Time to Resuscitate a Sacred Cow… with Normal Saline

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Davis ◽  
Salman Alsafran ◽  
Cheryl D. Richie ◽  
Joshuaw Moore ◽  
Nicholas Namias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Normal Saline ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Blood Gases ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Population ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Resuscitation Fluid ◽  
Level I

Normal saline (NS) is not used for trauma resuscitation because of its potential for acidosis. Lactated Ringer's (LR) is preferred instead. However, the two crystalloids have never been compared in trauma patients. We hypothesized that NS would be an acceptable fluid for resuscitation in the trauma patient. In 2011, a Level I trauma center switched resuscitation fluid from LR to NS. Admissions before and after the change were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, vitals, blood work, and fluid intake were recorded over 24 hours. Acidosis level, stratified by Injury Severity Score (ISS), was compared. Four hundred ten patients were included, 207 in the LR cohort and 203 in the NS. Chloride (LR 105.26 ± 4.75 vs NS 106.48 ± 4.19), base excess (-2.53 ± 3.77 vs -3.28 ± 4.15), pH (7.37 ± 0.08 vs 7.36 ± 0.07), and bicarbonate (22.83 ± 3.45 vs 21.65 ± 5.06) were statistically different but not clinically significant. This was also true when results were stratified by ISS. In addition, there was no difference in the number of blood gases drawn between the groups (584 vs 544, P = nonsignificant). NS resuscitation is a safe, viable alternative to LR in the trauma population studied. Its use carries a potentially substantial cost savings on a national level.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in trauma: a propensity-matched analysis of COVID and non-COVID trauma patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric O. Yeates ◽  
Areg Grigorian ◽  
Morgan Schellenberg ◽  
Natthida Owattanapanich ◽  
Galinos Barmparas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Surgical Patients ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Matched Cohort ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Trauma Population ◽  
Level I ◽  
Score Model

Abstract Purpose There is mounting evidence that surgical patients with COVID-19 have higher morbidity and mortality than patients without COVID-19. Infection is prevalent amongst the trauma population, but any effect of COVID-19 on trauma patients is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on a trauma population, hypothesizing increased mortality and pulmonary complications for COVID-19-positive (COVID) trauma patients compared to propensity-matched COVID-19-negative (non-COVID) patients. Methods A retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to 11 Level-I and II trauma centers in California between 1/1/2019–6/30/2019 and 1/1/2020–6/30/2020 was performed. A 1:2 propensity score model was used to match COVID to non-COVID trauma patients using age, blunt/penetrating mechanism, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 20,448 trauma patients were identified during the study period. 53 COVID trauma patients were matched with 106 non-COVID trauma patients. COVID patients had higher rates of mortality (9.4% vs 1.9%, p = 0.029) and pneumonia (7.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.011), as well as a longer mean length of stay (LOS) (7.47 vs 3.28 days, p < 0.001) and intensive care unit LOS (1.40 vs 0.80 days, p = 0.008), compared to non-COVID patients. Conclusion This multicenter retrospective study found increased rates of mortality and pneumonia, as well as a longer LOS, for COVID trauma patients compared to a propensity-matched cohort of non-COVID patients. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and to elucidate the underlying pathways responsible for higher mortality in COVID trauma patients.

The Utility of Additional Imaging in Trauma Consults with Mild to Moderate Injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1825-1831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Plaster ◽  
Mark E. Hamill ◽  
Daniel I. Lollar ◽  
Katie M. Love ◽  
Emily R. Faulks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chart Review ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Additional Imaging ◽  
Level I ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Trauma Surgeons

Limiting CT imaging in the ED has gained interest recently. After initial trauma workup for consultations in the ED, additional CT imaging is frequently ordered. We assessed the benefits of this additional imaging. Our hypothesis was that additional imaging in lower acuity trauma consults results in the diagnosis of new significant injuries with a change in treatment plan and increased Injury Severity Score (ISS). The registry at our Level I trauma center was queried from November 2015 to November 2016 for trauma consults initially evaluated by ED physicians. Patients with mild to moderate injuries were included. Injury findings before and after additional imaging were determined by chart review and pre- and postimaging ISS were calculated. Blinded trauma surgeons assessed the findings for clinical significance and changes in treatment. Four hundred and twenty-one patients were evaluated, 41 were excluded. One hundred and forty patients (37%) underwent additional CT imaging. Forty-seven patients (34%) had additional injuries found, with 16 (12%) increasing their ISS (mean 0.54, SD 1.66). Ninety-three per cent of cases resulted in at least one physician finding the new injuries clinically significant; however, agreement was low (κ = 0.095). For 70 per cent, at least one physician felt the findings warranted a change in treatment plan (κ = 0.405). Additional imaging in ED trauma consults resulted in the identification of new injuries in 1/3 of our patient sample. This suggests that current efforts to limit the use of CT imaging in trauma patients may result in significant injuries going undiscovered and undertreated. Further research is needed to determine the risk of attempts to limit imaging.

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.

Children and Terror Casualties Receive Preference in ICU Admissions

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobi Peleg ◽  
Michael Rozenfeld ◽  
Eran Dolev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Level I ◽  
Hospital Emergency Departments ◽  
Trauma Type

ABSTRACTObjective: Trauma casualties caused by terror-related events and children injured as a result of trauma may be given preference in hospital emergency departments (EDs) due to their perceived importance. We investigated whether there are differences in the treatment and hospitalization of terror-related casualties compared to other types of injury events and between children and adults injured in terror-related events.Methods: Retrospective study of 121 608 trauma patients from the Israel Trauma Registry during the period of October 2000-December 2005. Of the 10 hospitals included in the registry, 6 were level I trauma centers and 4 were regional trauma centers. Patients who were hospitalized or died in the ED or were transferred between hospitals were included in the registry.Results: All analyses were controlled for Injury Severity Score (ISS). All patients with ISS 1-24 terror casualties had the highest frequency of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions when compared with patients after road traffic accidents (RTA) and other trauma. Among patients with terror-related casualties, children were admitted to ICU disproportionally to the severity of their injury. Logistic regression adjusted for injury severity and trauma type showed that both terror casualties and children have a higher probability of being admitted to the ICU.Conclusions: Injured children are admitted to ICU more often than other age groups. Also, terror-related casualties are more frequently admitted to the ICU compared to those from other types of injury events. These differences were not directly related to a higher proportion of severe injuries among the preferred groups.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:14–19)

Management and Outcomes of Traumatic Colon Injury in Civilian and Military Patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 1685-1691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chitra N. Sambasivan ◽  
Samantha J. Underwood ◽  
Reed B. Kuehn ◽  
S. D. Cho ◽  
Laszlo N. Kiraly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Primary Repair ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Colon Injury ◽  
Initial Management ◽  
Civilian Trauma ◽  
Level I

Divergent injury patterns may indicate the need for differing strategies in combat and civilian trauma patients. This study aims to compare outcomes of colon injury management in these two populations. Parallel retrospective reviews were conducted comparing warfighters (n = 59) injured downrange and subsequently transferred to the United States with civilians (n = 30) treated at a United States Level I trauma center. Patient characteristics, mechanisms of injury, treatment course, and complications were compared. The civilian (CP) and military (MP) populations did not differ in Injury Severity Score (MP 20 vs CP 26; P = 0.41). The MP experienced primarily blast injuries (51%) as opposed to blunt trauma (70%; P < 0.01) in the CP. The site of colon injury did not differ between groups ( P = 0.15). Initial management was via primary repair (53%) and resection and anastomosis (27%) in the CP versus colostomy creation (47%) and stapled ends (32%) in the MP ( P < 0.001). Ultimately, the CP and MP experienced equivalent continuity rates (90%). Overall complications (MP 68% vs CP 53%; P = 0.18) and mortality (MP 3% vs CP 3%; P = 0.99) did not differ between the two groups. The CP and MP experience different mechanisms and initial management of colon injury. Ultimately, continuity is restored in the majority of both populations.

scholarly journals P142: The anticoagulated trauma patient: a Canadian experience in the era of direct oral anticoagulants

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S125-S125 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wood ◽  
A. Ackery ◽  
S. Rizoli ◽  
B. Nascimento ◽  
M. Sholzberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trauma Patient ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Population

Introduction: The anticoagulated trauma patient is a particularly vulnerable population. Our current practice is guided by experience with patients taking vitamin K dependent antagonists (VKA, like warfarin). It is currently unknown how the increasing use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) will change our trauma population. We collected data about this new subset of patients to compare their clinical characteristics to patients on pre-injury VKA therapy. Methods: Retrospective review of anticoagulated trauma patients presenting to Toronto’s two adult trauma centres, Saint Michael’s Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, from June 2014-June 2015 was undertaken. Patients were recruited through the institutions’ trauma registries and were eligible if they suffered a traumatic injury and taking an oral anticoagulant pre-injury. Clinical and demographic data were extracted by a trained reviewer and analysed with descriptive statistics. Results: Our study recruited 85 patients, 33% were taking DOACs and 67% VKAs. Trauma patients on DOACs & VKAs respectively had similar baseline characteristics such as age (75.9 vs 77.4), initial injury severity score (ISS (16.9 vs 20.6)) and concomitant antiplatelet use (7.1% vs 5.4%). Both groups’ most common mechanism for injury was falls and the most common indication for anticoagulation was atrial fibrillation. Patients on DOACs tended to have lower average INR (1.25 vs 2.3) and serum creatinine (94.9 vs 127.4). Conclusion: Patients on DOACs pre-injury now account for a significant proportion of orally anticoagulated trauma patients. Patients on DOACs tended to have less derangement of basic hematological parameters complicating diagnosis and management of coagulopathy.

Correlation of Clinical Findings and Autopsy Results after Fatal Injury from Motor Vehicular-Related Crashes

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Y. Shen ◽  
Kendra N. Marcotte ◽  
Stephen D. Helmer ◽  
Mary H. Dudley ◽  
R. Stephen Smith
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Total Treatment Time ◽  
Glascow Coma Scale ◽  
American College Of Surgeons ◽  
Level I

In the past, autopsy served as the gold standard to document diagnostic accuracy. Although a valuable contributor to medical education, information collected from autopsies is frequently delayed and poorly used. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of concordance between clinical findings and autopsy results of trauma patients involved in fatal vehicular-related crashes. A 10-year retrospective review of trauma patients involved in fatal vehicular-related crashes who subsequently had an autopsy performed was conducted at an American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma center. The clinical record, trauma registry data, and autopsy results were reviewed. Degree of concordance was evaluated using the Goldman Type Errors Criteria. A total of 207 decedents were included (mean age, 41; 63% male; median Glascow Coma Scale score, 3; median Injury Severity Score, 37). The majority (69.6%) of decedents were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Total treatment time was <15 minutes in 29.0 per cent of cases, <6 hours in 59.4 per cent of cases, and <24 hours in 73.9 per cent of cases. Location of death was the emergency department (43.0%), the intensive care unit (49.8%), the operating room (5.4%), and the nursing floor (1.0%). There were no Goldman Class I or IV type errors, (i.e., no major or minor discrepancies, respectively, that may have altered therapy or survival of the patient). Following ATLS-based protocols results in appropriate identification of clinically significant injuries in patients involved in motor vehicular-related crashes. The routine use of autopsy results offers little additional information to a mature American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma program.

scholarly journals Evidence of Prolonged Monitoring of Trauma Patients Admitted via Trauma Resuscitation Unit without Primary Proof of Severe Injuries

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Heinrich ◽  
Matthias Lany ◽  
Lydia Anastasopoulou ◽  
Christoph Biehl ◽  
Gabor Szalay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Resuscitation ◽  
Abbreviated Injury Scale ◽  
Severely Injured Patients ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Level I ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
Injured Patients

Introductio: Although management of severely injured patients in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU) follows evidence-based guidelines, algorithms for treatment of the slightly injured are limited. Methods: All trauma patients in a period of eight months in a Level I trauma center were followed. Retrospective analysis was performed only in patients ≥18 years with primary TRU admission, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≤ 1, Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) ≤ 1 and Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≤3 after treatment completion and ≥24 h monitoring in the units. Cochran’s Q-test was used for the statistical evaluation of AIS and ISS changes in units. Results: One hundred and twelve patients were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one patients (18.75%) reported new complaints after treatment completion in the TRU. AIS rose from the Intermediate Care Unit (IMC) to Normal Care Unit (NCU) 6.2% and ISS 6.9%. MAIS did not increase >2, and no intervention was necessary for any patient. No correlation was found between computed tomography (CT) diagnostics in TRU and AIS change. Conclusions: The data suggest that AIS, MAIS and ISS did not increase significantly in patients without a severe injury during inpatient treatment, regardless of the type of CT diagnostics performed in the TRU, suggesting that monitoring of these patients may be unnecessary.

Functional Status after Injury: A Longitudinal Study of Geriatric Trauma

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1055-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Kelley-Quon ◽  
Lillian Min ◽  
Eric Morley ◽  
Jonathan R. Hiatt ◽  
Henry Cryer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Status ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Geriatric Trauma ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Population

We evaluated self-rated functional status measured longitudinally in the year after injury in a geriatric trauma population. The longitudinal (L) group included 37 of 60 eligible trauma patients aged 65 years or older admitted December 2006 to November 2007 for greater than 24 hours who completed a Short Functional Status questionnaire (SFS) at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. The SFS yields scores of 0 to 5 (5 = independent in all five activities of daily living [ADLs]) and has been validated among community-dwelling elders. The control (C) group included 63 trauma patients aged 65 years or older admitted December 2007 to July 2009 for greater than 24 hours who reported their preinjury functional status using the SFS at hospital admission. We used characteristics and scores of the C group to impute preinjury ADL scores for the L group. The groups were similar in baseline characteristics (age, ethnicity, Injury Severity Score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and living arrangement; P > 0.05). For the C group, the preinjury ADL score was 4.6 (SD = 0.9). For the L group, ADL scores declined at all intervals reaching statistical significance at 12 months. We conclude that in the year after traumatic injury, geriatric patients lost the equivalent of approximately one ADL, increasing their risk of further functional decline, loss of independence, and death.

Medication Errors in Injured Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 780-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C. Dolejs ◽  
Christopher F. Janowak ◽  
Ben L. Zarzaur
Keyword(s):  
Medication Error ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Lengths Of Stay ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Level I ◽  
Injured Patients ◽  
The Impact

Trauma patients are vulnerable to medication error given multiple handoffs throughout the hospital. The purpose of this study was to assess trends in medication errors in trauma patients and the role these errors play in patient outcomes. Injured adults admitted from 2009 to 2015 to a Level I trauma center were included. Medication errors were determined based on a nurse-driven, validated, and prospectively maintained database. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to control for differences between groups. Among 15,635 injured adults admitted during the study period, 132 patients experienced 243 errors. Patients who experienced errors had significantly worse injury severity, lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores and higher rates of hypotension on admission, and longer lengths of stay. Before adjustment, mortality was similar between groups but morbidity was higher in the medication error group. After risk adjustment, there were no significant differences in morbidity or mortality between the groups. Medication errors in trauma patients tend to occur in significantly injured patients with long hospital stays. Appropriate adjustment when studying the impact of medical errors on patient outcomes is important.

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