Retrospective analysis of alcohol testing in trauma team activation patients at a Canadian tertiary trauma centre

ObjectivesAlthough alcohol screening is an essential requirement of level I trauma centre accreditation, actual rates of compliance with mandatory alcohol testing in trauma patients are seldom reported. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) testing in patients requiring trauma team activation (TTA) for whom blood alcohol testing was mandatory, and to elucidate patient-level, injury-level and system-level factors associated with BAC testing.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTertiary trauma centre in Halifax, Canada.Participants2306 trauma patients who required activation of the trauma team.Primary outcome measureThe primary outcome was the rate of BAC testing among TTA patients. Trends in BAC testing over time and across patient and injury characteristics were described. Multivariable logistic regression examined patient-level, injury-level and system-level factors associated with testing.ResultsOverall, 61% of TTA patients received BAC testing despite existence of a mandatory testing protocol. Rates of BAC testing rose steadily over the study period from 33% in 2000 to 85% in 2010. Testing varied considerably across patient-level, injury-level and system-level characteristics. Key factors associated with testing were male gender, younger age, lower Injury Severity Score, scene Glasgow Coma Scale score <9, direct transport to hospital and presentation between midnight and 09:00 hours, or on the weekend.ConclusionsAt this tertiary trauma centre with a policy of empirical alcohol testing for TTA patients, BAC testing rates varied significantly over the 11-year study period and distinct factors were associated with alcohol testing in TTA patients.

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LO89: Factors associated with delay in trauma team activation and impact on patient outcomes

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2017.151 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 19 (S1) ◽

pp. S58-S59

Author(s):

R. Connolly ◽

M. Woo ◽

J. Lampron ◽

J.J. Perry

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Operative Management ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Early Group ◽

Emergency Physicians ◽

Trauma Team Activation ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Delayed Group

Introduction: Trauma code activation is initiated by emergency physicians using physiologic and anatomic criteria, mechanism of injury and patient demographic factors in conjunction with data obtained from emergency medical service personnel. This enables rapid definitive treatment of trauma patients. Our objective was to identify factors associated with delayed trauma team activation. Methods: We conducted a health records review to supplement data from a regional trauma center database. We assessed consecutive cases from the trauma database from January 2008 to March 2014 including all cases in which a trauma code was activated by an emergency physician. We defined a delay in trauma code activation as a time greater than 30 minutes from time to arrival to trauma team activation. Data were collected in Microsoft Excel and analyzed in Statistical Analysis System (SAS). We conducted univariate analysis for factors potentially influencing trauma team activation and we subsequently used multiple logistic regression analysis models for delayed activation in relation to mortality, length of stay and time to operative management. Results: 1020 patients were screened from which 174 patients were excluded, as they were seen directly by the trauma team. 846 patients were included for our analysis. 4.1% (35/846) of trauma codes were activated after 30 minutes. Mean age was 40.8 years in the early group versus 49.2 in the delayed group p=0.01. There was no significant difference in type of injury, injury severity or time from injury between the two groups. Patients were over 70 years in 7.6% in the early activation group vs 17.1% in the delayed group (p=0.04). 77.7% of the early group were male vs 71.4% in the delayed group (p=0.39). There was no significant difference in mortality (15.2% vs 11.4% p=0.10), median length of stay (10 days in both groups p=0.94) or median time to operative management (331 minutes vs 277 minutes p=0.52). Conclusion: Delayed activation is linked with increasing age with no clear link with increased mortality. Given the severe injuries in the delayed cohort which required activation of the trauma team further emphasis on the older trauma patient and interventions to recognize this vulnerable population should be made. When assessing elderly trauma patients emergency physicians should have a low threshold to activate trauma teams.

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Radiation Exposure From CT Scanning in the Resuscitative Phase of Trauma Care: A Level One Trauma Centre Experience

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2014.61 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 617-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Lorri Beatty ◽

Elizabeth Furey ◽

Cupido Daniels ◽

Avery Berman ◽

John M. Tallon

Keyword(s):

Radiation Exposure ◽

Tissue Injury ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Whole Body ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

X Rays ◽

Imaging Data ◽

Trauma Team Activation

AbstractObjectivesThe initial management of a trauma patient often involves imaging in the form of x-rays, computed tomography (CT) and other radiographic studies, which expose the patient to ionizing radiation, an entity known to cause tissue injury and malignancy at high doses. The purpose of this study was to use a calculation-based method to determine the radiation exposure of trauma patients undergoing trauma team activation in a Canadian tertiary-care trauma centre.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted using the Nova Scotia Provincial Trauma Registry. All patients age 16 years old and over who underwent trauma team activation between March 1, 2008 and March 1, 2009 were included. Patients who died prior to imaging tests were excluded. Dose reports for each CT were used to calculate a whole-body radiation dose for each patient.ResultsThere were 230 trauma team activations during the study period, of which 206 had CT imaging. Data were available for 162 patients. The mean whole-body radiation exposure for all patients was 24.4±10.3 mSv, which may correlate to one additional cancer death for every 100 trauma patients scanned.ConclusionsTrauma patients are exposed to significant amounts of radiation during their initial trauma work-up, which may increase the risk of fatal cancer. Clinicians who care for these patients must be aware of the radiation exposure, and take measures to limit radiation exposure of trauma patients.

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Comparison of routine blood alcohol tests and ICD-10-AM coding of alcohol involvement for major trauma patients

Health Information Management Journal ◽

10.1177/18333583211037171 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 183335832110371

Author(s):

Georgina Lau ◽

Belinda J Gabbe ◽

Biswadev Mitra ◽

Paul M Dietze ◽

Sandra Braaf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Administrative Data ◽

Major Trauma ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Alcohol Involvement ◽

Preventable Risk Factor ◽

Major Trauma Centre ◽

Icd 10

Background: Alcohol use is a key preventable risk factor for serious injury. To effectively prevent alcohol-related injuries, we rely on the accurate surveillance of alcohol involvement in injury events. This often involves the use of administrative data, such as International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) coding. Objective: To evaluate the completeness and accuracy of using administrative coding for the surveillance of alcohol involvement in major trauma injury events by comparing patient blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with ICD-10-AM coding. Method: This retrospective cohort study examined 2918 injury patients aged ≥18 years who presented to a major trauma centre in Victoria, Australia, over a 2-year period, of which 78% ( n = 2286) had BAC data available. Results: While 15% of patients had a non-zero BAC, only 4% had an ICD-10-AM code suggesting acute alcohol involvement. The agreement between blood alcohol test results and ICD-10-AM coding of acute alcohol involvement was fair ( κ = 0.33, 95% confidence interval: 0.27–0.38). Of the 341 patients with a non-zero BAC, 82 (24.0%) had ICD-10-AM codes related to acute alcohol involvement. Supplementary factors Y90 Evidence of alcohol involvement determined by blood alcohol level codes, which specifically describe patient BAC, were assigned to just 29% of eligible patients with a non-zero BAC. Conclusion: ICD-10-AM coding underestimated the proportion of alcohol-related injuries compared to patient BAC. Implications: Given the current role of administrative data in the surveillance of alcohol-related injuries, these findings may have significant implications for the implementation of cost-effective strategies for preventing alcohol-related injuries.

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Improvement in geriatric trauma outcomes in an evolving trauma system

Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open ◽

10.1136/tsaco-2018-000282 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e000282 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Amund Hovengen Ringen ◽

Iver Anders Gaski ◽

Hege Rustad ◽

Nils Oddvar Skaga ◽

Christine Gaarder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trauma System ◽

Trauma Team ◽

The Elderly ◽

Geriatric Trauma ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Age Group ◽

Trauma Team Activation ◽

Activation Rate ◽

Time Periods ◽

Activation Rates

BackgroundThe elderly trauma patient has increased mortality compared with younger patients. During the last 15 years, initial treatment of severely injured patients at Oslo University Hospital Ulleval (OUHU) has changed resulting in overall improved outcomes. Whether this holds true for the elderly trauma population needs exploration and was the aim of the present study.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of 2628 trauma patients 61 years or older admitted to OUHU during the 12-year period, 2002–2013. The population was stratified based on age (61–70 years, 71–80 years, 81 years and older) and divided into time periods: 2002–2009 (P1) and 2010–2013 (P2). Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to identify clinically relevant core variables correlated with mortality and trauma team activation rate.ResultsCrude mortality decreased from 19% in P1 to 13% in P2 (p<0.01) with an OR of 0.77 (95 %CI 0.65 to 0.91) when admitted in P2. Trauma team activation rates increased from 53% in P1 to 72% in P2 (p<0.01) with an OR of 2.16 (95% CI 1.93 to 2.41) for being met by a trauma team in P2. Mortality increased from 10% in the age group 61–70 years to 26% in the group above 80 years. Trauma team activation rates decreased from 71% in the age group 61–70 years to 50% in the age group older than 80 years. Median ISS were 17 in all three age groups and in both time periods.DiscussionDevelopment of a multidisciplinary dedicated trauma service is associated with increased trauma team activation rate as well as survival in geriatric trauma patients. As expected, mortality increased with age, although inversely related to the likelihood of being met by a trauma team. Trauma team activation should be considered for all trauma patients older than 70 years.Level of evidenceLevel IV.

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A Contemporary Analysis of Delayed Diagnoses After Traumatic Injury

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/0003134820951458 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 000313482095145

Author(s):

Justin S. Hatchimonji ◽

Catherine E. Sharoky ◽

Elinore J. Kaufman ◽

Lucy W. Ma ◽

Anna E. Garcia Whitlock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Traumatic Injury ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Extremity Injury ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Common Category ◽

Multivariable Regression Model ◽

Multivariable Regression

Background Factors associated with delayed injury diagnosis (DID) have been examined, but incompletely researched. Methods We evaluated demographics, mechanism, and measures of mental status and injury severity among 10 years’ worth of adult trauma patients at our center for association with DID in a multivariable regression model. Descriptions of DID injuries were reviewed to highlight characteristics of these injuries. Results We included 13 509 patients, 89 (0.7%) of whom had a recognized DID. In regression analysis, ISS (OR 1.04 per point, 95% CI 1.02-1.06) and number of injuries (OR 1.08 per injury, 95% CI 1.04-1.11) were associated with DID. Operative patients had twice the odds of DID (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.18-3.44). The most common category of DID was orthopedic extremity injury (22/89). Conclusion DID is associated with injury severity and operative intervention. This suggests that the presence of an injury requiring operation may distract the trauma team from additional injuries.

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DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING AND IONIZING RADIATION EXPOSURE IN A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTRE POPULATION MET WITH TRAUMA TEAM ACTIVATION: A ONE-YEAR PATIENT RECORD AUDIT

Radiation Protection Dosimetry ◽

10.1093/rpd/ncaa010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 189 (1) ◽

pp. 35-47

Author(s):

Anna Bågenholm ◽

Pål Løvhaugen ◽

Rune Sundset ◽

Tor Ingebrigtsen

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Imaging ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Effective Dose ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Whole Body ◽

Reference Level ◽

Dose Length Product ◽

Trauma Team Activation ◽

X Ray

Abstract This audit describes ionizing and non-ionizing diagnostic imaging at a regional trauma centre. All 144 patients (males 79.2%, median age 31 years) met with trauma team activation from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 were included. We used data from electronic health records to identify all diagnostic imaging and report radiation exposure as dose area product (DAP) for conventional radiography (X-ray) and dose length product (DLP) and effective dose for CT. During hospitalization, 134 (93.1%) underwent X-ray, 122 (84.7%) CT, 92 (63.9%) focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST), 14 (9.7%) ultrasound (FAST excluded) and 32 (22.2%) magnetic resonance imaging. One hundred and sixteen (80.5%) underwent CT examinations during trauma admissions, and 73 of 144 (50.7%) standardized whole body CT (SWBCT). DAP values were below national reference levels. Median DLP and effective dose were 2396 mGycm and 20.42 mSv for all CT examinations, and 2461 mGycm (national diagnostic reference level 2400) and 22.29 mSv for a SWBCT.

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Trauma 2021Perceptions of a trauma team regarding in situ simulationEpidemiology of submersion injuries in Canadian children and adolescents: 1990–2018A survey of medical and administrative directors on REBOA use in Canadian trauma centresCut to the chase: comparing cutting tools in the exposure of simulated trauma patientsPediatric major trauma. Anaesthesia education: airway, breathing, coffee and cases 2020–2021Geriatric trauma care at a level 1 trauma centre: Are we following best practice?Was the introduction of a provincially standardized consensus statement for postintubation analgesia and sedation associated with increased use of associated pharmacological therapies in New Brunswick?Are there important variations in the care of adult trauma patients with isolated, nonoperative subdural hematomas between those admitted to a neurosurgical centre and those admitted to a non-neurosurgical centre for their entire inpatient stay?Flattening the curve on the negative psychosocial impact of trauma on the family of acute care trauma survivors: a quantitative studyDoes ACLS belong in ATLS? Seeking evidence during resuscitative thoracotomyAutologous omental harvest for microvascular free flap reconstruction of a severe traumatic scalp degloving injury: a case reportDerivation and validation of actionable quality indicators targeting reductions in complications for injury admissionsASA dosing practices in the management of blunt cerebrovascular injury: a retrospective reviewA retrospective analysis of bicycle lane collisions in Vancouver, British Columbia, from 2012 to 2017Evaluating the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) process at Vancouver General HospitalAlcohol use and trauma in Alberta after COVID-19 lockdown: overrepresentation and undertreatment are opportunities for improvementMental health and addiction diagnoses are linked to increased violent injuries and gaps in provision of resources during the COVID-19 pandemicPain management strategies after orthopedic trauma in a level 1 trauma centre: a descriptive study with a view of optimizing practicesStudy to Actively Warm Trauma Patients (STAY WARM): a feasibility pilot evaluationPrehospital trauma care in civilian and military settings including cold environments: a systematic review and knowledge gap analysisAntibiotic administration in open fractures: adherence to guidelines at a Canadian trauma centreAre we meeting massive transfusion protocol activation and blood product delivery times in trauma patients? A retrospective review from 2014 to 2018Unplanned returns to the operating room: a quality improvement initiative at a level 1 trauma centreStopping the bleed: the history and rebirth of Canadian freeze-dried plasmaThe state of the evidence for emergency medical services (EMS) care of prehospital severe traumatic brain injury: an analysis of appraised research from the Prehospital Evidence-based Practice programA mixed methods study of a paramedic falls referral program in Nova ScotiaFirst presentations of psychiatric illness at a level 1 trauma centreAlcohol and substance abuse screening in pediatric trauma patients: examining rates of screening and implementing a screen for the pediatric populationMeasuring behavioural quality and quantity of team leaders during simulated interprofessional trauma careImproving rural trauma outcomes: a structured trauma-training program for rural family physicians with enhanced surgical skills — a pilot projectTrauma treatment: evidence-based response to psychological needs after a natural disasterHow prepared are Canadian trauma centres for mass casualty incidents?The catalytic effect of multisource feedback for trauma teams: a pilot studyRetrievable inferior vena cava filter for primary prophylaxis of pulmonary embolism in at-risk trauma patients: a feasibility trialValue of data collected by the medical examiner service on the quality of alcohol and toxicology testing in fatal motor vehicle collisionsPrehospital narrow pulse pressure predicts need for resuscitative thoracotomy and emergent surgical intervention after traumaImpact of a geriatric consultation service on outcomes in older trauma patients: a retrospective pre–post studyExploring physical literacy as a condition of fall mechanism in older adultsIs the use of business intelligence software helpful in planning injury prevention campaigns?Exposure to endotracheal intubation among trauma patients in level 5 trauma centres in New Brunswick — a retrospective reviewAre early specialist consultations helpful predictors of those who require care in level 1 or 2 designated trauma centres?Neurologic outcomes after traumatic cardiac arrest: a systematic reviewClosed-loop communication in the trauma bay: identifying opportunities for team performance improvement through a video review analysisEmbolization in nonsplenic trauma: outcomes at a Canadian trauma hospitalThe matrix: grouping ICD-10-CA injury codes by body region and nature of injury for reporting purposesEvaluation of low-value clinical practices in acute trauma care: a multicentre retrospective studyTrauma 101: a virtual case-based trauma conference as an adjunct to medical educationPhysiologic considerations, indications and techniques for ECLS in trauma: experience of a level 1 trauma centreEngaging patients in the selection of trauma quality indicatorsStrategies aimed at preventing chronic opioid use in trauma and acute care surgery: a scoping reviewAugmented reality surgical telementoring for leg fasciotomyIdentification of high-risk trauma patients requiring major interventions for traumatic hemorrhage: a prospective study of clinical gestaltEvaluating best practices in trauma care of older adultsBetween paradigms: comparing patient and parent experiences of injured adolescents treated at pediatric or adult trauma centresEarly outcomes after implementation of chest trauma management protocol in Vancouver General HospitalUtility of diagnostic peritoneal lavage versus focused abdominal sonography for trauma in penetrating abdominal injuryTime to definitive surgery and survival in pediatric patients younger than 18 years with gunshot woundsThe effect of chronic obstructive lung disease on post-traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome: predictors of morbidity and mortalityThe association between injury type and clinical outcomes in patients with traumatic renal injury after nephrectomyWhen low complication rates are a bad sign: the negative impact of introducing an electronic medical record on TQIP data completenessClinical handover from paramedic services to the trauma team: a video review analysis of the IMIST-AMBO protocol implementationGeriatric Recovery and Enhancement Alliance in Trauma (GREAT) multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative: improving process and outcome measures for geriatric trauma patientsIncreasing the safety of inadvertent iliac artery device deployment with the COBRA-OS, a novel low-profile REBOA deviceIs it better to watch before or listen while doing? A randomized trial of video-modelling versus telementoring for out-of-scope tube thoracostomy insertion performed by search and rescue medicsIndications for prehospital civilian tourniquet application by first responders: an expert consensus opinion of military physicians by the Delphi method

Canadian Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1503/cjs.014121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (5 Suppl 1) ◽

pp. S37-S64

Author(s):

Olga Bednarek ◽

Mike O’Leary ◽

Sean Hurley ◽

Caleb Cummings ◽

Ruth Bird ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Brunswick ◽

Trauma Care ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Quality Improvement Initiative ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Trauma Outcomes ◽

Trauma Centres ◽

Level 1

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Undertriage Despite Use of Geriatric-Specific Trauma Team Activation Guidelines

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/0003134820951450 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 000313482095145

Author(s):

Ram V. Anantha ◽

Matthew D. Painter ◽

Franck Diaz-Garelli ◽

Andrew M. Nunn ◽

Preston R. Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Mortality ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Severely Injured ◽

Hemorrhage Control ◽

Trauma Team Activation ◽

Elderly Trauma Patients

Background Elderly trauma patients are at risk for undertriage, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether implementation of geriatric-specific trauma team activation (TTA) protocols appropriately identified severely-injured elderly patients. Methods This single-center retrospective study evaluated all severely injured (injury severity score [ISS] >15), geriatric (≥65 years) patients admitted to our Level 1 tertiary-care hospital between January 2014 and September 2017. Undertriage was defined as the lack of TTA despite presence of severe injuries. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were mortality within 48 hours of admission and urgent hemorrhage control. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of appropriate triage in this study. Results Out of 1039 severely injured geriatric patients, 628 (61%) did not undergo TTA. Undertriaged patients were significantly older and had more comorbidities. In-hospital mortality was 5% and 31% in the undertriaged and appropriately triaged groups, respectively ( P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients needed urgent hemorrhage control, compared to 6% of the appropriately triaged group ( P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients died within 48 hours compared to 19% in the appropriately triaged group ( P < .0001). Predictors of appropriate triage include GCS, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, lactic acid, ISS, shock, and absence of dementia, stroke, or alcoholism. Discussion Geriatric-specific TTA guidelines continue to undertriage elderly trauma patients when using ISS as a metric to measure undertriage. However, undertriaged patients have much lower morbidity and mortality, suggesting the geriatric-specific TTA guidelines identify those patients at highest risk for poor outcomes.

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Trauma recidivism in a Canadian province: a 14-year registry review

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2018.496 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 473-476 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mete Erdogan ◽

Nelofar Kureshi ◽

Mark Asbridge ◽

Robert S. Green

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Major Trauma ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Trauma Registry ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Population Based ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Screening And Brief Intervention ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Trauma Recidivism

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo determine the rate of recurrent major trauma (i.e., trauma recidivism) using a provincial population-based trauma registry. We compared outcomes between recidivists and non-recidivists, and assessed factors associated with recidivism and mortality.MethodsReview of all adult (>17 years) major trauma patients in Nova Scotia (2001–2015) using data from the Nova Scotia Trauma Registry. Outcomes of interest were mortality, duration of hospital stay, and in-hospital complications. Multiple regression was used to assess factors associated with recidivism and mortality.ResultsOf 9,365 major trauma patients, 2% (150/9365) were recidivists. Mean age at initial injury was 52 ± 21.5 years; 73% were male. The mortality rate for both recidivists and non-recidivists was 31%. However, after adjusting for potential confounders the likelihood of mortality was over 3 times greater for recidivists compared to non-recidivists (OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.06–6.54). Other factors associated with mortality included age, male gender, penetrating injury, Injury Severity Score, trauma team activation (TTA) and admission to the intensive care unit. The only variables associated with recidivism were age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–1.00) and TTA (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.34–0.96).ConclusionsThis is the first provincial investigation of major trauma recidivism in Canada. While recidivism was infrequent (2%), the adjusted odds of mortality were over three times greater for recidivists. Further research is warranted to determine the effectiveness of strategies for reducing rates of major trauma recidivism such as screening and brief intervention in cases of violence or substance abuse.

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LO61: A modified Delphi study to identify trauma care modifiers for older adults

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2020.116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (S1) ◽

pp. S29-S30

Author(s):

K. Yadav ◽

V. Boucher ◽

N. Le Sage ◽

C. Malo ◽

E. Mercier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Trauma Care ◽

Delphi Study ◽

Major Trauma ◽

Expert Panel ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Centre ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Median Score ◽

Modified Delphi

Introduction: Older (age >=65 years) trauma patients suffer increased morbidity and mortality. This is due to under-triage of older trauma victims, resulting in lack of transfer to a trauma centre or failure to activate the trauma team. There are currently no Canadian guidelines for the management of older trauma patients. The objective of this study was to identify modifiers to the prehospital and emergency department (ED) phases of major trauma care for older adults based on expert consensus. Methods: We conducted a modified Delphi study to assess senior-friendly major trauma care modifiers based on national expert consensus. The panel consisted of 24 trauma care providers across Canada, including medical directors, paramedics, emergency physicians, emergency nurses, trauma surgeons and trauma administrators. Following a literature review, we developed an online Delphi survey consisting of 16 trauma care modifiers. Three online survey rounds were distributed and panelists were asked to score items on a 9-point Likert scale. The following predetermined thresholds were used: appropriate (median score 7–9, without disagreement); inappropriate (median score 1–3; without disagreement), and uncertain (any median score with disagreement). The disagreement index (DI) is a method for measuring consensus within groups. Agreement was defined a priori as a DI score <1. Results: There was a 100% response rate for all survey rounds. Three new trauma care modifiers were suggested by panelists. Of 19 trauma care modifiers, the expert panel achieved consensus agreement for 17 items. The prehospital modifier with the strongest agreement to transfer to a trauma centre was a respiratory rate <10 or >20 breaths/minute or needing ventilatory support (DI = 0.24). The ED modifier with the strongest level of agreement was obtaining a 12-lead electrocardiogram following the primary and secondary survey for all older adults (DI = 0.01). Two trauma care modifiers failed to reach consensus agreement: transporting older patients with ground level falls to a trauma centre and activating the trauma team based solely on an age >=65 years. Conclusion: Using a modified Delphi process, an expert panel agreed upon 17 trauma care modifiers for older adults in the prehospital and ED phases of care. These modifiers may improve the delivery of senior-friendly trauma care and should be considered when developing local and national trauma guidelines.

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