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As a result of many years of research, the intricate cellular mechanisms of burn injury are slowly becoming clear. Yet, knowledge of these cellular mechanisms and a multitude of resulting studies have often failed to translate into improved clinical treatment for burn injuries. Perhaps the most valuable information to date is the years of clinical experience and observations in the management and treatment of patients, which has contributed to a gradual improvement in reported outcomes of mortality. This review provides a discussion of the cellular mechanisms and pathways involved in burn injury, resultant systemic effects on organ systems, current management and treatment, and potential therapies that we may see implemented in the future.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the improvement in lung donation and immediate lung function after the implementation of a 360° rotational positioning protocol within an organ procurement organization in the Midwest. DESIGN Retrospective observational study. SETTING The Midwest Transplant Network from 2005 to 2017. Rotational positioning of donors began in 2008. SUBJECTS Potential deceased lung donors. INTERVENTIONS A 360° rotational protocol. Presence of immediate lung function in recipients, change in PaO2:FIO2 ratio during donor management, initial and final PaO2:FIO2 ratio, and proportion of lungs donated were measured. Outcomes were compared between rotated and nonrotated donors. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 693 donors were analyzed. The proportion of lung donations increased by 10%. The difference between initial PaO2:FIO2 ratio and final PaO2:FIO2 ratio was significantly different between rotated and nonrotated donors (36 ± 116 vs 104 ± 148; p < 0.001). Lungs transplanted from rotated donors had better immediate function than those from nonrotated donors (99.5% vs 68%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS There was a statistically significant increase in lung donations after implementing rotational positioning of deceased donors. Rotational positioning significantly increased the average difference in PaO2:FIO2 ratios. There was also superior lung function in the rotated group. The authors recommend that organ procurement organizations consider adopting a rotational positioning protocol for donors to increase the lungs available for transplantation.

Microvascular inflammation occurs during resuscitation following hemorrhagic shock, causing multiple organ dysfunction and mortality. Preclinical evidence suggests that hypothermia may have some benefit in selected patients by decreasing this inflammation, but this effect has not been extensively studied. Intravital microscopy was used to visualize mesenteric venules of anesthetized rats in real time to evaluate leukocyte adherence and mast cell degranulation. Animals were randomly allocated to normotensive or hypotensive groups and further subdivided into hypothermic and normothermic resuscitation (n = 6 per group). Animals in the shock groups underwent mean arterial blood pressure reduction to 40 to 45 mmHg for 1 h via blood withdrawal. During the first 2 h following resuscitation by infusion of shed blood plus double that volume of normal saline, rectal temperature of the hypothermic groups was maintained at 32°C to 34°C, whereas the normothermic groups were maintained between 36°C to 38°C. The hypothermic group was then rewarmed for the final 2 h of resuscitation. Leukocyte adherence was significantly lower after 2 h of hypothermic resuscitation compared with normothermic resuscitation: (2.8 ± 0.8 vs. 8.3 ± 1.3 adherent leukocytes, P = 0.004). Following rewarming, leukocyte adherence remained significantly different between hypothermic and normothermic shock groups: (4.7 ± 1.2 vs. 9.5 ± 1.6 adherent leukocytes, P = 0.038). Mast cell degranulation index (MDI) was significantly decreased in the hypothermic (1.02 ± 0.04 MDI) versus normothermic (1.22 ± 0.07 MDI) shock groups (P = 0.038) after the experiment. Induced hypothermia during resuscitation following hemorrhagic shock attenuates microvascular inflammation in rat mesentery. Furthermore, this decrease in inflammation is carried over after rewarming takes place.

Intestinal malrotation is a well-known surgical disease in the pediatric population with 90 % of cases presenting by 1 year of age (Palmer et al. in Dig Dis Sci). Laparoscopic Ladd procedures have been described in the pediatric population with good outcomes, and there are limited data suggesting this as an acceptable approach in adults (Palmer et al. in Dig Dis Sci; Draus et al. in Am Surg 73:693–696, 2007; Bass et al. in J Pediatr Surg 33:279–281, 1998). To date, there have been no documented cases of robotic assistance for this procedure. In this case, we describe a 22-year-old female with intestinal malrotation who was treated successfully with the first described robotic-assisted laparoscopic Ladd procedure.

Jessica Heimes *, Elizabeth Carlton , Jessica McDonnell , Tracy Rogers , Khadi Udobi , Michael Moncure a Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas Medical Center, United States The University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, United States University of Kansas Hospital, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, United States b u r n s 3 9 ( 2 0 1 3 ) e 2 9 – e 3 3

BACKGROUND Rib fractures are common in trauma admissions and are associated with an increased risk of pulmonary complications, intensive care unit admissions, and mortality. Providing adequate pain control in patients with multiple rib fractures decreases the risk of adverse events. Thoracic epidural analgesia is currently the preferred method for pain control. This study compared outcomes in patients with multiple acute rib fractures treated with posterior paramedian subrhomboidal (PoPS) analgesia versus thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). METHODS This prospective study included 30 patients with three or more acute rib fractures admitted to a Level I trauma center. Thoracic epidural analgesia or PoPS catheters were placed, and local anesthesia was infused. Data were collected including patients' pain level, adjunct morphine equivalent use, adverse events, length of stay, lung volumes, and discharge disposition. Nonparametric tests were used and two-sided p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS Nineteen (63%) of 30 patients received TEA and 11 (37%) of 30 patients received PoPS. Pain rating was lower in the PoPS group (2.5 vs. 5; p = 0.03) after initial placement. Overall, there was no other statistically significant difference in pain control or use of oral morphine adjuncts between the groups. Hypotension occurred in eight patients, 75% with TEA and only 25% with PoPS. No difference was found in adverse events, length of stay, lung volumes, or discharge disposition. CONCLUSION In patients with rib fractures, PoPS analgesia may provide pain control equivalent to TEA while being less invasive and more readily placed by a variety of hospital staff. This pilot study is limited by its small sample size, and therefore additional studies are needed to prove equivalence of PoPS compared to TEA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.

We hypothesized that strict enforcement of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention (VAPP) strategies would decrease the incidence of VAP and improve patient outcomes.This retrospective study examined 696 consecutive ventilated patients in a Level One trauma center. Three study groups were compared: Pre-VAPP, VAPP implementation, and VAPP enforcement. Ventilator days were compared with occurrences of VAP, defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance criteria. Patients with and without VAP were compared to evaluate the effect of VAP on patient outcome. Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square analyses were used, and p0.05 was considered significant.During the pre-VAPP protocol period, 5.2 cases of VAP occurred per 1,000 days of ventilator support. The number of cases of VAP decreased to 2.4/1,000 days (p = 0.172) and 1.2/1,000 days (p = 0.085) in the implementation and enforcement periods, respectively. However, when including all trauma patients, regardless of head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) score, the difference in the rate of VAP was statistically significant in the enforcement period, but not in the implementation period, compared with the pre-VAPP period (p = 0.014 and 0.062, respectively). A significant decrease was seen in the mortality rate (p = 0.024), total hospital days (p = 0.007), intensive care unit days (p = 0.002), ventilator days (p = 0.002), and hospital charges (p = 0.03) in patients without VAP compared with patients having VAP.There was a statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of VAP with strict enforcement of a VAPP protocol, regardless of head AIS score. Although the difference in patients with a head AIS score3 was not statistically significant, it was clinically meaningful, decreasing the already-low rate of VAP by half. Strict enforcement of VAPP protocols may be cost efficient for hospitals and prevent decreased reimbursement under the Medicare pay-for-performance strategies.

Currently, specific triage criteria, such as blood pressure, respiratory status, Glasgow Coma Scale, and mechanism of injury are used to categorize trauma patients and prioritize emergency department (ED) and trauma team responses. It has been demonstrated in previous literature that an abnormal shock index (SI = heart rate [HR]/systolic blood pressure,0.9) portends a worse outcome in critically ill patients. Our study looked to evaluate the SI calculated in the field, on arrival to the ED, and the change between field and ED values as a simple and early marker to predict mortality in traumatically injured patients.A retrospective chart review of the trauma registry of an urban level I trauma center. Analysis of 2,445 patients admitted over 5 years with records in the trauma registry of which 1,166 also had data for the field SI. An increase in SI from the field to the ED was defined as any increase in SI regardless of the level of the magnitude of change.Twenty-two percent of patients reviewed had an ED SI0.9, with a mortality rate of 15.9% compared with 6.3% in patients with a normal ED SI. An increase in SI between the field and ED signaled a mortality rate of 9.3% versus 5.7% for patients with decreasing or unchanged SI. Patients with an increase in SI ofor=0.3 had a mortality rate of 27.6% versus 5.8% for patients with change in SI of0.3.Trauma patients with SI0.9 have higher mortality rates. An increase in SI from the field to the ED may predict higher mortality. The SI may be a valuable addition to other ED triage criteria currently used to activate trauma team responses.

We hypothesized that implementing evidence-based ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention (VAPP) strategies would decrease the incidence of VAP, and that VAP affects patient outcomes.A prospective study was performed with 331 consecutive ventilated trauma patients in a level one university teaching hospital. The VAPP protocol was modified to include elevation of the head of the bed more than 30 degrees , twice-daily chlorhexidine oral cleansing, a once-daily respiratory therapy-driven weaning attempt, and conversion from a nasogastric to an orogastric tube whenever possible. Ventilator days were compared with occurrences of nosocomial pneumonia, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance criteria. Patients with and without VAP were compared to discern the effect VAP has on outcome.In 2003, there were 1,600 days of ventilator support with 11 occurrences of VAP (6.9/1,000 ventilator days). In 2004, there were two occurrences of VAP in 703 days of ventilation (2.8/1,000 ventilator days). In the analysis of outcomes of the patients with and without VAP, there was a statistically significant difference in total hospital days (38.7 +/- 26.2 vs. 13.3 +/- 15.5), ICU days (27.8 +/- 12.6 vs. 7.5 +/- 9.7), ventilator days (21.1 +/- 9.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 10.3), Functional Independence Measures (7.25 +/- 2.3 vs. 10.8 +/- 1.8), and hospital charges ($371,416.70 +/- $227,774.31 vs. $138,317.39 +/- $208,346.64)(p0.05 for all). The mortality rate did not decrease significantly (20% vs. 7.5%; p = NS). The difference in the mean Injury Severity Score in the two groups was not significant (21.9 +/- 9.6 vs. 16.7 +/- 11.4 points) and thus could not account for the differences in outcomes.These data suggest that a VAPP protocol may reduce VAP in trauma patients. Ventilator-associated pneumonia may result in more hospital, ICU, and ventilator days and higher patient charges.

BACKGROUND Hemorrhagic shock-related leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells is a key step in microvascular injury-related organ damage. Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) metabolizes heme, a potent cytotoxic agent, to carbon monoxide and biliverdin. We hypothesized that changing HO-1 expression would change leukocyte adherence after hemorrhagic shock. METHODS Rats were administered hemin, zinc protoporphyrin, or vehicle 6 hours before surgery. HO-1 expression was determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in various tissues. Shock was induced in urethane-anesthetized animals by decreasing mean arterial blood pressure to 40 mm Hg for 60 minutes, followed by standard resuscitation measures. Leukocyte adherence was measured by intravital microscopy in rat mesenteric venules. RESULTS Hemin, hemorrhagic shock, and the combination resulted in significantly increased HO-1 expression, whereas zinc-protoporphyrin (ZNPP) resulted in significantly decreased leukocyte adherence. After hemorrhagic shock and hemin administration, leukocyte adherence was significantly decreased 60 minutes into resuscitation (7.92 +/- 2.29 vs. 4.84 +/- 0.71 cells/100 microm, p < 0.05) and significantly increased after ZNPP plus shock (14.08 +/- 3.95, p

Purpose: The surgical resident experience with trauma has changed. Many residents are exposed to predominantly nonoperative patient care experiences while on trauma rotations. Data from a large multicenter study were analyzed to estimate surgical resident exposure to trauma laparotomy, diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), and focused abdominal sonography for trauma (U/S). Methods: Centers completed a self-report questionnaire on their institutional demographics, admissions, and procedure for a 2-year period (1998-1999). Results: A total of 82 trauma centers that provide resident teaching were included. The included centers represent over 247,000 trauma admissions. The majority of trauma centers (65.9%) had > 80% blunt injury. Although all centers performed laparotomies, other results were more variable. For U/S, 24.2% performed none at all and 47.0% performed fewer than two U/S examinations per month. For DPLs, 3.8% performed none and 66.7% performed fewer than two per month. Assuming 1 night of 4 on call, the average surgical resident training at a trauma center performing > 80% blunt trauma has the potential to participate in only 15 trauma laparotomies, 6 diagnostic peritoneal lavages, and 45 ultrasound examinations per year. In addition, the resident will care for an average of 500 blunt trauma patients before performing a splenectomy or liver repair. Conclusion: Surgical resident experience on most trauma services is heavily weighted to nonoperative management, with a relatively low number of procedures, little experience with DPL, and highly variable experience with ultrasound. These data have serious implications for resident training and recruitment into the specialty.

Pseudoaneurysm of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) is a recognized complication of surgery; however, it is a very rare clinical occurrence. The anatomic position of the IEA subjects patients to possible IEA injury during abdominal wall procedures that are close to the artery, such as insertions of drains, Tenckhoff catheters, laparoscopic trocars, or paracentesis. Treatment options include open surgery, percutaneous coil embolization, embolization with N-butyl cyanoacrylate, sonographic-guided thrombin injection, or sonographic-guided compression. We report the first case of a pseudoaneurysm arising from the IEA after a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. To our knowledge, 17 IEA pseudoaneurysms have been reported, only 3 of which were spontaneous. The pseudoaneurysm in our patient was successfully treated by percutaneous injection of thrombin by interventional radiology.

Enteric duplication cysts are hollow, epithelium-lined, cystic, spherical, or tubular structures that are firmly attached to the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Commonly they are supplied by surrounding mesenteric blood vessels. However, completely isolated duplication cysts do not communicate with the normal bowel segment and have their own exclusive blood supply. They are a very rare variety of gastrointestinal duplications. In the English medical literature there are 5 earlier reported cases: 4 in pediatrics and 1 in an adult male age 28 years. We report a case of a 27-year-old female patient presenting with a completely isolated (noncontiguous) enteric duplication cyst with its own vascular pedicle. This case represents a rare clinical example of an isolated enteric duplication cyst removed by laparoscopic excision. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind in an adult female and the first case to use laparoscopy to remove the cyst.

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

Actin-scavenging proteins, e.g., plasma gelsolin, counteract the pathophysiological consequences of actin leaked into the circulation from dying cells, but the capacity of this defense system can be overwhelmed by massive tissue injury. We examined the prognostic implications of plasma gelsolin levels obtained near the time of admission to our level I Trauma Unit on the subsequent clinical course in a group of patients with severe traumatic injuries. Blood samples were obtained from 13 patients shortly after major trauma and 11 healthy volunteers who served as the control group. Plasma gelsolin levels were assayed by quantitative Western blotting. Duration of mechanical ventilation, stay in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit, and development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were measured as clinical outcomes reflecting the complexity of the hospital course. Subsequently, we evaluated an additional 52 patients after major and minor trauma to extend our earlier observations. Plasma gelsolin concentrations were significantly lower in our 13 original patients compared with healthy controls. Levels below 250 mg/L (2 standard deviations below the mean of the control group) were associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and a stay in the intensive care unit/= 13 days. Both patients whose gelsolin level was100 mg/L in this first series developed ARDS. Including all 65 patients, 6 of the 10 patients who developed ARDS had admission gelsolin levels less than 250 mg/L, compared with only 7 of the 55 patients without ARDS (p = 0.0028). The mean gelsolin levels were 193 and 400 mg/L in patients with and without ARDS, respectively (p0.0001) and 398 mg/L in survivors versus 259 mg/L for patients who expired (p0.0001). Ten of the 13 patients (77%) with gelsolin levels at the time of admission more than 2 SD below the control mean had "bad outcomes," defined as mechanical ventilation for/= 13 days in the Trauma Intensive Unit, ARDS, and/or death. Plasma gelsolin levels appear to be an early prognostic marker in patients experiencing major trauma. Whether circulating gelsolin serves a biologically vital function or is simply depleted after massive trauma cannot be determined from our study. The potential therapeutic benefits of infusions of recombinant human plasma gelsolin for patients in whom multiorgan dysfunction commonly follows a serious but self-limited insult have not yet been investigated.

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.

BackgroundInfection and organ failure are the most common causes of death or serious complication in trauma patients surviving initial resuscitation and operation. Of the many possible causes of these complications, bacterial translocation and release of harmful cytokines and oxygen free radicals ma

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.

Objectives The authors present a novel approach to nonresectional therapy in major hepatic trauma utilizing intraabdominal perihepatic vacuum assisted closure (VAC) therapy in the porcine model of Grade V liver injury. Methods A Grade V injury was created in the right lobe of the liver in a healthy pig. A Pringle maneuver was applied (4.5 minutes total clamp time) and a vacuum assisted closure device was placed over the injured lobe and connected to suction. The device consisted of a perforated plastic bag placed over the liver, followed by a 15 cm by 15cm VAC sponge covered with a nonperforated plastic bag. The abdomen was closed temporarily. Blood loss, cardiopulmonary parameters and bladder pressures were measured over a one-hour period. The device was then removed and the animal was euthanized. Results Feasibility of device placement was demonstrated by maintenance of adequate vacuum suction pressures and seal. VAC placement presented no major technical challenges. Successful control of ongoing liver hemorrhage was achieved with the VAC. Total blood loss was 625 ml (20ml/kg). This corresponds to class II hemorrhagic shock in humans and compares favorably to previously reported estimated blood losses with similar grade liver injuries in the swine model. No post-injury cardiopulmonary compromise or elevated abdominal compartment pressures were encountered, while hepatic parenchymal perfusion was maintained. Conclusion These data demonstrate the feasibility and utility of a perihepatic negative pressure device for the treatment of hemorrhage from severe liver injury in the porcine model.

BACKGROUND Distal intestinal obstructive syndrome (DIOS) is the partial or complete obstruction of the colon or the terminal ileum by abnormally viscous intestinal contents and is a common sequela of cystic fibrosis (CF) in adults. Medical management of this entity is well described, but often falls short for those with signs of peritonitis or bowel ischemia. Current surgical options are not widely reported. These procedures usually require laparotomy, occasionally with enterotomy, and are complicated by the typically poor medical condition of patients with DIOS. A minimally invasive approach to the surgical care of CF patients with DIOS could effectively relieve obstruction refractory to medical management. METHODS A 39-year-old woman with CF presented with nausea, severe abdominal pain, and obstipation. She was diagnosed with DIOS and underwent aggressive medical management unsuccessfully. The patient underwent successful hand-assisted laparoscopic antegrade milking of a 15-cm obstructive segment of the small bowel into the colon and placement of an appendicostomy tube. This was followed by postoperative administration of antegrade enemas and nasogastric osmotic cathartics. RESULTS The patient had resumption of bowel function and was subsequently discharged to her home. CONCLUSIONS This is a reported case of laparoscopic exploration and treatment for DIOS, and provides a minimally invasive alternative to laparotomy and enterotomy in the treatment of DIOS.

While the prevalence of obesity continues to increase in our society, outdated resting energy expenditure (REE) prediction equations may overpredict energy requirements in obese patients. Accurate feeding is essential since overfeeding has been demonstrated to adversely affect outcomes.The first objective was to compare REE calculated by prediction equations to the measured REE in obese trauma and burn patients. Our hypothesis was that an equation using fat-free mass would give a more accurate prediction. The second objective was to consider the effect of a commonly used injury factor on the predicted REE.A retrospective chart review was performed on 28 patients. REE was measured using indirect calorimetry and compared with the Harris-Benedict and Cunningham equations, and an equation using type II diabetes as a factor. Statistical analyses used were paired t test, +/-95% confidence interval, and the Bland-Altman method.Measured average REE in trauma and burn patients was 21.37 +/- 5.26 and 21.81 +/- 3.35 kcal/kg/d, respectively. Harris-Benedict underpredicted REE in trauma and burn patients to the least extent, while the Cunningham equation underpredicted REE in both populations to the greatest extent. Using an injury factor of 1.2, Cunningham continued to underestimate REE in both populations, while the Harris-Benedict and Diabetic equations overpredicted REE in both populations.The measured average REE is significantly less than current guidelines. This finding suggests that a hypocaloric regimen is worth considering for ICU patients. Also, if an injury factor of 1.2 is incorporated in certain equations, patients may be given too many calories.

Objective This study proposes to evaluate the efficacy of routine posttracheostomy chest radiography. Design A retrospective chart review provided the framework of this study. Setting The study took place at a university teaching hospital-level one trauma center. Patients The study included 293 patients undergoing elective tracheostomy between 1989 and 1993. Measurements and results Data extracted from the charts included indication for tracheostomy, immediate preoperative and postoperative chest radiograph reports, management changes made secondarily to radiographic findings, including chest tube placement, institution of chest physiotherapy, and need for tracheal tube reposition. Complications were defined as findings not noted on the preoperative radiographs; these were pneumothorax, tube malposition, atelectasis, or clinical information resulting in management changes. All patients received postoperative chest radiographs in the trauma ICU. Statistical analysis of our data was carried out using the χ 2 test. Patients with chest tubes in place at the time of surgery were the only group who were excluded so as not to confuse whether pneumothorax developed postoperatively. Of the initial 293 patients, 25 patients were excluded on the basis of having a chest tube. The remaining 268 charts were analyzed; 220 (82%) patients underwent tracheostomy for ventilator-dependent respiratory failure, 31 (12%) due to multiple facial fractures, 6 (2.1%) secondary to penetrating neck wounds, and 11 (4%) as a result of refractory vocal cord edema. One (0.3%) patient was found to have a postoperative 10% apical pneumothorax. Eight (2.4%) patients were found to have postoperative subsegmental atelectasis. There were no significant (p>0.05) management changes implemented as a result of these findings. No new infiltrates, effusions, or malpositioned tubes were noted. Deletion of routine posttracheostomy radiographs would save $52.39 per patient (cost) or $15,350 for 293 patients and $35,453 in total patient charges. Conclusions Abnormalities revealed by routine chest radiography after tracheostomy did not appear to alter patient management frequently enough to warrant the costs. A randomized, prospective study should be performed to analyze the safety of abandoning this practice.