studies focusing on hemeoxygenase-1 expression and the role of its by-products in the outcomes of trauma patients are warranted.

Management of a patient with a closed head injury is based on neurologic status and computerized tomography scan results. We hypothesized that those patients with an epidural hematoma (EDH) or subdural hematoma (SDH)1 cm in thickness could safely be treated nonoperatively.We retrospectively reviewed charts of 204 consecutive patients with either an EDH or SDH.There were 122 lesionsor =1 cm and 82 lesions1 cm. In the first group, 115 were managed nonoperatively, with 111 good outcomes (minimal deficit with a Rancho Los Amigos score [RLAS]or =3), two poor outcomes (severely disabled with RLAS3), and two deaths. Twenty-eight patients with lesions greater than 1 cm had concomitant cerebral edema (CE) with an 89% mortality rate. The mortality rate in this group without CE was 20%, demonstrating the presence of CE in this group may have adversely affected the mortality rate, regardless of intervention.This data suggests that EDH or SDH1 cm thick can be safely managed nonoperatively unless there is concomitant CE.

Background: Not all field triage patients need full trauma team activation. Secondary emergency department (ED) triage (supertriage), a clinical and anatomic screen, determines trauma team versus ED management. The purpose was to study the effects of supertriage on injury severity and disposition by patients managed with and without team activation. Methods: Observational study of consecutive patients transported for alert consideration undergoing supertriage by a trauma nurse. Chart review was performed for disposition and Injury Severity Score. Contingency table or t test with p < 0.05 was used for data analysis. Results: One hundred ninety patients were screened; 74% of the 54 with positive supertriage and team activation needed the operating room in 24 hours or the intensive care unit versus 46% of cases with negative supertriage managed in the ED and admitted (p = 0.015). Of the 35 admitted ED patients, 10 required the operating room and 6 required the intensive care unit. Conclusions: Supertriage identified a majority requiring team activation; however, resources must be available for the seriously injured not meeting field or hospital triage criteria.

BACKGROUND The impact of initial clinical decisions on the long-term quality of life and functional outcome of patients who undergo damage-control laparotomy (DCL) is unknown. We hypothesized that early abdominal closure after DCL improves long-term outcomes. METHODS Patients (2005-2011) who underwent DCL (n = 140) at our Level I trauma center were identified. A total of 108 patients survived their hospitalization, and 15 died following discharge. Of the remaining 93 survivors, 59 were unreachable and not present in the social security death index. Our final study population of 34 survivors prospectively completed a standardized study questionnaire, the SF-36 health survey, and inpatient and outpatient records were reviewed. Survivors were compared on the basis of time with final abdominal closure (early, 7 days; either primary closure or Vicryl mesh), and study variables were analyzed. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Our study population was primarily male (82%) of varying age (36 [13]) and mechanism (blunt 56%, penetrating 44%) with severe injuries (mean [SD] Injury Severity Score [ISS], 17 [8]). Despite no differences in age, sex, mechanism, ISS, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, or admission systolic blood pressure, early-closure patients (n = 13) had shorter hospital (25 days vs. 57 days) and intensive care unit (12 days vs. 20 days) stays and, upon long-term follow-up, higher physical (54 vs. 18), emotional (86 vs. 44), and general health (66 vs. 50) SF-36 scores than late-closure patients (n = 21) (all p < 0.05). Early-closure patients had less daily pain (38% vs. 95%), had higher overall SF-36 scores (66 vs. 46), and were more likely to return to work (54% vs. 10%) than late-closure patients (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Early clinical decisions impact the lives of critically injured patients. Abdominal closure within 7 days of DCL improves long-term quality of life and functional outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.

Objectives To evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy, impact on hemodynamic and oxygen transport variables, safety profiles, and cost efficiency of sedation and anxiolysis with lorazepam vs. continuous infusion of midazolam in critically ill, intensive care unit patients. Design Multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label study. Setting Teaching hospitals. Patients Ninety-five critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheters in place were randomly assigned to receive short-term (8 hrs) sedation with either intermittent intravenous injection lorazepam (group A, n = 50) or continuous intravenous infusion midazolam (group B, n = 45) titrated to clinical response. Measurements and main results The severity of illness, demographic characteristics, levels of anxiety and agitation, hemodynamic parameters, oxygen transport variables, quality of sedation, nursing acceptance, and laboratory chemistries reflecting drug safety were recorded. There were no significant differences with regard to demographic data, hemodynamic and oxygen transport variables, or levels of anxiety/agitation between the two groups at baseline, 5 mins, 30 mins, and 4 and 8 hrs after administration of sedation. There were no significant differences in the quality of sedation or anxiolysis. Midazolam-treated patients used significantly larger amounts of drug for similar levels of sedation and anxiolysis (14.4 +/- 1.2 mg/8 hrs vs. 1.6 +/- 0.1 mg/8 hrs, p = .001). Both drugs were safely administered and patient and nurse satisfaction was similar. Conclusions Sedation and anxiolysis with lorazepam and midazolam in critically ill patients is safe and clinically effective. Hemodynamic and oxygen transport variables are similarly affected by both drugs. The dose of midazolam required for sedation is much larger than the dose of lorazepam required for sedation, and midazolam is therefore less cost-efficient.

To assess the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing cardiac contusions in patients with blunt trauma.For more than a decade, noninvasive tests, including ECGs, cardiac enzymes, nuclear studies, and transthoracic echocardiography have been utilized in an attempt to identify trauma patients with cardiac injuries. These tests have been imperfect in identifying the patients at high risk for mortality.We retrospectively reviewed the charts in 22 patients with transesophageal echocardiographically diagnosed cardiac contusions noting age, race, sex, transthoracic echocardiographic examinations, study quality, and outcome. We also noted the Injury Severity Score, which is a measure of the severity of illness in trauma patients. Higher scores correlate more severe injury and higher mortality. We defined cardiac contusions as presence of wall motion abnormality, including either or both ventricles, in the absence of transmural myocardial infarction on ECG following nonpenetrating chest trauma.Over a 30-month period, 81 transesophageal echocardiographic examinations were performed on trauma patients. Among this group, 22 patients were diagnosed as having cardiac contusions. There were 15 patients with right ventricular contusions, 7 patients with left ventricular contusions, and 2 patients with both ventricles involved. We compared this group with all ICU trauma patients admitted to the hospital during this time period. Overall, the contusion patients had an average Injury Severity Score of 27 and a mortality of 27% compared with the overall trauma group with an Injury Severity Score of 33 and a corresponding mortality of 9% (p0.001). Corresponding ECGs were nondiagnostic in 73% of patients with cardiac contusion. There were no complications related to the transesophageal examinations.Transesophageal echocardiographically diagnosed cardiac contusion in trauma patients carries a high mortality rate. Transesophageal examinations are safe and provide excellent quality images where transthoracic examinations were inadequate. Right ventricular contusions are approximately twice as common as left ventricular contusions.

The relative infrequency of blunt carotid artery trauma prompted a multicenter review to determine the spectrum of injuries, treatment strategies, and neurologic outcome. During a six-year period, 60 carotid artery injuries from blunt mechanisms in 49 patients were treated at 11 institutions. There were 11 bilateral injuries. Injury mechanisms were diverse but involved motor vehicles in 35 (72%) patients. In 14 (29%) patients, significant neurologic deficits developed more than 12 hours after a normal admission neurologic examination. The diagnosis was confirmed by angiography in 42 (86%). Duplex ultrasound accurately demonstrated the arterial injury in 12 (86%) of 14 patients. Documented injuries included arterial thrombosis in 20 arteries, arterial dissection alone in 19, dissection with pseudoaneurysm in six, pseudoaneurysm alone in five, frank arterial disruption in seven, and carotid-cavernous fistula in three. Arterial dissection was managed nonsurgically in 15 (79%) of 19 cases, the majority with systemic anticoagulation. Arterial thrombosis was managed with supportive therapy alone for 16 (80%) of 20 arteries; most associated with fixed neurologic deficits. Pseudoaneurysm repair was performed for six (55%) injuries. Carotid-cavernous fistulas were treated in all three instances with balloon occlusion. Overall mortality was 16 of 49 patients (43%). Good neurologic outcome was achieved in 22 (45%) patients. We conclude that: (1) Neurologic symptoms may develop in a delayed fashion; prior clinical suspicion and diagnostic testing are essential; (2) arterial dissection without complete occlusion may effectively be managed by anticoagulation; (3) pseudoaneurysms in accessible anatomic locations can be repaired with good results; and (4) injuries with complete arterial thrombosis are associated with high mortality and poor neurologic outcome in proportion to the initial degree of neurologic impairment.

Despite the establishment of evidence-based guidelines for the resuscitation of critically injured patients who have sustained cardiopulmonary arrest, rapid decisions regarding patient salvageability in these situations remain difficult even for experienced physicians. Regardless, survival is limited after traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest. One applicable, well-described resuscitative technique is the emergency department thoracotomy-a procedure that, when applied correctly, is effective in saving small but significant numbers of critically injured patients. By understanding the indications, technical details, and predictors of survival along with the inherent risks and costs of emergency department thoracotomy, the physician is better equipped to make rapid futile versus salvageable decisions for this most severely injured subset of patients.

The prognosis for patients with return of spontaneous circulation after trauma-related cardiac arrest (TRCA) is unclear. Our purpose was to (1) determine outcomes for patients with TRCA resuscitated and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), (2) identify ICU-based predictors of in-hospital death in this population, and (3) compare outcomes of patients resuscitated from TRCA and atraumatic cardiac arrest (ATCA).We performed a cohort study using a registry of ICU admissions from 120 US hospitals from 2001 to 2005. Inclusion criteria were age17 years, admission to ICU via the emergency department, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation preceding ICU arrival. The primary outcome measure was survival to hospital discharge. We compared TRCA and ATCA using binomial test and performed multivariable logistic regression to determine independent predictors of death among trauma subjects.A total of 4,048 subjects were included (309 TRCA and 3,739 nonTRCA). Forty percent of trauma subjects survived. Independent predictors of death among trauma subjects included persistent postresuscitation cardiovascular failure in the ICU and presentation to a nontrauma center. Despite being younger and having fewer comorbidities, subjects with TRCA had lower survival than subjects with ATCA (40% vs. 49%, p = 0.003).Despite lower survival than ATCAs, a significant percentage of TRCAs surviving to ICU admission were discharged alive. This suggests aggressive support of this population is not necessarily futile. Investigation into whether optimization of postresuscitation factors would improve outcome for these patients may be warranted.

During the past decade there has been a shift in the management of injuries of the colon to primary repair without a protective diverting colostomy. Unfortunately, reports concerning this practice contain relatively few patients with blunt trauma and it is unclear whether the principles established for penetrating injury should be applied in the setting of blunt colon injury. A retrospective review of 54,361 major blunt trauma patients admitted to nine regional trauma centers from January 1, 1986, through December 31, 1990, was conducted. Statistical analysis of the data collected regarding 286 (0.5%) of these patients who suffered colonic injury revealed: (1) injury to the colon is found in more than 10% of patients undergoing laparotomy following blunt trauma; (2) available diagnostic modalities are unreliable in detecting isolated colonic pathology; (3) primary repair of full-thickness injuries or resection and anastomosis may be safely performed without diversion; (4) gross fecal contamination is the strongest contraindication to primary repair. Further, delay of surgery, shock, and the timing of antibiotic administration were not associated with significantly increased morbidity.

The use of Abbreviated Injury Scaling for the head region (HAIS) was evaluated as a prognostic index of functional outcome in 503 consecutive patients with severe injury to the brain who survived initial resuscitation. Although a strong statistical relationship between HAIS and outcome as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale was demonstrated, its clinical usefulness is limited. HAIS may be most useful as a classifier for comparative studies of populations and for the evaluation of therapeutic modalities.

The combined effects of intensity of treatment and length of stay during inpatient rehabilitation hospitalization on the outcomes of 95 traumatic brain injury patients were examined. Outcome was assessed using the Rancho Scale and three measures of functional status--physical performance, higher-level cognitive skills, and cognitively mediated physical skills. The effects of intensity of treatment and length of stay were assessed using 2 x 2 analyses of variance with repeated measures. The results showed clearly that both length of stay and intensity of treatment affect outcomes. Patients in the long length of stay group consistently made more progress across all outcome variables than patients in the short length of stay group. However, the greater progress of the long length of stay patients was from a point significantly more disabled than that of the short length of stay patients, with improvement at discharge to the point at which the groups were now equal. The effect of intensity of treatment was significant or closely approached significance for higher-level cognitive skills and Rancho Level. In the long length of stay group, the two intensity groups were initially equivalent, but at discharge the high-intensity group surpassed the low-intensity group. The practical implications of the results are discussed.

During a 5-year period, 74 patients with pancreatic injuries were managed by distal pancreatic resection at nine referral trauma centers. Patient ages ranged from 4 to 72 years. Injury mechanism was blunt trauma in 34 (46%) patients, gunshot wound in 27 (36%), stab wound in 11 (15%), and shotgun blast in two (3%). There were 19 class II, 50 class III, and 5 class IV pancreatic injuries. The resection comprised up to 33% of the pancreas in 21 (28%) patients, from 34% to 66% in 45 (61%), and greater than 67% in eight (11%). The pancreatic resection margin was closed with staples in 44 (59%), silk sutures in 20 (27%), and polypropylene sutures in eight (11%). Of 32 patients in whom the spleen was uninjured, the spleen was left intact in 17 (53%). There were nine (12%) deaths. The cause of death was irreversible shock in three patients, multiple organ failure in five, and severe head injury in one. Pancreas-related complications occurred in 32 (45%) of 71 patients who survived the initial operation. Intra-abdominal abscess developed in 24 patients; 11 were managed by percutaneous drainage alone. Pancreatic fistula developed in 10 patients; eight closed spontaneously from 6 to 54 days. Other pancreas-related morbidity included pancreatitis (6), pseudocyst (2), and hemorrhage (2). Exocrine insufficiency was not evident in any patient and diet-controlled hyperglycemia occurred in one individual following 80% pancreatic resection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The experience of eight trauma centers with duodenal injuries was analyzed to identify trends in operative management, sources of duodenal-related morbidity, and causes of mortality. During the 5-year period ending December 1988, 164 duodenal injuries were identified. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 78 years. There were 38 Class I, 70 Class II, 48 Class III, four Class IV, and four Class V injuries. Injury mechanism was penetrating in 102 (62%) patients and blunt in 62. Primary repair of the duodenal injury was performed in 117 (71%) patients, including 27 patients also managed with pyloric exclusion and 12 with tube duodenostomy. Duodenal resection with primary anastomosis was used in six (4%) patients and pancreatoduodenectomy was necessary in five (3%). There were 30 (18%) deaths. The cause of death was uncontrolled hemorrhage from severe hepatic or vascular injuries in 22 (73%) patients. In only two (1%) patients could death be attributed to the duodenal injury; each as the result of duodenal repair dehiscence and subsequent sepsis. Duodenal-related morbidity was documented in 29 (18%) patients, including 22 patients with intra-abdominal abscess, six with duodenal fistula, and five with frank duodenal dehiscence. In summary, this analysis demonstrated: 1) the great majority of duodenal injuries can be managed by simple repair; 2) tube duodenostomy is not a mandatory component of operative treatment; 3) pyloric exclusion is a useful adjunct for more complex injuries; 4) pancreatoduodenectomy is rarely necessary for civilian duodenal trauma; 5) morbidity following duodenal trauma is more dependent on associated intra-abdominal injuries than the extent of duodenal trauma; and 6) mortality following duodenal injuries is primarily related to associated vascular and hepatic trauma.

Background: National guidelines recommend that patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of less than 14 be triaged to trauma centers. We hypothesized that the motor component of the GCS (GCSM) would be equally sensitive as the total GCS in head injury triage. Methods: A 2-year retrospective review of 3,235 injured adults transported directly to a Level I trauma center. Results: One thousand four hundred ten patients (44%) had prehospital GCS scores recorded. GCSM was found to have a sensitivity of 0.90 for Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score = 5 head injury and 0.61 for AIS score > 3 injury, whereas the GCS had sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.62, respectively (p = not significant). Specificities were equal at 0.85 for AIS score = 5 and 0.89 for AIS score > 3. Conclusion: GCSM is equivalent to GCS for prehospital triage, and in view of its simplicity it should replace the GCS in triage schemes.

Study Objective We sought to describe the epidemiology of emergency department (ED) patients with blunt head injury undergoing cranial computed tomography (CT) scanning for the evaluation of possible traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Prospective, multicenter, observational study of ED patients undergoing cranial CT after blunt head injury. Patient's date of birth, sex, and race/ethnicity were documented before CT scanning. Individual patients were considered to have “significant” TBI if the official radiographic interpretation at the end of all imaging studies associated with the trauma was consistent with any of a set of predefined diagnoses. The relative prevalence of TBI among various prespecified groups from those undergoing cranial CT scanning was also calculated. Results Of 13 728 patients who were enrolled, 8988 (65%) were men and 1193 (8.7%) had a significant acute TBI. Demographic findings associated with increased risk of TBI, among patients selected for scanning, included the following: age below 10 years (relative risk [RR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.77); age above 65 years (RR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.40-1.80), and male sex (RR = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.30-1.43). Conclusion Among patients selected for cranial CT scanning after blunt head injury, men, patients younger than 10 years, and those older than 65 years have an increased likelihood of significant TBI.

Purpose: This article assessed the value of routine head computerized axial tomographic (CT) scans for diagnosis of unsuspected facial fractures and its clinical implications in the multiply injured patient who is intubated, unconscious, or sedated at the time of initial assessment and requires a head CT scan to assess for brain injury. Methods: At a level I trauma center from June 1, 1992 to June 1, 1993 all intubated blunt trauma patients who required routine CT scan evaluation at initial assessment were studied prospectively. Routine scanning started at the foramen magnum and included the maxilla. Patients who died within the first 24 hours were excluded. Results: The study population included 116 patients (85 male, 21 female) aged 12 to 85 years (mean, 28 years) with injury severity scores ranging from 1 to 50 (mean, 23). The mechanism of injury was: motor vehicle accidents (n = 74), motorcycling (n = 5), pedestrians accidents (n = 13), falls (n = 10), bicycling (n = 5), assaults (n = 8), and boating accident (n = 1). There were 19 suspected facial fractures; 18 required surgical repair. There were 27 unsuspected facial fractures; 13 required surgical care. Three suspected fractures were ruled out. Conclusion: Routine head CT scans to assess for brain injury in the multiply injured patient are also very useful in the diagnosis of unsuspected facial fractures, almost half of which will require surgical intervention.

Wounds of the back and flank pose a risk of injury to retroperitoneal structures which may be missed on physical examination. Recently, a selective approach to these wounds has been advocated. In order to document the incidence, management, and outcome of patients with penetrating wounds of the back and flank, we undertook a retrospective review of patients admitted over the past 5 years. Twenty-nine patients with penetrating posterior abdominal wounds were reviewed. There were 17 stab wounds and 12 gunshot wounds. All six patients who exhibited haemodynamic instability or abnormalities on physical examination underwent emergency laparotomy. The remaining 23 patients were admitted for observation. All patients underwent physical examination, abdominal radiographs, and urinalysis. Nine underwent IVP. Eight patients had abdominal CTs. No peritoneal lavages were performed. There were no missed injuries, no deaths and no delayed operations. There were two complications in the operative group, and one liver abscess in the nonoperative group. We conclude that selective management is a safe approach in penetrating posterior abdominal trauma without obvious indications for laparotomy.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis remains a diagnostic challenge in critically ill trauma patients. Laboratory studies are nonspecific and associated injuries or mental status changes may mask clinical signs and symptoms. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the utility of ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute acalculous cholecystitis. We hypothesized that ultrasound is inadequate as a screening tool for acute acalculous cholecystitis. The abdominal ultrasounds of all patients undergoing evaluation for acute acalculous cholecystitis in a 40-month period at our Level I trauma center were reviewed. Thickened gallbladder wall, pericholecystic fluid and emphysematous gallbladder were considered positive sonographic criteria. Sludge, cholelithiasis, and hydrops were considered suggestive. Patients who did not undergo cholecystectomy had their gallbladders evaluated either during subsequent laparotomy or at autopsy or they were discharged from the hospital without need for intervention. Sixty-two patients were included. Twenty-one patients underwent cholecystectomy for presumed acute acalculous cholecystitis. The data revealed a sensitivity of 30 per cent (6/20) and a specificity of 93 per cent (39/42) for ultrasound evaluation. Twenty patients had subsequent hepatobiliary scans [hepato-iminodiacetic acid (HIDA)] with a sensitivity of 100 per cent (12/12) and specificity of 88 per cent (7/8). Our data do not support ultrasound as a reliable routine screening tool for acute acalculous cholecystitis. Despite its convenience as a bedside procedure ultrasound has insufficient sensitivity to justify its use and a more sensitive diagnostic tool should be used.

Trauma patients are at significant risk for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Anticoagulation is standard therapy for DVT/PE, but may cause severe complications. We reviewed the course of 70 trauma ICU patients treated over a 28-month period. Thirty-six patients (51.4 percent) were treated by continuous IV heparin and/or oral warfarin. Of these, 13 patients (36 percent) developed complications requiring termination of anticoagulation. These included recurrent PE (four), subdural hematomas (three), hemothorax (two), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (one), hemorrhagic pericardial effusion (one), retroperitoneal hematoma (one), and sudden unexplained drop in hemoglobin and shock (one). All patients with subdural hematomas had no prior evidence of head injury on brain computed tomography. All patients with recurrent PE received adequate anticoagulation therapy. Age > 55 was associated with increased risk of complications (8 of 13; p = .02:chi 2). Thirty-four other patients (48.6 percent) received inferior vena caval filters with no related complications or deaths. Anticoagulation for DVT/PE should be used selectively in trauma patients and avoided in elderly patients. Such patients should undergo early caval filter placement.

Background: Construction of gastrointestinal anastomoses utilizing stapling devices has become a familiar procedure. In elective surgery, studies have shown no significant differences in complications between stapled and sutured anastomoses. Controversy has recently arisen regarding the accurate incidence of complications associated with anastomoses in the trauma patient. The objective of this multi-institutional study was to determine whether the incidence of postoperative complications differs between stapled and sutured anastomoses following the emergent repair of traumatic bowel injuries. Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, all trauma registry records from five Level I trauma centers over a period of 4 years were reviewed. Results: A total of 199 patients with 289 anastomoses were identified. A surgical stapling device was used to create 175 separate anastomoses, while a hand-sutured method was employed in 114 anastomoses. A complication was defined as an anastomotic leak verified at reoperation, an intra-abdominal abscess, or an enterocutaneous fistula. The mean abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score and Injury Severity Score were similar in the two cohort groups. Stapling and suturing techniques were evenly distributed in both small and large bowel repairs. Seven of the total 175 stapled anastomoses and none of the 114 hand-sewn anastomoses resulted in a clinically significant leak requiring reoperation (RR = undefined, 95% CI 1.08-infinity, p = 0.04). Each anastomotic leak occurred in a separate individual. Nineteen stapled anastomoses and four sutured anastomoses were associated with an intra-abdominal abscess (RR = 2.7, 95% CI 0.96-7.57, p = 0.04). Enterocutaneous fistula formation was not statistically associated with either type of anastomoses (stapled cohort = 3 of 175 and sutured cohort = 2 of 114). Overall, 22 (13%) stapled anastomoses and 6 (5%) sutured anastomoses were associated with an intra-abdominal complication (RR = 2.08, 95% Cl 0.89-4.86,p = 0.076). Conclusion: Anastomotic leaks and intra-abdominal abscesses appear to be more likely with stapled bowel repairs compared with sutured anastomoses in the injured patient. Caution should be exercised in deciding to staple a bowel anastomosis in the trauma patient.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of age and gender to outcome after treatment of blunt splenic injury in adults. Methods: Through the Multi-Institutional Trials Committee of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), 1488 adult patients from 27 trauma centers who suffered blunt splenic injury in 1997 were examined retrospectively. Results: Fifteen percent of patients were 55 years of age or older. A similar proportion of patients ≥ 55 went directly to the operating room compared with patients < 55 (41% vs. 38%) but the mortality for patients ≥ 55 was significantly greater than patients < 55 (43% vs. 23%). Patients ≥ 55 failed nonoperative management (NOM) more frequently than patients < 55 (19% vs. 10%) and had increased mortality for both successful NOM (8% vs. 4%, p < 0.05) and failed NOM (29% vs. 12%, p = 0.054). There were no differences in immediate operative treatment, successful NOM, and failed NOM between men and women. However, women ≥ 55 failed NOM more frequently than women < 55 (20% vs. 7%) and this was associated with increased mortality (36% vs. 5%) (both p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients ≥ 55 had a greater mortality for all forms of treatment of their blunt splenic injury and failed NOM more frequently than patients < 55. Women ≥ 55 had significantly greater mortality and failure of NOM than women < 55.

All victims of major blunt trauma have been said to be at risk of cervical spinal injury. In a prospective study of 410 such patients at our institution, we identified 13 patients (6.12 per cent) with unstable cervical spines. Loss or defect of consciousness following injury (regardless of duration), neurological deficit consistent with cervical cord or nerve root injury and neck tenderness were significantly predictive of an unstable cervical spine. Immediate radiographic investigation of the cervical spine is mandatory in such patients, but may not be required in patients without these signs.

To determine the incidence and clinical significance of otitis media in traumatized adults requiring intubation, 67 adult trauma patients admitted to a level-I trauma center over a 6-month period who required three or more days of intubation were examined otoscopically for the presence of otitis media. Eleven of these intubated brain-injured patients had otitis and upon examination all were found to have purulent paranasal sinusitis as well. In conclusion, all intubated patients with severe head injuries should be evaluated otoscopically for the presence of otitis and those patients with otitis should be examined for the presence of sinusitis.

Study objective: We evaluated the importance of microscopic and gross hematuria and the role of retrograde cystography and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of blunt traumatic bladder rupture. Design: All cases at a Level I trauma center between January 1, 1986, and March 31, 1989, were reviewed retrospectively. Setting: Level I trauma center, university hospital. Type of participants: All patients with acute blunt abdominal trauma admitted to this Level I trauma center. Interventions: The patients' charts were reviewed with emphasis on mode of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Measurements and main results: Twenty-one patients had bladder rupture. All 21 had hematuria with more than 50 RBCs/high-power field, 17 gross and four microscopic. Twenty patients underwent retrograde cystography, which accurately identified bladder rupture, and one was found at laparotomy for other injuries. Seven patients had CT of the abdomen and pelvis, which failed to demonstrate bladder rupture. There were no associated urethral injuries in any of the patients with bladder rupture. Conclusion: Significant (more than 50 RBCs/high-power field) hematuria is the principal indication for evaluation for blunt bladder injury, and retrograde cystography is the diagnostic procedure of choice. CT is neither sensitive nor specific enough as primary diagnostic modality.

Airway control is the initial priority in the management of the injured patient. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the experience of an aeromedical transport team in the utilization of rapid sequence induction (RSI) for endotracheal intubation in the prehospital setting. Records of a consecutive series of injured patients undergoing RSI between June 1988 and July 1992 by a university-based aeromedical transport team were reviewed for demographics, intubation mishaps, and pulmonary complications. The relationship between intubation mishaps and pulmonary complications was analyzed. Eighty-four patients were studied with a mean age of 30.8 +/- 15.3 years. The mean Revised Trauma Score was 11.3 +/- 2.4, and the mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 19.6 +/- 11.5. Intubation mishaps occurred in 15 patients (18%), and pulmonary complications developed in 22 (29%) of the 75 patients surviving longer than 24 hours. There was no relationship between intubation mishaps and pulmonary complications. Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) face score was significantly higher in patients with intubation mishaps, compared with patients without mishaps (1.1 +/- 1.2 and 0.5 +/- 0.9, respectively, P.05, Wilcoxon rank-sum). ISS and AIS chest were higher in patients with pulmonary complications, compared with those without (25.7 +/- 12.6 and 17.4 +/- 10.3 and 2.2 +/- 1.8 and 1.0 +/- 1.5, ISS and AIS respectively; P.05, Wilcoxon rank-sum). Eighty-one patients (96%) underwent successful RSI, 73 (87%) on the first attempt. Failure to intubate occurred in three patients (4%). Performed under strict protocol by appropriately trained aeromedical transport personnel, RSI is an effective means to facilitate endotracheal intubation in the injured patient requiring definitive airway control. Pulmonary complications were related to injury severity and not to intubation mishaps.

Background: Ureteral injuries are uncommon, and the necessity, accuracy, and optimal use of perioperative testing remains unknown. Delays in diagnosis have also been associated with significant morbidity, including loss of renal function. Study Design: The records of all patients (n = 20) admitted with ureteral injuries to two Level I trauma centers during a 5-year period were reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, degree of associated injuries, and presence of gross or microscopic hematuria. The use of any pre- or intraoperative testing was specifically noted. The location of the ureteral injury was obtained from the operative notes. The morbidity and mortality associated with ureteral injuries in the primarily diagnosed and the delayed groups were assessed. Presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic testing, and the urologic management of the patients in the delayed group were reviewed. Results: All patients were men whose ages ranged from 15 to 72 years, with a mean age of 29. The mechanisms of injury were gunshot wounds in 15, stab wounds in 4, and blunt vehicular trauma in 1. Excluding other urologic injuries, the incidence of hematuria related to the ureteral injury alone was 53%. A total of 10 pre- and intraoperative studies were performed, only 2 demonstrated the ureteral injury. Seventeen patients had their injuries diagnosed primarily. In this group, the ureter was repaired by suturing and stenting in 12, suturing without a stent in 1 and ureterocystostomy in 4. Delayed diagnosis of their ureteral injuries occurred in three patients. All three missed injuries occurred in the upper portion of the left ureter. All ureters were successfully repaired. There were no mortalities in this group, nor did any patient require a nephrectomy. Conclusions: Direct visualization of the injury is the best and most accurate diagnostic modality in ureteral trauma. These results reinforce that a thorough exploration of all retroperitoneal hematomas after penetrating trauma remain an integral part of the total abdominal exploration for trauma.

Study objective Determine reintubation rate, identify its cause, and detail adverse outcomes from reintubation. Design Retrospective review of extubation failures in the trauma ICU. Setting University hospital and regional trauma center. Patients Four hundred five patients arriving intubated or requiring intubation during hospitalization after 2,516 traumatic injury admissions over 18 months. Interventions None. Results Reintubation incidence was 7% (27 times per 405 patients). Comparative mortality of the reintubated group (2/24=8%) is similar to overall trauma center mortality (224/2516=6.5%), but less than the cohort of patients admitted to the hospital intubated (63/405=16%). Reintubated patients had an increased frequency of stridor than reported previously (33%), and an increased tracheostomy rate (62% vs 30%). Stridor was not predictable from injury severity score, Glasgow coma score, age, sex, length of intubation, or place of intubation. Pulmonary complications (atelectasis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia) developed in half of reintubated patients; stridorous patients did not have an increased rate of pulmonary complications. Conclusion Reintubation in trauma ICU patients does not predict poor outcome.

HYPOTHESIS: Emergency cesarean sections in trauma patients are not justified and should be abandoned. SETTING AND DESIGN: A multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study was conducted of level 1 trauma centers. METHODS: Trauma admissions from nine level 1 trauma centers from January 1986 through December 1994 were reviewed. Pregnant women who underwent emergency cesarean sections were identified. Demographic and clinical data were obtained on all patients undergoing a cesarean section. Fetal distress was defined by bradycardia, deceleration, or lack of fetal heart tones (FHTs). Maternal distress was defined by shock (systolic blood pressure < 90) or acute decompensation. Statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 114,952 consecutive trauma admissions, more than 441 pregnant women required 32 emergency cesarean sections. All were performed for fetal distress, maternal distress, or both. Overall, 15 (45%) of the fetuses and 23 (72%) of the mothers survived. Of 33 fetuses delivered, 13 had no FHTs and none survived. Twenty infants (potential survivors) had FHTs and an estimated gestational age (EGA) of greater than or equal to 26 weeks, and 75% survived. Infant survival was independent of maternal distress or maternal Injury Severity Score. The five infant deaths in the group of potential survivors resulted from delayed recognition of fetal distress, and 60% of these deaths were in mothers with mild to moderate injuries (Injury Severity Score < 16). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant trauma patients, infant viability is defined by the presence of FHTs, estimated gestational age greater than or equal to 26 weeks. In viable infants, survival after emergency cesarean section is acceptable (75%). Infant survival is independent of maternal distress or Injury Severity Score. Sixty percent of infant deaths resulted from delay in recognition of fetal distress and cesarean section. These were potentially preventable. Given the definition of fetal viability, our initial hypothesis is invalid.

Study objective: To determine indications for thoracolumbar radiography. Design: Case series with prospective data collection. Setting: Level I trauma center. Participants: Blunt-trauma victims more than 12 years old who underwent routine thoracic and lumbar radigraphy according to institutional protocol. Patients were classified as group 1, not able to be evaluated clinically (Glasgow Coma Scale score of less than 13, intoxication, intubation, or cervical neurologic deficit); and group 2, able to be evaluated clinically. Results: Twenty-four of 319 patients sustained 25 thoracic or lumbar fractures. Seven of 136 group 1 patients and 17 of 183 group 2 patients had fractures. Eight of 17 patients with pain and 9 of 17 with tenderness had fractures ( P =.001). No group 2 patients without pain, tenderness, thoracic or lumbar neurodeficit, or major distracting injury, including cervical fracture, had fractures. The negative predictive value of pain and tenderness was 95%. Five of 46 patients with spinal fractures at any level had multiple fractures. Conclusion: Blunt-trauma victims who cannot be evaluated clinically should undergo thoracolumbar radiography. Routine radiography may be unnecessary in asymptomatic patients who can be evaluated clinically and who do not have neurologic deficits or distracting injuries. Spinal fracture at any level mandates complete spinal radiography. [Terregino CA, Ross SE, Lipinski MF, Foreman J, Hughes R: Selective indications for thoracic and lumbar radiography in blunt trauma. Ann Emerg Med August 1995;26:126-129.]

Exploratory coeliotomy is essential in the care of abdominal trauma, but negative operation has a reported morbidity rate as high as 18 per cent. Ancillary studies such as computerized tomography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage and abdominal ultrasound have improved both sensitivity and specificity of evaluation in blunt and penetrating trauma, thus decreasing the rate of negative coeliotomy. A retrospective study of 50 consecutive negative laparotomies (10.5 per cent of all trauma laparotomies) at our Trauma Center revealed a morbidity rate of 22 per cent and mortality of 6 per cent. Although the negative coeliotomy rate was lower for blunt than penetrating trauma, morbidity was significantly higher for blunt trauma. Extra-abdominal injury alone could not account for this difference. We conclude that negative coeliotomy in penetrating trauma does not carry excessive morbidity. Negative coeliotomy in blunt trauma is accompanied by high morbidity and mortality, so adjunct diagnostic procedures should be utilized in this population in an effort to minimize negative laparotomies.

Twenty-five patients underwent a colostomy that came to closure. There were eight blunt, 15 penetrating and two impaling injuries. Colostomy-related complications occurred in four patients; two wound infections, one stoma prolapse, one loop obstruction. Closure was performed during a second hospital stay after a standard mechanical bowel preparation and enteral and parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotics perioperatively. The procedure performed by board certified/eligible surgeons, lasted an average of 2.5–3h. Incisional hernias occurred as the only complication in two patients. For certain injuries of the colon, rectum and perineum, diverting colostomy is still the procedure of choice. It can be performed without significant additional morbidity. Subsequent closure in experienced hands does not carry a significant complication rate.

Objective: To compare relative costs of treating mildly head-injured patients by routine admission or by using skull radiographs or cranial computed tomography (CT) scanning to screen patients for admission. Design: Retrospective record review, hypothetical costs based on actual patient course and requirements. Setting: Southern New Jersey Regional trauma Center at Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center. Participants: 658 consecutive mildly head-injured patients admitted from 1986 to 1988. All were given cranial CT scans. Measurements: Records were reviewed retrospectively and hypothetical costs were calculated based on actual length of hospitalization, surgical intervention, etc. These costs were compared for different treatment protocols. Main results: The average cost if every patient had been admitted for observation given skull radiographs, with CT scans done on those exhibiting skull fracture or later deterioration, was $1,207, If the CT scan had been used to identify patients with intracranial lesions and the others had been discharged, costs would have been almost 10% less. Had skull radiography been used to screen admissions, costs would have been 22% below those of routine CT scanning. However, these small savings are likely to be reduced by additional expenses related to missed intracranial lesions. Conclusions: Every patient with loss of consciousness or post-traumatic amnesia should have routine CT scanning. If the scan is normal and there are no other reasons for admission, the patients can be discharged safely from the emergency department. This represents optimal care from a medical standpoint and is justified from a cost-effectiveness point of view.

Computer tomography (CT) is an effective technique in the initial evaluation of the abdomen and head following blunt trauma. To evaluate the role of CT of the thorax, a prospective study comparing routine early thoracic CT scanning with initial chest roentgenogram (CXR) was carried out on 73 patients with blunt torso trauma undergoing concomitant abdominal CT examination. Initial CXR and CT scans were interpreted independently by radiologists in a blinded fashion. CXR diagnosed more bony injuries than CT, while the CT identified pulmonary contusions and effusions more accurately. Only those contusions diagnosed by CXR proved clinically significant. Patient treatment was changed in one case based on CT findings. In the absence of CXR findings, chest CT scanning frequently identifies abnormalities with limited clinical significance. Although more sensitive, CT of the thorax has a limited role in the initial emergent evaluation of victims of blunt torso trauma. (Chest 1991; 100.-667-69)

Study objective: To investigate the necessity of intensive evaluation of the intoxicated patient with normal mentation for intra-abdominal injury after blunt torso trauma. Design: Retrospective study; trauma registry and medical records. Setting: Level I regional trauma center serving a population of 2.3 million. Participants: Adult victims of blunt trauma more than 17 years old, admitted between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1989, with suspected blunt abdominal injury and serum ethanol of more than 100 mg/dL and Glasgow Coma Score of 15. Intervention: All patients had serum ethanol levels measured in mg/dL and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and/or diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL). Results: Criteria were met by 92 patients. Eighty-nine underwent CT scans, two had DPL, and one had both. Of 17 patients complaining of abdominal pain and/or tenderness on palpation, six (35.3%) had blood in the peritoneal cavity demonstrated by CT scan or DPL and underwent celiotomy All 75 patients without abdominal pain or tenderness had negative CT scan or DPL, with no missed injury. Conclusion: In the intoxicated blunt trauma patient with normal mentation, the physical examination is a reliable indicator of abdominal injury. Elevated alcohol level; per se , should not be considered an absolute indication for DPL or abdominal CT.

In a 1-year retrospective review, 30 pulmonary emboli were diagnosed among 1,316 trauma patients who survived for at least 24 hours after admission to a Level I trauma center. Pelvic fractures, age over 55 years, severe single or multiple system trauma, and cannulation of central veins all appear to place injured patients at increased risk. Long bone fractures were not associated with an increased risk. The majority of pulmonary emboli were diagnosed during the first week of hospitalization with some as early as 24 hours and none later than 15 days postinjury. Although the etiology of these early emboli is uncertain, prolonged immobilization does not appear to play a role in placing these patients at increased risk for thromboembolic events. Pulmonary embolism should be suspected in any injured patient with respiratory compromise, and an aggressive approach to diagnosis is warranted.

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) may be difficult to establish in trauma patients, particularly those who are unresponsive or mechanically ventilated. Based on a prior retrospective study, we hypothesized that patients monitored by continuous pulse oximetry who experienced a 10% or greater sudden sustained drop in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) without a change in static lung compliance (Cst) were most likely to have had a PE. We followed SaO2 in 972 patients admitted to our trauma ICU during the 18-month period ending in December 1990. Forty-eight patients (5%) with SaO2 changes, but no Cst changes, were evaluated for suspected PE using pulmonary arteriography (PA). Of these, 21 (44%) had a positive PA study. All patients with a positive PA had either clear chest roentgenograms or no change in underlying pulmonary pathologic processes. Of the remainder, 26 had evidence of a new pathologic entity on chest roentgenograms and only one patient had a SaO2 decrease, no change in Cst, and a negative PA. All mechanically ventilated trauma patients should have SaO2 monitored continuously. Patients with a > 10% drop in Sao2 with no change in Cst and no new roentgenographic chest findings should undergo PA. Based on our experience, this approach would yield a sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of 100%, 99.9%, and 95%, respectively, for the diagnosis of clinically significant PE.

The identification of unstable cervical spine injury (UCSI) in blunt high-energy transfer injury (BHETI) patients is critical to management. In a prospective study of BHETI patients identified to be at high risk for UCSI, the use of lateral cervical spine view (LCV), three-view cervical spine series (FCS), and limited computerized tomography (CT) in the initial evaluation of these patients was analyzed. Thirteen of 204 patients sustained UCSI. Sensitivity of the LCV alone was 0.85 and the predictive value of the negative test was 0.97. Sensitivity and predictive value of a negative study were maximized by the use of FCS combined with CT when plain X-rays were inadequate. We conclude that technically adequate, normal FCS can be safely used to eliminate the presence of UCSI. If these studies are technically inadequate, the addition of a limited CT can be used to "clear" the spine.

Delay in diagnosis of musculoskeletal injury in multiply injured patients may potentially lead to functional or cosmetic disability in survivors. In an 18-month prospective study to determine the incidence and spectrum of delayed recognition of skeletal injury at our Level I trauma center, delayed diagnosis of 39 fractures was made in 26 of 1,006 consecutive blunt trauma patients. The delay in recognition ranged from 1-91 days. Twenty-one (55%) of the fractures were not X-rayed at the time of admission, but nine (23%) fractures were clearly visible on admission films. Four (10%) fractures were missed because of technically inadequate X-rays, and five (13%) had adequate X-rays but could not be identified on admission films. In only two instances was a second anesthetic exposure required for operative therapy. For the patients in this series, the delay of fracture identification was not felt to contribute to additional long-term cosmetic, functional, or neurologic problems. Continued clinical and radiologic surveillance is required in multiply injured patients to prevent musculoskeletal diagnostic failure.