Understanding Hospital Volume–Outcome Relationship in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Neurosurgery ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz S. Alali ◽  
David Gomez ◽  
Victoria McCredie ◽  
Todd G. Mainprize ◽  
Avery B. Nathens

Abstract BACKGROUND: The hospital volume–outcome relationship in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) population remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between volume of patients with severe TBI per hospital and in-hospital mortality, major complications, and mortality following a major complication (ie, failure to rescue). METHODS: In a multicenter cohort study, data on 9255 adults with severe TBI were derived from 111 hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program over 2009-2011. Hospitals were ranked into quartiles based on their volume of severe TBI during the study period. Random-intercept multilevel models were used to examine the association between hospital quartile of severe TBI volume and in-hospital mortality, major complications, and mortality following a major complication after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. In sensitivity analyses, we examined these associations after excluding transferred cases. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 37.2% (n = 3447). Two thousand ninety-eight patients (22.7%) suffered from 1 or more major complication. Among patients with major complications, 27.8% (n = 583) died. Higher-volume hospitals were associated with lower mortality; the adjusted odds ratio of death was 0.50 (95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.85) in the highest volume quartile compared to the lowest. There was no significant association between hospital-volume quartile and the odds of a major complication or the odds of death following a major complication. After excluding transferred cases, similar results were found. CONCLUSION: High-volume hospitals might be associated with lower in-hospital mortality following severe TBI. However, this mortality reduction was not associated with lower risk of major complications or death following a major complication.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Huang Laurent Tsai ◽  
Anshit Goyal ◽  
Mohammed Ali Alvi ◽  
Panagiotis Kerezoudis ◽  
Yagiz Ugur Yolcu ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe nature of the volume-outcome relationship in cases with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear, with considerable interhospital variation in patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the state of the volume-outcome relationship at different levels of trauma centers in the United States.METHODSThe authors queried the National Trauma Data Bank for the years 2007–2014 for patients with severe TBI. Case volumes for each level of trauma center organized into quintiles (Q1–Q5) served as the primary predictor. Analyzed outcomes included in-hospital mortality, total hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Multivariable regression models were performed for in-hospital mortality, overall complications, and total hospital and ICU LOSs to adjust for possible confounders. The analysis was stratified by level designation of the trauma center. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.001 to avoid a type I error due to a large sample size.RESULTSA total of 122,445 patients were included. Adjusted analysis did not demonstrate a significant relationship between increasing hospital volume of severe TBI cases and in-hospital mortality, complications, and nonhome hospital discharge disposition among level I–IV trauma centers. However, among level II trauma centers, hospital LOS was longer for the highest volume quintile (adjusted mean difference [MD] for Q5: 2.83 days, 95% CI 1.40–4.26 days, p < 0.001, reference = Q1). For level III and IV trauma centers, both hospital LOS and ICU LOS were longer for the highest volume quintile (adjusted MD for Q5: LOS 4.6 days, 95% CI 2.3–7.0 days, p < 0.001; ICU LOS 3.2 days, 95% CI 1.6–4.8 days, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSHigher volumes of severe TBI cases at a lower level of trauma center may be associated with a longer LOS. These results may assist policymakers with target interventions for resource allocation and point to the need for careful prehospital decision-making in patients with severe TBI.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e047305
Author(s):  
Susan Alcock ◽  
Divjeet Batoo ◽  
Sudharsana Rao Ande ◽  
Rob Grierson ◽  
Marco Essig ◽  
...  

IntroductionSevere traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a catastrophic neurological condition with significant economic burden. Early in-hospital mortality (<48 hours) with severe TBI is estimated at 50%. Several clinical examinations exist to determine brain death; however, most are difficult to elicit in the acute setting in patients with severe TBI. Having a definitive assessment tool would help predict early in-hospital mortality in this population. CT perfusion (CTP) has shown promise diagnosing early in-hospital mortality in patients with severe TBI and other populations. The purpose of this study is to validate admission CTP features of brain death relative to the clinical examination outcome for characterizing early in-hospital mortality in patients with severe TBI.Methods and analysisThe Early Diagnosis of Mortality using Admission CT Perfusion in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients study, is a prospective cohort study in patients with severe TBI funded by a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research. Adults aged 18 or older, with evidence of a severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8 before initial resuscitation) and, on mechanical ventilation at the time of imaging are eligible. Patients will undergo CTP at the time of first imaging on their hospital admission. Admission CTP compares with the reference standard of an accepted bedside clinical assessment for brainstem function. Deferred consent will be used. The primary outcome is a binary outcome of mortality (dead) or survival (not dead) in the first 48 hours of admission. The planned sample size for achieving a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 95% with a CI of ±5% is 200 patients.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board. The findings from our study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at local rounds, national and international conferences. The public will be informed through forums at the end of the study.Trial registration numberNCT04318665


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1339
Author(s):  
Chien-Hung Chen ◽  
Yu-Wei Hsieh ◽  
Jen-Fu Huang ◽  
Chih-Po Hsu ◽  
Chia-Ying Chung ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the leading cause of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are associated with high mortality. Few studies have focused on RTA-related pediatric TBI. We conducted this study to analyze the clinical characteristics of RTA-related TBI in children and to identify early predictors of in-hospital mortality in children with severe TBI. (2) Methods: In this 15-year observational cohort study, a total of 618 children with RTA-related TBI were enrolled. We collected the patients’ clinical characteristics at the initial presentations in the emergency department (ED), including gender, age, types of road user, the motor components of the Glasgow Coma Scale (mGCS) score, body temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose level, initial prothrombin time, and the intracranial computed tomography (CT) Rotterdam score, as potential mortality predictors. (3) Results: Compared with children exhibiting mild/moderate RTA-related TBI, those with severe RTA-related TBI were older and had a higher mortality rate (p < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rate for severe RTA-related TBI children was 15.6%. Compared to children who survived, those who died in hospital had a higher incidence of presenting with hypothermia (p = 0.011), a lower mGCS score (p < 0.001), a longer initial prothrombin time (p < 0.013), hyperglycemia (p = 0.017), and a higher Rotterdam CT score (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that the mGCS score (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.00, 95% CI: 1.28–3.14, p = 0.002) and the Rotterdam CT score (adjusted OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.31–5.06, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. (4) Conclusions: Children with RTA-related severe TBI had a high mortality rate. Patients who initially presented with hypothermia, a lower mGCS score, a prolonged prothrombin time, hyperglycemia, and a higher Rotterdam CT score in brain CT analyses were associated with in-hospital mortality. The mGCS and the Rotterdam CT scores were predictive of in-hospital mortality independently.


Author(s):  
Maximilian Peter Forssten ◽  
Gary Alan Bass ◽  
Kai-Michael Scheufler ◽  
Ahmad Mohammad Ismail ◽  
Yang Cao ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. As cardiovascular events are among the most common extracranial causes of death after a severe TBI, the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) could potentially aid in the risk stratification of this patient population. This investigation aimed to determine the association between the RCRI and in-hospital deaths among isolated severe TBI patients. Methods All adult patients registered in the TQIP database between 2013 and 2017 who suffered an isolated severe TBI, defined as a head AIS ≥ 3 with an AIS ≤ 1 in all other body regions, were included. Patients were excluded if they had a head AIS of 6. The association between different RCRI scores (0, 1, 2, 3, ≥ 4) and in-hospital mortality was analyzed using a Poisson regression model with robust standard errors while adjusting for potential confounders, with RCRI 0 as the reference. Results 259,399 patients met the study’s inclusion criteria. RCRI 2 was associated with a 6% increase in mortality risk [adjusted IRR (95% CI) 1.06 (1.01–1.12), p = 0.027], RCRI 3 was associated with a 17% increased risk of mortality [adjusted IRR (95% CI) 1.17 (1.05–1.31), p = 0.004], and RCRI ≥ 4 was associated with a 46% increased risk of in-hospital mortality [adjusted IRR(95% CI) 1.46 (1.11–1.90), p = 0.006], compared to RCRI 0. Conclusion An elevated RCRI ≥ 2 is significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality among patients with an isolated severe traumatic brain injury. The simplicity and bedside applicability of the index makes it an attractive choice for risk stratification in this patient population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoran Wang ◽  
Min He ◽  
Xiaofeng Ou ◽  
Xiaoqi Xie ◽  
Yan Kang

Abstract Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health issue all over the world. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic value of lactate to albumin ratio (LAR) on moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.Methods: Clinical data of 273 moderate to severe TBI patients hospitalized in West China Hospital between May 2015 and January 2018 were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore risk factors and construct prognostic model of in-hospital mortality in this cohort. Nomogram was drawn to visualize the prognostic model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were respectively drawn to evaluate discriminative ability and stability of this model.Results: Non-survivors had higher LAR than survivors (1.0870 vs 0.5286, p<0.001). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GCS (OR=0.818, p=0.008), blood glucose (OR=1.232, p<0.001), LAR (OR=1.883, p=0.012), and red blood cell distribution (RDW)-SD (OR=1.179, p=0.004) were independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality in included patients. These four factors were utilized to construct prognostic model. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of single lactate and LAR were 0.733 (95%Cl; 0.673-0.794) and 0.780 (95%Cl; 0.725-0.835), respectively. The AUC value of the prognostic model was 0.868 (95%Cl; 0.826-0.909), which was higher than that of LAR (Z=2.5143, p<0.05).Conclusions: LAR is a readily available prognostic marker of moderate to severe TBI patients. Prognostic model incorporating LAR is beneficial for clinicians to evaluate possible progression and make treatment decisions in these patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelmer-Joost Lenstra ◽  
Lidija Kuznecova-Keppel Hesselink ◽  
Sacha la Bastide-van Gemert ◽  
Bram Jacobs ◽  
Maarten Willem Nicolaas Nijsten ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in the acute phase of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the association with brain injury severity and outcome. In contrast to neurovascular diseases, sparse information is available on this issue. Data of adult patients with severe TBI admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for intracranial pressure monitoring of a level-1 trauma center from 2002 till 2018 were analyzed. Patients with a cardiac history were excluded. An ECG recording was obtained within 24 h after ICU admission. Admission brain computerized tomography (CT)-scans were categorized by Marshall-criteria (diffuse vs. mass lesions) and for location of traumatic lesions. CT-characteristics and maximum Therapy Intensity Level (TILmax) were used as indicators for brain injury severity. We analyzed data of 198 patients, mean (SD) age of 40 ± 19 years, median GCS score 3 [interquartile range (IQR) 3–6], and 105 patients (53%) had thoracic injury. In-hospital mortality was 30%, with sudden death by cardiac arrest in four patients. The incidence of ECG abnormalities was 88% comprising ventricular repolarization disorders (57%) mostly with ST-segment abnormalities, conduction disorders (45%) mostly with QTc-prolongation, and arrhythmias (38%) mostly of supraventricular origin. More cardiac arrhythmias were observed with increased grading of diffuse brain injury (p = 0.042) or in patients treated with hyperosmolar therapy (TILmax) (65%, p = 0.022). No association was found between ECG abnormalities and location of brain lesions nor with thoracic injury. Multivariate analysis with baseline outcome predictors showed that cardiac arrhythmias were not independently associated with in-hospital mortality (p = 0.097). Only hypotension (p = 0.029) and diffuse brain injury (p = 0.017) were associated with in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, a high incidence of ECG abnormalities was observed in patients with severe TBI in the acute phase after injury. No association between ECG abnormalities and location of brain lesions or presence of thoracic injury was present. Cardiac arrhythmias were indicative for brain injury severity but not independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Therefore, our findings likely suggest that ECG abnormalities should be considered as cardiac mimicry representing the secondary effect of traumatic brain injury allowing for a more rationale use of neuroprotective measures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 378-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Ohbe ◽  
Taisuke Jo ◽  
Hiroki Matsui ◽  
Kiyohide Fushimi ◽  
Hideo Yasunaga

ABSTRACT Background Whether enteral nutrition (EN) should be administered early in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients has not been fully addressed. Objective The present study aimed to evaluate whether early EN can reduce mortality or nosocomial pneumonia among severe TBI patients. Methods Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database from April 2014 to March 2017 linked with the Survey for Medical Institutions, we identified patients admitted for intracranial injury with Japan Coma Scale scores ≥30 (corresponding to Glasgow Coma Scale scores ≤8) at admission. We designated patients who started EN within 2 d of admission as the early EN group, and those who started EN at 3–5 d after admission as the delayed EN group. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was nosocomial pneumonia. Propensity score–matched analyses were performed to compare the outcomes between the 2 groups. Results We identified 3080 eligible patients during the 36-mo study period, comprising 1100 (36%) in the early EN group and 1980 (64%) in the delayed EN group. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality (difference: −0.3%; 95% CI: −3.7%, 3.1%) between the 2 groups. The proportion of nosocomial pneumonia was significantly lower in the early EN group than in the delayed EN group (difference: −3.2%; 95% CI: −5.9%, −0.4%). Conclusions Early EN may not reduce mortality, but may reduce nosocomial pneumonia in patients with severe TBI.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662097200
Author(s):  
Jordan M. Komisarow ◽  
Fangyu Chen ◽  
Monica S. Vavilala ◽  
Daniel Laskowitz ◽  
Michael L. James ◽  
...  

Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at risk for extra-cranial complications, such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We conducted an analysis of risk factors, mortality, and healthcare utilization associated with ARDS following isolated severe TBI. The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) dataset files from 2007-2014 were used to identify adult patients who suffered isolated [other body region-specific Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) < 3] severe TBI [admission total Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) from 3 to 8 and head region-specific AIS >3]. In-hospital mortality was compared between patients who developed ARDS and those who did not. Utilization of healthcare resources (ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and frequency of tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement) was also examined. This retrospective cohort study included 38,213 patients with an overall ARDS occurrence of 7.5%. Younger age, admission tachycardia, pre-existing vascular and respiratory diseases, and pneumonia were associated with the development of ARDS. Compared to patients without ARDS, patients that developed ARDS experienced increased in-hospital mortality (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26), length of stay (p = <0.001), duration of mechanical ventilation (p = < 0.001), and placement of tracheostomy (OR 2.70, 95% CI 2.34-3.13) and gastrostomy (OR 2.42, 95% CI 2.06-2.84). After isolated severe TBI, ARDS is associated with increased mortality and healthcare utilization. Future studies should focus on both prevention and management strategies specific to TBI-associated ARDS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz S. Alali ◽  
David Gomez ◽  
Chethan Sathya ◽  
Randall S. Burd ◽  
Todd G. Mainprize ◽  
...  

OBJECT Well-designed studies linking intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring with improved outcomes among children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are lacking. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between ICP monitoring in children and in-hospital mortality following severe TBI. METHODS An observational study was conducted using data derived from 153 adult or mixed (adult and pediatric) trauma centers participating in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) and 29 pediatric trauma centers participating in the pediatric pilot TQIP between 2010 and 2012. Random-intercept multilevel modeling was used to examine the association between ICP monitoring and in-hospital mortality among children with severe TBI ≤16 years of age after adjusting for important confounders. This association was evaluated at the patient level and at the hospital level. In a sensitivity analysis, this association was reexamined in a propensity-matched cohort. RESULTS A total of 1705 children with severe TBI were included in the study cohort. The overall in-hospital mortality was 14.3% of patients (n = 243), whereas the mortality of the 273 patients (16%) who underwent invasive ICP monitoring was 11% (n = 30). After adjusting for patient- and hospital-level characteristics, ICP monitoring was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.30–0.85; p = 0.01). It is possible that patients who were managed with ICP monitoring were selected because of an anticipated favorable or unfavorable outcome. To further address this potential selection bias, the analysis was repeated with the hospital-specific rate of ICP monitoring use as the exposure. The adjusted OR for death of children treated at high ICP–use hospitals was 0.49 compared with those treated at low ICP-use hospitals (95% CI 0.31–0.78; p = 0.003). Variations in ICP monitoring use accounted for 15.9% of the interhospital variation in mortality among children with severe TBI. Similar results were obtained after analyzing the data using propensity score-matching methods. CONCLUSIONS In this observational study, ICP monitoring use was associated with lower hospital mortality at both the patient and hospital levels. However, the contribution of variable ICP monitoring rates to interhospital variation in pediatric TBI mortality was modest.


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