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The establishment of integrated extra- and intra- hospital care systems for trauma patients (Trauma System or SIAT) has in the past led to a considerable reduction in the mortality rate of trauma victims. One essential component of the Trauma System is the Trauma Register (TR), which is considered an indispensable tool for improving the quality of care in the trauma field. The aim of this article is to describe an innovative project that aims to create the first Italian multi-regional severe trauma register. The project involved three Italian hospitals with 2nd level Emergency Admissions Departments. The database includes all the trauma victims hospitalised in the three participating hospitals between 1st July 2004 and 30th June 2005 with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15 or that were admitted directly to the resuscitation unit. The project resulted in the creation of a severe trauma data recording system, which meets expectations and which would appear to be of a good quality, in relation to the literature available. To date, most of the aims of the project have been achieved. We can therefore expect further positive evolutions, such as the use of the register to improve the quality of treatment and research, participation in a European-scale register and the participation of other hospitals.

Objective: project aiming at the establishment of the first Italian multiregional trauma registry and to evaluate its initial achievements. Design: Descriptive + Cohort comparison. Setting: 3 Italian hospitals, referral centers for severely traumatized patients. Patients: Trauma victims admitted between 1/7/2004 and 30/09/2004 with an Injury Severity Score (ISS>15) or requiring early admission to intensive care. Interventions: None. Measures: Indicators of quality of clinical data bases partly devised and partly derived from literature. Ten main descriptive variables of the patients with ISS>15, in general and by hospital: type of trauma, mechanism of injury, age, gender, ISS, RTS, TRISS, call-to-hospital and admission-to-ward intervals, outcome at 30 days. Results: A system of data collection on severely injured patients has been established, whose characteristics fulfill the expectations and compare well with the available references. Some aspects deserve improvement, namely the reporting of pre-hospital times by one hospital. The previous esteems on the number of cases (about 300/year/hospital) are confirmed. A substantial homogeneity among the various hospitals in regard to the main trauma descriptive variables exists. Conclusions: The project's aims have been nearly successfully attained so far. Positive future developments of the registry are possible: usage for quality improvement and research, linkage to other European registries and participation of other hospitals.

A better understanding of trauma epidemiology may allow to enhance the organisation of trauma systems with a potentially relevant impact on the level of trauma care. A one year epidemiology study (1st March 1998-28th February 1999) was planned in Friuli Venezia Giulia with the aim to collect all prehospital, hospital and outcome data of patients who sustained a major trauma (ISS > 15) within the regional border. In 12 months 15,429 traumatized patients (14,108 residents) were admitted to any one of the Regional hospitals. Over 1% of the whole population sustained injuries severe enough to cause hospital admission. 630 people (77.3% male, 27.7% female average age 42 ys) had a major trauma. The incidence of major trauma is 525 per million people per year. RTA was by far the most important cause of major injuries (78.6%) followed by work accidents (6.8%), domestic (5.9%) and sport accidents (1.9%). Only 1.2% of all the major injuries was the consequence of interpersonal violence. One hundred-sixty-six trauma victims died on the spot (149) or before hospital arrival (17). 464 patients with major injuries reached the hospital alive. More than two third of the patients with ISS > 15, suffered from a multiple trauma. 70% had a severe injury to the head (AIS > or = 3). Head trauma occurred as an isolated injury in only 35.3%. Hospital mortality within 30 days from admission (trauma death) was 25.1%. The results of the follow-up at 6 months are still incomplete. However the preliminary data clearly show that a high percentage of the patients who were discharged alive from the ICU had a good neurologic recovery.

Hypothesis: A pattern of prehospital care combining advanced life support, physician staffing, and helicopter transport improves the outcome of patients with severe brain injuries, compared with combined expanded basic life support, nurse staffing, and ground transport. Design: Inception cohort from the data set of a population-based, prospective study on major trauma. Setting: Prehospital and hospital trauma systems of an Italian region. Patients: All patients with major trauma (Injury Severity Score, ≥ 16) and severe head injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale score for the head, ≥ 4) rescued alive from March 1, 1998, to February 28, 1999, who received either form of care. Patients with self-inflicted injuries were excluded. The 184 patients who met the entry criteria were divided equally between care groups. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Mortality at 30 days and Glasgow Outcome Scale score of survivors. Results: After verifying the comparability of the cohorts, no survival or disability benefit could be demonstrated (95% confidence interval [CI] of the odds ratio for mortality [helicopter/ambulance] [95% CI 1], 0.72 to 2.67; 95% CI of the difference in Glasgow Outcome Scale score medians between helicopter and ambulance groups [95% CI 2], 0.0 to 0.0). Similar results were derived from analyses restricted to the subgroups identified by low( ≤ 90 mm Hg) roadside systolic blood pressure (95% CI 1, 0.58 to 7.17; 95% CI 2, -1 to 2) and by need for urgent neurosurgical intervention (95% CI 1, 0.16 to 2.60; 95% CI 2, 0 to 2). Exclusion from the ambulance group of victims rescued in urban areas did not change the results (95% CI 1, 0.80 to 3.24; 95% CI 2, 0.0 to 0.0). Stratification by age, Injury Severity Score, and Glasgow Coma Scale score demonstrated a small survival benefit (95% CI 1, 1.12 to 2.12) in the ambulance subgroup with Glasgow Coma Scale score from 10 to 12. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that the group did not affect mortality. Conclusion: This study was conceived to emphasize the supposed advantages of the combined helicopter, physician, and advanced life-support rescue. No increased benefit compared with the simpler rescue group could be demonstrated.

Report epidemiologico sui traumi gravi in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

A better understanding of trauma epidemiology may allow to enhance the organisation of trauma systems with a potentially relevant impact on the level of trauma care. A one year epidemiology study (1st March 1998-28th February 1999) was planned in Friuli Venezia Giulia with the aim to collect all prehospital, hospital and outcome data of patients who sustained a major trauma (ISS > 15) within the regional border. In 12 months 15,429 traumatized patients (14,108 residents) were admitted to any one of the Regional hospitals. Over 1% of the whole population sustained injuries severe enough to cause hospital admission. 630 people (77.3% male, 27.7% female average age 42 ys) had a major trauma. The incidence of major trauma is 525 per million people per year. RTA was by far the most important cause of major injuries (78.6%) followed by work accidents (6.8%), domestic (5.9%) and sport accidents (1.9%). Only 1.2% of all the major injuries was the consequence of interpersonal violence. One hundred-sixty-six trauma victims died on the spot (149) or before hospital arrival (17). 464 patients with major injuries reached the hospital alive. More than two third of the patients with ISS > 15, suffered from a multiple trauma. 70% had a severe injury to the head (AIS > or = 3). Head trauma occurred as an isolated injury in only 35.3%. Hospital mortality within 30 days from admission (trauma death) was 25.1%. The results of the follow-up at 6 months are still incomplete. However the preliminary data clearly show that a high percentage of the patients who were discharged alive from the ICU had a good neurologic recovery.

Response to a Letter

Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of arterial carbon dioxide tension control in a group of 92 patients with traumatic brain injury who, despite receiving advanced prehospital care, showed no improved outcome in comparison with a group homogeneous but for a lower level of prehospital care. Methods: A retrospective registration of the early in-hospital arterial carbon dioxide tension of the patients intubated and ventilated on scene. Patients were excluded if the arterial carbon dioxide tension did not reflect prehospital ventilation or its alteration might have been intentional or unavoidable. Results: Arterial carbon dioxide tension was normal (35-45 mmHg) in only six of the 16 suitable cases (37.5%), was elevated (>45 mmHg) in three cases (18.75%), low (25-35 mmHg) in five cases (31.25%), and extremely low (

Letter to the editor

Objective To describe and discuss the ongoing endeavor to establish a multiregional trauma registry in Italy. Methods Design: Prospective observational analysis by description and cohort comparison. Setting: Three Italian hospitals, referral centers for severely traumatized patients. Patients: trauma victims admitted between 1 July 2004 and 28 February 2005 with an Injury Severity Score >15 or requiring early admission to intensive care. Interventions: None. Measures: Compilation rates for some 'sentry' variables. Total number of patients and Injury Severity Score. Ten widely used descriptive variables (type of trauma, mechanism of injury, age, gender, Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, Prognostic Severity Index, 'call-to-hospital' and 'admission-to-ward' intervals, and outcome at 30 days) measured in the subgroup with Injury Severity Score >15, in general and by hospital. Results A trauma registry has been established that fit the present organization of trauma care in Italy. It seems to compare well with the references available in the literature. Five hundred and forty-nine patients have been enrolled so far. The compilation rate has been well above 70% for all variables in all hospitals, except pre-hospital times in two hospitals. A substantial homogeneity exists among the hospitals in the general characteristics of the patients with Injury Severity Score >15. Conclusions The project has achieved its goals so far. The previous estimates on the number of cases (about 300/year/hospital) are confirmed and major shortcomings in methodology seem unlikely. Therefore, positive future developments are possible: usage for quality improvement and research, linkage to other European registries and participation of other hospitals.

Objective. To assess whether a top-level type of prehospital care, made of helicopter, physician, and advanced life support (ALS) procedures, improves the outcome of blunt trauma victims found in cardiac arrest (CA) as compared with a simpler type, composed of ground ambulance, nurse, and expanded basic life support (BLS). Methods. This was a cohort study from the data set of a prospective, population-based, 12-month study targeting the 1,200,000 inhabitants of the Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia. Results. Fifty-six victims received the higher level of care (helicopter emergency medical services [HEMS] group) and 73 received the lower one (ground-BLS group). The two groups were homogeneous for mechanism of injury, gender, and time interval before cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Age was lower in the ground-BLS group. The percentage of patients in which CPR was attempted was significantly higher in the HEMS group (43% vs. 20%; CI 0.061 to 0.379). On-scene return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was also more likely in the HEMS group (37.5% of attempted CPRs vs. 6.6%; CI 0.027 to 0.591). None of the patients evacuated from the scene without ROSC ever attained it in hospital. This policy was virtually exclusive to the ground-BLS group. Survival to hospital discharge was 3.5% (severely disabled) in the HEMS group and 0% in the ground-BLS group (CI -0.008 to 0.078). Conclusion. A top-level type of prehospital care had significantly more chances to resuscitate blunt trauma victims found in CA as compared with a simpler level. No significant benefit on long-term outcome was found, but more cases might be needed in future studies because of the inevitably low number of survivors.

Objective: To provide reliable and comparable information on major injury (MIJ) (Injury Severity Score (ISS)>15) by establishing a comprehensive and Utstein-style compliant registry of all occurrences in a defined geographical area. Methods: Prospective, population-based, 12-month study targeting the 1,200,000 inhabitants of the Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG). Deliberate self-harm was excluded. Results: The total number of MIJ cases was 627, the resulting incidence 522 per million per year. Trauma was mostly blunt (98.4%). Young (15-44 years) adults (54.8%) and males (78.6%) were most affected. Leading mechanisms of injury were traffic accidents (81%) and falls (9.1%). Most events occurred in rural (80.9%) areas despite one third of the regional population living in major urban centres. Summer and weekends carried the highest frequency. The mean ISS (n=455) was 30.0, median 25. On-scene vital parameters were often subnormal, e.g. 53.9%, GCS

BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax (PNX) is a recognized cause of preventable deaths in trauma patients. Our objective was to determine the incidence of traumatic PNX, the characteristics of its victims, and the treatment they receive. METHODS: The study consisted of data set of a population-based study on major trauma. RESULTS: The incidence of PNX was 81 per 1 million population per year, mostly caused by transport accidents. PNX victims generally had multiple injuries, and they showed on-scene clinical parameters worse than victims of other chest injuries of comparable severity. Fifty-three percent of PNXs were drained during the prehospital and early (< 2 hours) hospital course. There was no uniformity of treatment among different types of rescue facilities, some of them never performing decompression despite clinical need. The z statistic for mortality was -0.63. CONCLUSION: PNX can be expected in one in five major trauma victims found alive. PNX is associated with a peculiar on-scene instability. Early decompression is often required. The effects of wider access to prehospital decompression and the reasons for its uneven availability in our setting need elucidation. Nevertheless, the present mortality follows the international standards.