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Background: Thrombocytosis following splenectomy is a common occurrence. Whether this thrombocytosis leads to a higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains unclear. This investigation aimed to determine if splenectomy increases the risk for VTE.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in the SICU between 1/2011 and 11/2013 investigating the VTE risk in patients undergoing a splenectomy compared with those undergoing any other abdominal procedure.Results: In total 2503 patients were admitted to the SICU: 37 (2%) after a splenectomy and 638 (26%) after any other abdominal surgery. Splenectomy patients had a higher incidence of VTE compared to patients undergoing any other abdominal procedure (29.7% vs. 12.1%, p < 0.01). After adjustment, splenectomy was associated with a higher adjusted risk for VTE compared to the no-splenectomy group (AOR [95% CI]: 2.6 [1.2, 5.9], p = 0.02). Reactive thrombocytosis did not predict the development of VTE.Conclusion: Splenectomy increases the risk for VTE, however reactive thrombocytosis is not associated with this higher incidence. Further investigations are required to characterize the pathophysiologic mechanisms of VTE development following splenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As bicycling has become more popular, admissions after bicycle trauma are on the rise. The impact of alcohol use on bicycle trauma has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alcohol intoxication on injury burden following bicycle-related crashes.Methods: A retrospective review of trauma patients presenting to a Level I trauma center after bicycle-related crashes from January 2002 to December 2011 was conducted. Demographics, injury data, alcohol intoxication, helmet use, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Blood alcohol level (BAL) was considered positive if >0.01 g/dL. Variables were compared between patients based on BAL: negative, 0.01-0.16 g/dL, and >0.16 g/dL.Results: During the 10 year study period, 563 patients met study criteria; mean age was 33.5 ± 16.5 years, 87% were male, and mortality was 1%. On average, bicycle crashes increased over the study period by 4.4 collisions per year. BAL was tested in 211 (38%) patients. Mean BAL was 0.24 g/dL, with 37% of these patients being intoxicated (BAL ≥ 0.010 g/dL). Intoxicated patients were significantly less likely to wear a helmet (4.7% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.002) and to be involved in motor vehicle crash (59.0% vs. 81.2%, p < 0.001). There was no difference noted in the injury burden including ISS ≥ 16 (14.3% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.335) and AIS Head ≥ 3 (17.9% vs. 21.8%, p = 0.502). When comparing patients according to their BAL, there was a decreasing risk of motor vehicle collision with increasing BAL (81.2% for undetected, 76.5% for BAL ≤ 0.16 g/dL and 54.1% for BAL >0.16 g/dL, p < 0.001). The risk for a severe head injury (AIS Head ≥ 3) was significantly lower in helmeted patients (8.4% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.035).Conclusions: The incidence of bicycle-related crashes is increasing and more than a third of patients tested for alcohol after bicycle-related crashes are found to be intoxicated. The injury burden in intoxicated patients, including head trauma, was not different compared to non-intoxicated patients. In addition, the risk for a collision with a motor vehicle was significantly lower. Nonetheless, these patients rarely utilize a helmet. The findings from this study can be used for the development and implementation of preventive strategies to minimize the injury burden associated with bicycle crashes and intoxicated cyclists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The purpose of this study was to delineate the association between cirrhosis and failure of nonoperative management (F-NOM) after blunt liver trauma. Methods We carried out a review of the National Trauma Databank from 2007 to 2011 including patients ≥16 years old admitted after a blunt injury. Propensity score was used to match each cirrhotic to 3 noncirrhotic patients. Primary outcome was F-NOM (liver procedure >2 hours after admission and/or operative intervention directed at the liver after angiography). Results A total of 57 cirrhotic patients who met inclusion criteria were matched with 171 noncirrhotic patients. Splenic injury was present in 41% (35% vs 43%; P = .31) and 28% had a high-grade liver injury III/VI/V (26% vs 29%; P = .73). The majority of patients in both groups were selected for a trial of NOM (77% vs 85%; P = .15). There was no difference in the rate of F-NOM between the 2 groups (14% vs 14%; P = 1.00), even for high-grade injuries (13% vs 20%; P = .72). Cirrhotic patients had a greater overall mortality (28% vs 7%; P < .01), especially if they required a laparotomy (58% vs 17%; P < .01) or if they failed NOM (50% vs 4%; P < .01). Conclusion Cirrhosis has no effect on the selection of patients with blunt liver injuries for a trial of nonoperative management and does not seem to be associated with a greater risk for failure of nonoperative management within the constraints of our study. Nonoperative management in this population is highly successful and failure is rarely related directly to the liver injury itself. Failure of non-operative management increases the already high mortality risk in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prior studies suggest that positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is associated with lower mortality after motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). We investigated the relationship between increasing BAC and mortality after MVC. Methods: A retrospective review of the Los Angeles County trauma database from January 2003 to December 2008 was performed. MVC patients greater than or equal to 16 years of age with admission BAC were considered. Patients were stratified by BAC as follows: BAC0 (<.01), BAC1 (.01 to .08), BAC2 (.09 to .16), BAC3 (.17 to .24), BAC4 (.25 to .32), and BAC5 (>.32). Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of mortality. Results: A total of 12,540 patients were included. Overall mortality rate was 2.2%. Mortality was lowest in BAC3 (1.6%) and BAC4 (1.3%), although the difference among all groups was not statistically significant (P = .07). Decreased rates of Injury Severity Score greater than or equal to 16 were noted with increasing BAC, which was largely because of reduced chest and abdomen/pelvis Abbreviated Injury Scale. Adjusted mortality was lower in BAC3 and BAC4 (both adjusted odds ratio .4, P < .001). Conclusion: A protective effect of alcohol after MVC may be related to decreased truncal injury burden rather than protection after head injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Splenectomy is associated with a life-long risk for overwhelming infections. The risk for early post-operative infectious complications following traumatic and elective splenectomy is, however, understudied. This investigation aimed to determine if splenectomy increases the risk for post-operative infections. Methods This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) between 1/2011 and 7/2013 investigating the risk for infectious complications in patients undergoing a splenectomy compared with those undergoing any other abdominal surgery. Results During the 30-month study period, a total of 1884 patients were admitted to the SICU. Of those, 33 (2%) had a splenectomy and 493 (26%) had an abdominal surgery. The two groups were well balanced for age, APACHE IV score >20, and past medical history, including diabetes mellitus, cardiac history, renal failure or immunosuppression. Patients undergoing splenectomy were more likely to have sustained a traumatic injury (30% vs. 7%, p < 0.01). After adjustment, splenectomy was associated with increased risk for infectious complications (49% vs. 29%, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) [95% CI]: 2.7 [1.3, 5.6], p = 0.01), including intra-abdominal abscess (9% vs. 3%, AOR [95% CI]: 4.3 [1.1, 16.2], p = 0.03). On a subgroup analysis, there were no differences between traumatic and elective splenectomy with regards to overall infectious complications (50% vs. 46%, p = 0.84), although, abdominal abscess developed only in those who had an elective splenectomy (0% vs. 12%, p = 0.55). Conclusion Splenectomy increases the risk for post-operative infectious complications. Further studies identifying strategies to decrease the associated morbidity are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a higher risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Whether Clostridium difficile infection similarly increases this risk is unknown METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from February 2011 to July 2013. The 2 groups were compared using standard statistical methodology. RESULTS: During the 30-month study period, a total of 1,728 patients were admitted to the surgical ICU. A total of 64 patients (3.7%) tested positive for C. difficile. The use of chemical prophylaxis for VTE was significantly higher in the C. difficile group (64.1% vs 46.2%, P = .005). Nonetheless, C. difficile patients had a higher risk for development of a VTE (23.4% vs 11.0%, adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.87 [1.01 to 3.48], P = .048). In a forward logistic regression model, C. difficile was found to be independently associated with the development of VTE (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.87 [1.00 to 3.47], P = .049). CONCLUSIONS: C. difficile infection increases the risk for VTE in surgical patients admitted to the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the role of computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage (PD) in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) anastomotic leaks. METHODS: Ten-year review of an interventional radiology database identified patients with symptomatic GI anastomotic leaks. Clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and operative characteristics following a technically successful PD which then failed and required reoperation for anastomotic leak were compared with those successfully treated with PD. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients met study inclusion criteria. Fifty patients (82%) successfully underwent therapeutic PD of a perianastomotic fluid collection, with median follow-up of 16 months. Eleven patients (18%), at a median interval of 16 days, required reoperation following PD. A forward logistic regression showed cardiopulmonary disease (P =.03) and cancer surgery (P =.01) to be factors independently associated with the need for reoperation. The level of the anastomosis, initial fecal diversion/ stoma, fluid collection size, and microbiology of aspirate did not predict failure of PD. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiopulmonary disease and cancer surgery appear to be independent predictors for failure of PD and need for reoperation following a symptomatic GI anastomotic leak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Within component therapy of massive transfusion protocol (MTP) in trauma, thawed plasma is particularly susceptible to expiring without use given its short 5-day shelf life. Optimizing the number of thawed products without compromising safety is important for hospital resource management. The goal is to examine thawed plasma utilization rates in trauma MTP events and optimize the MTP cooler content at our Level I trauma center. Methods: Trauma MTP activations from 01/2019 to 12/2022 were retrospectively reviewed. During the study period, blood products were distributed in a 12:12:1 ratio of packed red blood cells (pRBC): plasma: platelets per cooler, with up to 4 additional units of low-titer, group O whole blood (LTOWB) available. The primary measure was percent return of unused, thawed plasma. Results: There were 367 trauma MTP activations with amedian (IQR) activation call-to-first cooler delivery time of 8 (6-10) minutes. 73.0% of thawed plasma was returned to the blood bank unused. In one third of MTP activations, all dispensed plasma was returned. The majority (74.1%) of patients required 6 or fewer units of plasma. In 81.5% of activations, 10 or fewer units of plasma and 10 or fewer units of pRBC were used. Discussion: The majority of trauma MTP requirements may be accommodated with a reduced cooler content of 6 units pRBC, 6 units plasma, and 1 pheresis platelets, buffered by up to 4 units LTOWB (approximates 4 units of pRBC/4 units plasma), in conjunction with a sub-10min cooler delivery time. Follow-up longitudinal studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common cause of hospital admission leading to resource utilization. The majority of these patients require non-operative management (NOM) which can lead to increased length of stay (LOS), readmissions, resource utilization, and throughput delays. Early surgical consultation (SC) for SBO may improve efficiency and outcomes. Methods: We implemented an institution-wide intervention (INT) to encourage early SC (<1 day of diagnosis) for SBO patients in July 2022. A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients with SBO requiring NOM from January 2021 to June 2023, categorized into pre- and post-INT groups. The primary outcome was the number of SC's and secondary outcomes were early SC (<1 day of diagnosis), utilization of SBFT, LOS, 30-day readmission, and costs of admission. Results: A total of 670 patients were included, 438 in the pre-INT and 232 in the post-INT group. Overall, SBFT utilization was significantly higher in cases with SC (17.2% vs 41.4%, P < .001). Post-INT patients were more likely to receive SC (94.0% vs 83.3%, P < .001) and increased SBFT utilization (47.0% vs 33.6%, P = .001). Additionally, early SC improved significantly in the post-INT group (74.3% vs 65.7%, P = .03). There was no difference in LOS between groups (4.0 vs 3.8 days, P = .48). There was a trend toward decreased readmission rates in the INT group at 30 days (7.3% vs 11.0%, P = .13) and reduced direct costs in the INT group (US$/admission = 8467 vs 8708, P = .1). Conclusion: Hospital-wide interventions to increase early surgical involvement proved effective by improving early SC, increased SBFT utilization, and showed a trend towards decreased readmission rates and direct costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]