Staffing in a Level 1 Trauma Center: Quantifying Capacity for Preparedness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Woods ◽  
J.W. Awori Hayanga ◽  
Jeffrey Cannon ◽  
Wesley Lemons ◽  
Michael Philips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trauma Patient ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Hospital Personnel ◽  
Job Responsibilities ◽  
Patient Admissions ◽  
Hospital Staffing

Abstract Objective: We sought to determine who is involved in the care of a trauma patient. Methods: We recorded hospital personnel involved in 24 adult Priority 1 trauma patient admissions for 12 h or until patient demise. Hospital personnel were delineated by professional background and role. Results: We cataloged 19 males and 5 females with a median age of 50-y-old (interquartile range [IQR], 35.5-67.5). The average number of hospital personnel involved was 79.71 (standard deviation, 17.62; standard error 3.6). A median of 51.2% (IQR, 43.4%-59.8%) of personnel were first involved within hour 1. More personnel were involved in direct versus indirect care (median 54.5 [IQR, 47.5-67.0] vs 25.0 [IQR, 22.0-30.5]; P < 0.0001). Median number of health-care professionals and auxiliary staff were 74.5 (IQR, 63.5-90.5) and 6.0 (IQR, 5.0-7.0), respectively. More personnel were first involved in hospital locations external to the emergency department (median, 53.0 [IQR, 41.5-63.0] vs 27.5 [IQR, 24.0-30.0]; P < 0.0001). No differences existed in total personnel by Injury Severity Score (P = 0.1266), day (P = 0.7270), or time of admission (P = 0.2098). Conclusions: A large number of hospital personnel with varying job responsibilities respond to severe trauma. These data may guide hospital staffing and disaster preparedness policies.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on severe trauma trends and healthcare system reassessment in Lombardia, Italy: an analysis from the regional trauma registry

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Giudici ◽  
Armando Lancioni ◽  
Hedwige Gay ◽  
Gabriele Bassi ◽  
Osvaldo Chiara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Trauma Registry ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Icu Admission ◽  
Patient Admissions ◽  
High Level

Abstract Backgrounds The COVID-19 pandemic drastically strained the health systems worldwide, obligating the reassessment of how healthcare is delivered. In Lombardia, Italy, a Regional Emergency Committee (REC) was established and the regional health system reorganized, with only three hospitals designated as hubs for trauma care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this reorganization of regional care, comparing the distribution of patients before and during the COVID-19 outbreak and to describe changes in the epidemiology of severe trauma among the two periods. Methods A cohort study was conducted using retrospectively collected data from the Regional Trauma Registry of Lombardia (LTR). We compared the data of trauma patients admitted to three hub hospitals before the COVID-19 outbreak (September 1 to November 19, 2019) with those recorded during the pandemic (February 21 to May 10, 2020) in the same hospitals. Demographic data, level of pre-hospital care (Advanced Life Support-ALS, Basic Life Support-BLS), type of transportation, mechanism of injury (MOI), abbreviated injury score (AIS, 1998 version), injury severity score (ISS), revised trauma score (RTS), and ICU admission and survival outcome of all the patients admitted to the three trauma centers designed as hubs, were reviewed. Screening for COVID-19 was performed with nasopharyngeal swabs, chest ultrasound, and/or computed tomography. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, trauma patients admitted to the hubs increased (46.4% vs 28.3%, p < 0.001) with an increase in pre-hospital time (71.8 vs 61.3 min, p < 0.01), while observed in hospital mortality was unaffected. TRISS, ISS, AIS, and ICU admission were similar in both periods. During the COVID-19 outbreak, we observed substantial changes in MOI of severe trauma patients admitted to three hubs, with increases of unintentional (31.9% vs 18.5%, p < 0.05) and intentional falls (8.4% vs 1.2%, p < 0.05), whereas the pandemic restrictions reduced road- related injuries (35.6% vs 60%, p < 0.05). Deaths on scene were significantly increased (17.7% vs 6.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusions The COVID-19 outbreak affected the epidemiology of severe trauma patients. An increase in trauma patient admissions to a few designated facilities with high level of care obtained satisfactory results, while COVID-19 patients overwhelmed resources of most other hospitals.

scholarly journals Structured and Systematic Team and Procedure Training in Severe Trauma: Going from ‘Zero to Hero’ for a Time-Critical, Low-Volume Emergency Procedure Over Three Time Periods

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1340-1348
Author(s):  
Maryam Meshkinfamfard ◽  
Jon Kristian Narvestad ◽  
Johannes Wiik Larsen ◽  
Arezo Kanani ◽  
Jørgen Vennesland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Trauma System ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Emergency Procedure ◽  
Emergency Thoracotomy ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Time Critical ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Resuscitative emergency thoracotomy is a potential life-saving procedure but is rarely performed outside of busy trauma centers. Yet the intervention cannot be deferred nor centralized for critically injured patients presenting in extremis. Low-volume experience may be mitigated by structured training. The aim of this study was to describe concurrent development of training and simulation in a trauma system and associated effect on one time-critical emergency procedure on patient outcome. Methods An observational cohort study split into 3 arbitrary time-phases of trauma system development referred to as ‘early’, ‘developing’ and ‘mature’ time-periods. Core characteristics of the system is described for each phase and concurrent outcomes for all consecutive emergency thoracotomies described with focus on patient characteristics and outcome analyzed for trends in time. Results Over the study period, a total of 36 emergency thoracotomies were performed, of which 5 survived (13.9%). The “early” phase had no survivors (0/10), with 2 of 13 (15%) and 3 of 13 (23%) surviving in the development and mature phase, respectively. A decline in ‘elderly’ (>55 years) patients who had emergency thoracotomy occurred with each time period (from 50%, 31% to 7.7%, respectively). The gender distribution and the injury severity scores on admission remained unchanged, while the rate of patients with signs on life (SOL) increased over time. Conclusion The improvement over time in survival for one time-critical emergency procedure may be attributed to structured implementation of team and procedure training. The findings may be transferred to other low-volume regions for improved trauma care.

Disaster Management in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-369
Author(s):  
Katie A. Willson ◽  
Gerard J. FitzGerald ◽  
David Lim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Primary Health

AbstractObjective:This scoping review aims to map the roles of rural and remote primary health care professionals (PHCPs) during disasters.Introduction:Disasters can have catastrophic impacts on society and are broadly classified into natural events, man-made incidents, or a mixture of both. The PHCPs working in rural and remote communities face additional challenges when dealing with disasters and have significant roles during the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR) stages of disaster management.Methods:A Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology was utilized, and the search was conducted over seven electronic databases according to a priori protocol.Results:Forty-one papers were included and sixty-one roles were identified across the four stages of disaster management. The majority of disasters described within the literature were natural events and pandemics. Before a disaster occurs, PHCPs can build individual resilience through education. As recognized and respected leaders within their community, PHCPs are invaluable in assisting with disaster preparedness through being involved in organizations’ planning policies and contributing to natural disaster and pandemic surveillance. Key roles during the response stage include accommodating patient surge, triage, maintaining the health of the remaining population, instituting infection control, and ensuring a team-based approach to mental health care during the disaster. In the aftermath and recovery stage, rural and remote PHCPs provide long-term follow up, assisting patients in accessing post-disaster support including delivery of mental health care.Conclusion:Rural and remote PHCPs play significant roles within their community throughout the continuum of disaster management. As a consequence of their flexible scope of practice, PHCPs are well-placed to be involved during all stages of disaster, from building of community resilience and contributing to early alert of pandemics, to participating in the direct response when a disaster occurs and leading the way to recovery.

Splanchnic Hypoperfusion-Directed Therapies in Trauma: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Cohn ◽  
Stephen M. Cohn ◽  
Orlando Kirton ◽  
Margaret Brown ◽  
S. Morad Hameed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Unit Group ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Prospective Randomized Trial ◽  
Gastric Tonometry ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Splanchnic Perfusion ◽  
Splanchnic Hypoperfusion

Splanchnic hypoperfusion as reflected by gastric intramucosal acidosis has been recognized as an important determinant of outcome in shock. A comprehensive splanchnic hypoperfusion-ischemia reperfusion (IRP) protocol was evaluated against conventional shock management protocols in critical trauma patients. The study was a prospective randomized trial comparing three therapeutic approaches to hypoperfusion after severe trauma in 151 trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Group 1 patients received hemodynamic support based on conventional indicators of hypoperfusion. In group 2, resuscitation was further guided by gastric tonometry-derived estimates of splanchnic hypoperfusion and included more invasive hemodynamic monitoring and additional administration of colloid or crystalloid solutions, or inotropic support. Group 3 patients additionally received therapies specifically aimed at optimizing splanchnic perfusion and minimizing oxidant-mediated damage from reperfusion. The three groups were similar based on age, Injury Severity Score, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II Scores. There were no statistically significant differences in mortality rates, organ dysfunction, ventilator days, or length of stay between any of the interventions. Techniques of optimization of splanchnic perfusion and minimization of oxidant-mediated reperfusion injury evaluated in this study were not advantageous relative to standard resuscitation measures guided by conventional or tonometric measures of hypoperfusion in the therapy of occult and clinical shock in trauma patients.

Evaluation of Microvascular Perfusion and Resuscitation after Severe Injury

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 1272-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yann-Leei L. Lee ◽  
Jon D. Simmons ◽  
Mark N. Gillespie ◽  
Diego F. Alvarez ◽  
Richard P. Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Capillary Flow ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Serum Lactate ◽  
Microvascular Perfusion ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Sidestream Dark Field ◽  
Trauma Population ◽  
Severity Scores

Achieving adequate perfusion is a key goal of treatment in severe trauma; however, tissue perfusion has classically been measured by indirect means. Direct visualization of capillary flow has been applied in sepsis, but application of this technology to the trauma population has been limited. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the efficacy of standard indirect measures of perfusion to direct imaging of the sublingual microcirculatory flow during trauma resuscitation. Patients with injury severity scores >15 were serially examined using a handheld sidestream dark-field video microscope. In addition, measurements were also made from healthy volunteers. The De Backer score, a morphometric capillary density score, and total vessel density (TVD) as cumulative vessel area within the image, were calculated using Automated Vascular Analysis (AVA3.0) software. These indices were compared against clinical and laboratory parameters of organ function and systemic metabolic status as well as mortality. Twenty severely injured patients had lower TVD (X = 14.6 ± 0.22 vs 17.66 ± 0.51) and De Backer scores (X = 9.62 ± 0.16 vs 11.55 ± 0.37) compared with healthy controls. These scores best correlated with serum lactate (TVD R2 = 0.525, De Backer R2 = 0.576, P < 0.05). Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, pH, bicarbonate, base deficit, hematocrit, and coagulation parameters correlated poorly with both TVD and De Backer score. Direct measurement of sublingual microvascular perfusion is technically feasible in trauma patients, and seems to provide real-time assessment of micro-circulatory perfusion. This study suggests that in severe trauma, many indirect measurements of perfusion do not correlate with microvascular perfusion. However, visualized perfusion deficiencies do reflect a shift toward anaerobic metabolism.

scholarly journals A retrospective cohort study of 27,049 polytraumatized patients age 60 and above: identifying changes over 16 years

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Kalbas ◽  
M. Lempert ◽  
F. Ziegenhain ◽  
J. Scherer ◽  
V. Neuhaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Treatment Algorithms ◽  
Injured Patients ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Purpose The number of severely injured patients exceeding the age of 60 has shown a steep increase within the last decades. These patients present with numerous co-morbidities, polypharmacy, and increased frailty requiring an adjusted treatment approach. In this study, we establish an overview of changes we observed in demographics of older severe trauma patients from 2002 to 2017. Methods A descriptive analysis of the data from the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) was performed. Patients admitted to a level one trauma center in Germany, Austria and Switzerland between 2002 and 2017, aged 60 years or older and with an injury severity score (ISS) over 15 were included. Patients were stratified into subgroups based on the admission: 2002–2005 (1), 2006–2009 (2), 2010–2013 (3) and 2014–2017 (4). Trauma and patient characteristics, diagnostics, treatment and outcome were compared. Results In total 27,049 patients with an average age of 73.9 years met the inclusion criteria. The majority were males (64%), and the mean ISS was 27.4. The proportion of patients 60 years or older [(23% (1) to 40% (4)] rose considerably over time. Trauma mechanisms changed over time and more specifically low falls (< 3 m) rose from 17.6% (1) to 40.1% (4). Altered injury patterns were also identified. Length-of-stay decreased from 28.9 (1) to 19.5 days (4) and the length-of-stay on ICU decreased from 17.1 (1) to 12.7 days (4). Mortality decreased from 40.5% (1) to 31.8% (4). Conclusion Length of stay and mortality decreased despite an increase in patient age. We ascribe this observation mainly to increased use of diagnostic tools, improved treatment algorithms, and the implementation of specialized trauma centers for older patients allowing interdisciplinary care.

Abstract 287: Plasma PCSK9 Concentrations in Critically Ill Patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Cariou ◽  
Maëlle Le Bras ◽  
Antoine Roquilly ◽  
Fanny Feuillet ◽  
Véronique Sebille ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Trauma ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Ldl Receptor ◽  
Plasma Lipid ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Intensive Care Patients ◽  
Pearson Coefficient

Objective. Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating protein that impairs LDL clearance by promoting the LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. Plasma lipid parameters (LDL-C and HDL-C) are related to severity of illness and survival in intensive care patients. Here, we aimed to determine whether circulating PCSK9 concentrations were correlated to the severity of illness in patients with multiple trauma. Methods/Results. Plasma PCSK9 were measured, at day 0 and 8 after admission, by ELISA in 111 patients hospitalized in ICU for severe trauma. Patients were included in the HIPOLYTE study and were randomly assigned to hydrocortisone therapy or placebo. Plasma PCSK9 levels were significantly increased by 161% at day 8 compared to day 0 (481 ± 227 vs 231 ± 117 ng/ml, P=0.0001). Hydrocortisone therapy did not alter PCSK9 concentrations at day 8 compared to placebo (451 ± 216 vs 511 ± 239ng/ml, P=0.33). In the whole population of the study, PCSK9 was positively associated with LDL-C (Pearson coefficient : 0.26, p=0.007) at day 0, but not with markers of severity illness. At day 8, an inverse correlation was found between PCSK9 and HDL-C (β =-653 ; P=0.004). Interestingly, PCSK9 concentrations at day 8 were related to markers of severity illness as injury severity score (β =6.17 ; P=0.0007), length of stay in ICU (β =6.14 ; P=0.0001), duration of both mechanical ventilation (β =8.26 ; P=0.0001) and cathecolamines infusion (β =18.57; P=0.015). Conclusion. PCSK9 appears as a late biomarker of severity illness in patients hospitalized for multiple trauma in ICU. These results open new perspectives for a role of PCSK9 in critical illness.

scholarly journals OS3.6 Prediagnostic symptoms and signs of adult glioma: the patients’ view

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii9-iii10
Author(s):  
M C M Peeters ◽  
L Dirven ◽  
J A F Koekkoek ◽  
E G Gortmaker ◽  
L Fritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
High Grade Glioma ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Health Care Usage ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Symptoms And Signs ◽  
Chronic Complaints

Abstract BACKGROUND Little is known about the symptoms and signs glioma patients experience in the year before diagnosis, either or not resulting in health care usage. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of several symptoms and signs glioma patients experienced in the year prior to diagnosis, as well as visits to a general practitioner (GP) related to these issues. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study, including adults diagnosed with a glioma <12 months ago. Patients were asked to complete a 30-item study-specific questionnaire, if possible with input of a proxy, focusing on symptoms and signs they experienced in the 12 months before diagnosis. For each indicated symptom/sign, patients were asked whether they consulted the GP for this issue. In addition, the presence of comorbidity and other chronic complaints were assessed, as well as consulted health care professionals (HCPs) in the year prior to diagnosis. The statistical analyses were corrected for multiple testing. RESULTS Between July 2016 and March 2019, 58 patients completed the questionnaires, 54 (93%) with input of a proxy. Forty-one (72%) patients were men, with a median age of 60 years (range 43–78), and the median time since diagnosis was 4 months (range 1–12). Forty (69%) patients had a comorbidity or chronic complaint, and the median number of consulted HCPs was 2 (range 0–8). The median number of symptoms/signs experienced in the year before diagnosis was 8 (range 2–19) in low-grade and 5 (range 0–24) in high-grade glioma (p=0.258). The five most frequently mentioned problems were fatigue (34/58, 59%), mental tiredness (28/58, 48%), sleeping disorder (23/58, 40%), headache (22/58, 38%) and stress (20/58, 34%), with no differences between low- and high grade glioma. Twenty-five (43%) patients had visited the GP with at least one issue. We found that patients who did consult their GP reported significantly more often muscle weakness (11 vs 3, p=0.002), paralysis in for example a hand or leg (10 vs 3, p=0.006), or a change in consciousness (9 vs 3, p=0.013) compared to those that did not consult the GP. However, they did not differ with respect to the number of symptoms (median 7 vs 5), comorbidities and chronic complaints (median 1 vs 1), or overall health care usage (median 3 vs 2). CONCLUSION Glioma patients experience a range of problems in the year prior to diagnosis, but patients who consult the GP report significantly more often neurological problems.

Blood Transfusion in the Severe Trauma Patient

2021 ◽  
pp. 191-199
Author(s):  
Jose C. Humanez ◽  
Oladapo Oshikoya ◽  
Albert Hsu ◽  
Amie L. Hoefnagel
Keyword(s):  
Blood Transfusion ◽  
Trauma Patient ◽  
Severe Trauma

Multiple Laparotomies are a Predictor of Fascial Dehiscence in the Setting of Severe Trauma

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 402-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamta Swaroop ◽  
Michael Williams ◽  
Wendy Ricketts Greene ◽  
Jack Sava ◽  
Kenneth Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Infection ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Damage Control ◽  
Wound Dehiscence ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Fascial Closure ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Abdominal Abscess ◽  
Increased Risk

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of wound dehiscence after repeat trauma laparotomy. We performed a retrospective analysis of adult trauma patients who underwent laparotomy at an urban level 1 trauma center during the past 5 years. Patients were divided into single (SL) and multiple laparotomy (ML) groups. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected. Data were analyzed using χ2, t testing, and ANOVA. Overall dehiscence rate was 0.7 per cent. Multiple laparotomy patients had damage control, staged management of their injuries, or abdominal compartment syndrome as the reason for reexploration. SL and ML patients had similar age and sex. ML patients had a higher rate of intra-abdominal abscess than SL patients (13.7% vs 1.2% P < 0.0001), but intra-abdominal abscess did not predict wound dehiscence in the ML group ( P = 0.24). This was true in spite of the fact that ML patients had a significantly higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) than SL patients (21.68 vs 14.35, P < 0.0001). Interestingly, wound infection did not predict dehiscence. Patients undergoing repeat laparotomy after trauma are at increased risk for wound dehiscence. This risk appears to be associated with intraabdominal abscess and ISS, but not wound infection. Surgeons should leave the skin open in the setting of repeat trauma laparotomy, which will allow serial assessment of the integrity of the fascial closure.

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