Unity through diversity: Managing complexity following major trauma

Abstract Background Multiple screening Duplex ultrasound scans (DUS) are performed in trauma patients at high risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive care physician performed compression ultrasound (IP-CUS) has shown promise as a diagnostic test for DVT in a non-trauma setting. Whether IP-CUS can be used as a screening test in trauma patients is unknown. Our study aimed to assess the agreement between IP-CUS and vascular sonographer performed DUS for proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (PLEDVT) screening in high-risk trauma patients in ICU. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at the ICU of Alfred Hospital, a major trauma center in Melbourne, Australia, between Feb and Nov 2015. All adult major trauma patients admitted with high risk for DVT were eligible for inclusion. IP-CUS was performed immediately before or after DUS for PLEDVT screening. The paired studies were repeated twice weekly until the DVT diagnosis, death or ICU discharge. Written informed consent from the patient, or person responsible, or procedural authorisation, was obtained. The individuals performing the scans were blinded to the others’ results. The agreement analysis was performed using Cohen’s Kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient for repeated binary measurements. Results During the study period, 117 patients had 193 pairs of scans, and 45 (39%) patients had more than one pair of scans. The median age (IQR) was 47 (28–68) years with 77% males, mean (SD) injury severity score 27.5 (9.53), and a median (IQR) ICU length of stay 7 (3.2–11.6) days. There were 16 cases (13.6%) of PLEDVT with an incidence rate of 2.6 (1.6–4.2) cases per 100 patient-days in ICU. The overall agreement was 96.7% (95% CI 94.15–99.33). The Cohen’s Kappa between the IP-CUS and DUS was 0.77 (95% CI 0.59–0.95), and the intraclass correlation coefficient for repeated binary measures was 0.75 (95% CI 0.67–0.81). Conclusions There is a substantial agreement between IP-CUS and DUS for PLEDVT screening in trauma patients in ICU with high risk for DVT. Large multicentre studies are needed to confirm this finding.

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Managing complexity and uncertainty in agricultural innovation through adaptive project design and implementation

Development in Practice ◽

10.1080/09614524.2020.1832047 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Jeffery W. Bentley ◽

Diego Naziri ◽

Gordon Prain ◽

Enoch Kikulwe ◽

Sarah Mayanja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Project Design ◽

Agricultural Innovation ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Managing Complexity

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Simplified treatment algorithm for the management of trauma-induced hemorrhage without viscoelastic testing

Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open ◽

10.1136/tsaco-2021-000779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000779

Author(s):

Sebastian Casu

Keyword(s):

Major Trauma ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Treatment Protocols ◽

Treatment Algorithms ◽

Number Of Treatment ◽

Uncontrolled Bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding after major trauma remains a significant cause of death, with up to a third of trauma patients presenting with signs of coagulopathy at hospital admission. Rapid correction of coagulopathy is therefore vital to improve mortality rates and patient outcomes in this population. Early and repeated monitoring of coagulation parameters followed by clear protocols to correct hemostasis is the recommended standard of care for bleeding trauma patients. However, although a number of treatment algorithms are available, these are frequently complex and can rely on the use of viscoelastic testing, which is not available in all treatment centers. We therefore set out to develop a concise and pragmatic algorithm to guide treatment of bleeding trauma patients without the use of point-of-care viscoelastic testing. The algorithm we present here is based on published guidelines and research, includes recommendations regarding treatment and dosing, and is simple and clear enough for even an inexperienced physician to follow. In this way, we have demonstrated that treatment protocols can be developed and adapted to the resources available, to offer clear and relevant guidance to the entire trauma team.

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Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy: Overview of an Emerging Medical Problem from Pathophysiology to Outcomes

Medicines ◽

10.3390/medicines8040016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Gabriele Savioli ◽

Iride Francesca Ceresa ◽

Luca Caneva ◽

Sebastiano Gerosa ◽

Giovanni Ricevuti

Keyword(s):

Major Trauma ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Medical Problem ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Potential Drug ◽

The Past ◽

Trauma Induced Coagulopathy ◽

Threatening Condition ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Trauma Mortality

Coagulopathy induced by major trauma is common, affecting approximately one-third of patients after trauma. It develops independently of iatrogenic, hypothermic, and dilutive causes (such as iatrogenic cause in case of fluid administration), which instead have a pejorative aspect on coagulopathy. Notwithstanding the continuous research conducted over the past decade on Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy (TIC), it remains a life-threatening condition with a significant impact on trauma mortality. We reviewed the current evidence regarding TIC diagnosis and pathophysiological mechanisms and summarized the different iterations of optimal TIC management strategies among which product resuscitation, potential drug administrations, and hemostatis-focused approaches. We have identified areas of ongoing investigation and controversy in TIC management.

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