scholarly journals Major incident triage and the implementation of a new triage tool, the MPTT-24

2017 ◽  
Vol 164 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
J E Smith ◽  
L A Wallis

IntroductionThe Modified Physiological Triage Tool (MPTT) is a recently developed primary triage tool and in comparison with existing tools demonstrates the greatest sensitivity at predicting need for life-saving intervention (LSI) within both military and civilian populations. To improve its applicability, we proposed to increase the upper respiratory rate (RR) threshold to 24 breaths per minute (bpm) to produce the MPTT-24. Our aim was to conduct a feasibility analysis of the proposed MPTT-24, comparing its performance with the existing UK Military Sieve.MethodA retrospective review of the Joint Theatre Trauma Registry (JTTR) and Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) databases was performed for all adult (>18 years) patients presenting between 2006–2013 (JTTR) and 2014 (TARN). Patients were defined as priority one (P1) if they received one or more LSIs. Using first recorded hospital RR in isolation, sensitivity and specificity of the ≥24 bpm threshold was compared with the existing threshold (≥22 bpm) at predicting P1 status. Patients were then categorised as P1 or not-P1 by the MPTT, MPTT-24 and the UK Military Sieve.ResultsThe MPTT and MPTT-24 outperformed existing UK methods of triage with a statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in sensitivity of between 25.5% and 29.5%. In both populations, the MPTT-24 demonstrated an absolute reduction in sensitivity with an increase in specificity when compared with the MPTT. A statistically significant difference was observed between the MPTT and MPTT-24 in the way they categorised TARN and JTTR cases as P1 (p<0.001).ConclusionsWhen compared with the existing MPTT, the MPTT-24 allows for a more rapid triage assessment. Both continue to outperform existing methods of primary major incident triage and within the military setting, the slight increase in undertriage is offset by a reduction in overtriage. We recommend that the MPTT-24 be considered as a replacement to the existing UK Military Sieve.

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Jason Smith

IntroductionA key principle in the effective management of major incidents is triage, the process of prioritising patients on the basis of their clinical acuity. In many countries including the UK, a two-stage approach to triage is practised, with primary triage at the scene followed by a more detailed assessment using a secondary triage process, the Triage Sort. To date, no studies have analysed the performance of the Triage Sort in the civilian setting. The primary aim of this study was to determine the performance of the Triage Sort at predicting the need for life-saving intervention (LSI).MethodsUsing the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) database for all adult patients (>18 years) between 2006 and 2014, we determined which patients received one or more LSIs using a previously defined list. The first recorded hospital physiology was used to categorise patient priority using the Triage Sort, National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU) Sieve and the Modified Physiological Triage Tool-24 (MPTT-24). Performance characteristics were evaluated using sensitivity and specificity with statistical analysis using a McNemar’s test.Results127 233patients (58.1%) had complete data and were included: 55.6% men, aged 61.4 (IQR 43.1–80.0 years), ISS 9 (IQR 9–16), with 24 791 (19.5%) receiving at least one LSI (priority 1). The Triage Sort demonstrated the lowest accuracy of all triage tools at identifying the need for LSI (sensitivity 15.7% (95% CI 15.2 to 16.2) correlating with the highest rate of under-triage (84.3% (95% CI 83.8 to 84.8), but it had the greatest specificity (98.7% (95% CI 98.6 to 98.8).ConclusionWithin a civilian trauma registry population, the Triage Sort demonstrated the poorest performance at identifying patients in need of LSI. Its use as a secondary triage tool should be reviewed, with an urgent need for further research to determine the optimum method of secondary triage.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
James Vassallo ◽  
Nabeela Malik ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
Damian Keene ◽  
...  

Background Triage is a key principle in the effective management of major incidents. However, there is an increasing body of evidence demonstrating that existing paediatric methods are associated with high rates of under-triage and are not fit for purpose. The aim of this study was to derive a novel paediatric triage tool using machine learning (ML) techniques. Methods The United Kingdom Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) database was interrogated for all paediatric patients aged under 16 years for the ten-year period 2008-2017. Patients were categorised as Priority One if they received one or more life-saving interventions from a previously defined list. Six ML algorithms were investigated for identifying patients as Priority One. Subsequently, the best performing model was chosen for further development using a risk score approach and clinically relevant modifications in order to derive a novel triage tool (LASSO M2). Using patients with complete pre-hospital physiological data, a comparative analysis was then performed comparing this to existing pre-hospital paediatric major incident triage tools. Performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, under-triage (1-sensitivity) and over-triage (1-positive predictive value). Results Complete physiological data were available for 4962 patients. The LASSO M2 model demonstrated the best performance at identifying paediatric patients in need of life-saving intervention, sensitivity 88.8% (95% CI 85.5, 91.5) and was associated with the lowest rate of under-triage, 11.2% (8.5, 14.5). In contrast, the Paediatric Triage Tape and JumpSTART both had poor sensitivity when identifying those requiring life-saving intervention (36.1% (31.8, 40.7) and 44.7% (40.2, 49.4)) respectively. Conclusion The ML derived triage tool (LASSO M2) outperforms existing methods of paediatric major incident triage at identifying patients in need of life-saving intervention. Prior to its recommendation for clinical use, further work is required to externally validate its performance and undertake a feasibility assessment in a clinical context.


2020 ◽  
pp. emermed-2019-209092
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Gordon Fuller ◽  
Jason E Smith

IntroductionMajor trauma is the third leading cause of avoidable mortality in the UK. Defining which patients require care in a major trauma centre is a critical component of developing, evaluating and enhancing regional major trauma systems. Traditionally, trauma patients have been classified using the Injury Severity Score (ISS), but resource-based criteria have been proposed as an alternative. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ISS and the use of life-saving interventions (LSI).MethodsRetrospective cohort study using the Trauma Audit Research Network database for all adult patients (aged ≥18 years) between 2006 and 2014. Patients were categorised as needing an LSI if they received one or more interventions from a previously defined list determined by expert consensus.Results193 290 patients met study inclusion criteria: 56.9% male, median age 60.0 years (IQR 41.2–78.8) and median ISS 9 (IQR 9–16). The most common mechanism of injury was falls <2 m (52.1%), followed by road traffic collisions (22.2%). 15.1% received one or more LSIs. The probability of a receiving an LSI increased with increasing ISS, but only a low to moderate correlation was evident (0.334, p<0.001). A clinically significant number of cases (5.3% and 7.6%) received an LSI despite having an ISS ≤8 or <15, respectively.ConclusionsA clinically significant number of adult trauma patients requiring LSIs have an ISS below the traditional definition of major trauma. The traditional definition should be reconsidered and either lowered, or an alternative metric should be used.


Author(s):  
Miranda Jane Mourby ◽  
James Doidge ◽  
Kerina H Jones ◽  
Ruth Gilbert ◽  
Stergios Aidinlis ◽  
...  

IntroductionAnalysis of linked health data can generate important, even life-saving, insights into population health. Yet obstacles both legal and organisational in nature can impede this work. ApproachWe focus on three UK infrastructures set up to link and share data for research: the Administrative Data Research Network, NHS Digital, and the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. Bringing an interdisciplinary perspective, we identify key issues underpinning their challenges and successes in linking health data for research. ResultsWe identify examples of uncertainty surrounding legal powers to share and link data, and around data protection obligations, as well as systemic delays and historic public backlash. These issues require updated official guidance on the relevant law, approaches to linkage which are planned for impact and ongoing utility, greater transparency between data providers and researchers, and engagement with the patient population which is both high-profile and carefully considered. ConclusionsHealth data linkage for research presents varied challenges, to which there can be no single solution. Our recommendations would require action from a number of data providers and regulators to be meaningfully advanced. This illustrates the scale and complexity of the challenge of health data linkage, in the UK and beyond: a challenge which our case studies suggest no single organisation can combat alone. Planned programmes of linkage are critical because they allow time for organisations to address these challenges without adversely affecting the feasibility of individual research projects.


2021 ◽  
pp. emermed-2021-211706
Author(s):  
James Vassallo ◽  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
Nabeela Malik ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
Damian Keene ◽  
...  

IntroductionTriage is a key principle in the effective management of major incidents. There is currently a paucity of evidence to guide the triage of children. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of nine adult and paediatric triage tools, including the novel ‘Sheffield Paediatric Triage Tool’ (SPTT), assessing their ability in identifying patients needing life-saving interventions (LSIs).MethodsA 10-year (2008–2017) retrospective database review of the Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) Database for paediatric patients (<16 years) was performed. Primary outcome was identification of patients receiving one or more LSIs from a previously defined list. Secondary outcomes included mortality and prediction of Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15. Primary analysis was conducted on patients with complete prehospital physiological data with planned secondary analyses using first recorded data. Performance characteristics were evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, undertriage and overtriage.Results15 133 patients met TARN inclusion criteria. 4962 (32.8%) had complete prehospital physiological data and 8255 (54.5%) had complete first recorded physiological data. The majority of patients were male (69.5%), with a median age of 11.9 years. The overwhelming majority of patients (95.4%) sustained blunt trauma, yielding a median ISS of 9 and overall, 875 patients (17.6%) received at least one LSI. The SPTT demonstrated the greatest sensitivity of all triage tools at identifying need for LSI (92.2%) but was associated with the highest rate of overtriage (75.0%). Both the Paediatric Triage Tape (sensitivity 34.1%) and JumpSTART (sensitivity 45.0%) performed less well at identifying LSI. By contrast, the adult Modified Physiological Triage Tool-24 (MPTT-24) triage tool had the second highest sensitivity (80.8%) with tolerable rates of overtriage (70.2%).ConclusionThe SPTT and MPTT-24 outperform existing paediatric triage tools at identifying those patients requiring LSIs. This may necessitate a change in recommended practice. Further work is needed to determine the optimum method of paediatric major incident triage, but consideration should be given to simplifying major incident triage by the use of one generic tool (the MPTT-24) for adults and children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 100888
Author(s):  
Nabeela S. Malik ◽  
Saisakul Chernbumroong ◽  
Yuanwei Xu ◽  
James Vassallo ◽  
Justine Lee ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-321277
Author(s):  
Matko Marlais ◽  
Kate Martin ◽  
Stephen D Marks

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate whether being on dialysis at the time of renal transplantation affected renal allograft survival in paediatric renal transplant recipients (pRTRs).MethodsRetrospective study of UK Transplant Registry (National Health Service Blood and Transplant) data on all children (aged <18 years) receiving a kidney-only transplant from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015. Kaplan-Meier estimates of patient and renal allograft survival calculated and Cox regression modelling accounting for donor type. The relationship between time on dialysis and renal allograft survival was examined.Results2038 pRTRs were analysed: 607 (30%) were pre-emptively transplanted, 789 (39%) and 642 (32%) on peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis, respectively, at the time of transplantation. Five-year renal allograft survival was significantly better in the pre-emptively transplanted group (90.6%) compared with those on peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis (86.4% and 85.7%, respectively; p=0.02). After accounting for donor type, there was a significantly lower hazard of 5-year renal allograft failure in pre-emptively transplanted children (HR 0.742, p=0.05). Time spent on dialysis pre-transplant negatively correlated with renal allograft survival (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in 5-year renal allograft survival between children who were on dialysis for less than 6 months and children transplanted pre-emptively (87.5% vs 90.5%, p=0.25).ConclusionsPre-emptively transplanted children have improved 5-year renal allograft survival, compared with children on dialysis at the time of transplantation. Although increased time spent on dialysis correlated with poorer renal allograft survival, there was no evidence that short periods of dialysis pre-transplant affected renal allograft survival.


Author(s):  
Francois-Xavier Ageron ◽  
Timothy J. Coats ◽  
Vincent Darioli ◽  
Ian Roberts

Abstract Background Tranexamic acid reduces surgical blood loss and reduces deaths from bleeding in trauma patients. Tranexamic acid must be given urgently, preferably by paramedics at the scene of the injury or in the ambulance. We developed a simple score (Bleeding Audit Triage Trauma score) to predict death from bleeding. Methods We conducted an external validation of the BATT score using data from the UK Trauma Audit Research Network (TARN) from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2018. We evaluated the impact of tranexamic acid treatment thresholds in trauma patients. Results We included 104,862 trauma patients with an injury severity score of 9 or above. Tranexamic acid was administered to 9915 (9%) patients. Of these 5185 (52%) received prehospital tranexamic acid. The BATT score had good accuracy (Brier score = 6%) and good discrimination (C-statistic 0.90; 95% CI 0.89–0.91). Calibration in the large showed no substantial difference between predicted and observed death due to bleeding (1.15% versus 1.16%, P = 0.81). Pre-hospital tranexamic acid treatment of trauma patients with a BATT score of 2 or more would avoid 210 bleeding deaths by treating 61,598 patients instead of avoiding 55 deaths by treating 9915 as currently. Conclusion The BATT score identifies trauma patient at risk of significant haemorrhage. A score of 2 or more would be an appropriate threshold for pre-hospital tranexamic acid treatment.


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