eFAST for Pneumothorax: Real-Life Application in an Urban Level 1 Center by Trauma Team Members

The focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination has become the standard of care for rapid evaluation of trauma patients. Extended FAST (eFAST) is the use of ultra-sonography for the detection of pneumothorax (PTX). The exact sensitivity and specificity of eFAST detecting traumatic PTX during practical “real-life” application is yet to be investigated. This is a retrospective review of all trauma patients with a diagnosis of PTX, who were treated at a large level 1 urban trauma center from March 2013 through July 2014. Charts were reviewed for results of imaging, which included eFAST, chest X-ray, and CT scan. The requirement of tube thoracostomy and mechanism of injury were also analyzed. A total of 369 patients with a diagnosis of PTX were identified. A total of 69 patients were excluded, as eFASTwas either not performed or not documented, leaving 300 patients identified with PTX. A total of 113 patients had clinically significant PTX (37.6%), requiring immediate tube thoracostomy placement. eFAST yielded a positive diagnosis of PTX in 19 patients (16.8%), and all were clinically significant, requiring tube thoracostomy. Chest X-ray detected clinically significant PTX in 105 patients (92.9%). The literature on the utility of eFAST for PTX in trauma is variable. Our data show that although specific for clinically significant traumatic PTX, it has poor sensitivity when performed by clinicians with variable levels of ultrasound training. We conclude that CT is still the gold standard in detecting PTX, and clinicians performing eFAST should have adequate training.

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Basic Ultrasound Training Can Replace Chest Radiography for Safe Tube Thoracostomy Removal

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313481408000828 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (8) ◽

pp. 783-786 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kedar S. Lavingia ◽

Michael C. Soult ◽

Jay N. Collins ◽

Timothy J. Novosel ◽

Leonard J. Weireter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electronic Medical Records ◽

Medical Records ◽

Patient Discharge ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Tube Thoracostomy ◽

Formal Training ◽

X Ray ◽

Training Class ◽

Before And After ◽

Chest X Ray

An ultrasound (US) examination can be easily and rapidly performed at the bedside to aide in clinical decisions. Previously we demonstrated that US was safe and as effective as a chest x-ray (CXR) for removal of tube thoracostomy (TT) when performed by experienced sonographers. This study sought to examine if US was as safe and accurate for the evaluation of pneumothorax (PTX) associated with TT removal after basic US training. Patients included had TT managed by the surgical team between October 2012 and May 2013. Bedside US was performed by a variety of members of the trauma team before and after removal. All residents received, at minimum, a 1-hour formal training class in the use of ultrasound. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. We evaluated 61 TTs in 61 patients during the study period. Exclusion of 12 tubes occurred secondary to having incomplete imaging, charting, or death before having TT removed. Of the 49 remaining TT, all were managed with US imaging. Average age of the patients was 40 years and 30 (61%) were male. TT was placed for PTX in 37 (76%), hemothorax in seven (14%), hemopneumothorax in four (8%), or a pleural effusion in one (2%). Two post pull PTXs were correctly identified by residents using US. This was confirmed on CXR with appropriate changes made. US was able to successfully predict the safe TT removal and patient discharge at all residency levels after receiving a basic US training program.

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Pathologic Fibrinolysis is More Common in a Rural Trauma Setting

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/0003134820973726 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 000313482097372

Author(s):

James M. Bardes ◽

Daniel J. Grabo ◽

Sijin Wen ◽

Alison Wilson

Keyword(s):

Trauma Team ◽

Rural Environment ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Future Studies ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

American College Of Surgeons ◽

Level 1 ◽

Transferred Patients ◽

Prehospital Time ◽

Level 1 Trauma Center

Introduction Fibrinolysis (lysis) has been extensively studied in trauma patients. Many studies on the distribution of lysis phenotype have been conducted in setting with short prehospital time. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of lysis phenotypes in a population with prolonged prehospital times in a rural environment. Methods A retrospective study was performed at an American College of Surgeons-verified level 1 trauma center, serving a large rural population. Full trauma team activations from January 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 were evaluated, and all patients with an ISS>15 analyzed. Thromboelastography was routinely performed on all participants on arrival. Lysis phenotypes were classified based on LY30 results: shutdown (≤.8%), physiologic (.9-2.9%), and hyper (>2.9%). Results 259 patients were evaluated, 134 (52%) presented direct from the scene. For scene patients, lysis distribution was 24% physiologic, 49% shutdown, and 27% hyper. Transferred patients demonstrated a reduction in physiologic lysis to 14% ( P = .03), shutdown present in 66%, and hyper in 20%. Empiric prehospital tranexamic acid was given to 18 patients, physiologic lysis was present in 6%, shutdown 72%, and hyper 22%; this increase was not statistically significant ( P = .5). Conclusion Fibrinolysis phenotypes are not consistent across all trauma populations. This study showed rural trauma patients had a significantly increased rate of pathologic lysis. This was consistent for scene and transfer patients who received care at another facility prior to arrival for definitive care. Future studies to evaluate the factors influencing these differences are warranted.

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Simplified treatment algorithm for the management of trauma-induced hemorrhage without viscoelastic testing

Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open ◽

10.1136/tsaco-2021-000779 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000779

Author(s):

Sebastian Casu

Keyword(s):

Major Trauma ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Treatment Algorithm ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Trauma Team ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Treatment Protocols ◽

Treatment Algorithms ◽

Number Of Treatment ◽

Uncontrolled Bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding after major trauma remains a significant cause of death, with up to a third of trauma patients presenting with signs of coagulopathy at hospital admission. Rapid correction of coagulopathy is therefore vital to improve mortality rates and patient outcomes in this population. Early and repeated monitoring of coagulation parameters followed by clear protocols to correct hemostasis is the recommended standard of care for bleeding trauma patients. However, although a number of treatment algorithms are available, these are frequently complex and can rely on the use of viscoelastic testing, which is not available in all treatment centers. We therefore set out to develop a concise and pragmatic algorithm to guide treatment of bleeding trauma patients without the use of point-of-care viscoelastic testing. The algorithm we present here is based on published guidelines and research, includes recommendations regarding treatment and dosing, and is simple and clear enough for even an inexperienced physician to follow. In this way, we have demonstrated that treatment protocols can be developed and adapted to the resources available, to offer clear and relevant guidance to the entire trauma team.

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Portable Ventilation/Perfusion Scanning is Useful for Evaluating Clinically Significant Pulmonary Embolism in the ICU Despite Abnormal Chest Radiography

Journal of Intensive Care Medicine ◽

10.1177/0885066618807859 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (10) ◽

pp. 1032-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aaron S. Weinberg ◽

William Chang ◽

Grace Ih ◽

Alan Waxman ◽

Victor F. Tapson

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Chest Radiograph ◽

High Probability ◽

Hemodynamic Instability ◽

X Rays ◽

X Ray ◽

Abnormal Chest ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Low Probability ◽

Clinically Significant

Objective: Computed tomography angiography is limited in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to renal insufficiency, hemodynamic instability, and difficulty transporting unstable patients. A portable ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan can be used. However, it is commonly believed that an abnormal chest radiograph can result in a nondiagnostic scan. In this retrospective study, we demonstrate that portable V/Q scans can be helpful in ruling in or out clinically significant pulmonary embolism (PE) despite an abnormal chest x-ray in the ICU. Design: Two physicians conducted chart reviews and original V/Q reports. A staff radiologist, with 40 years of experience, rated chest x-ray abnormalities using predetermined criteria. Setting: The study was conducted in the ICU. Patients: The first 100 consecutive patients with suspected PE who underwent a portable V/Q scan. Interventions: Those with a portable V/Q scan. Results: A normal baseline chest radiograph was found in only 6% of patients. Fifty-three percent had moderate, 24% had severe, and 10% had very-severe radiographic abnormalities. Despite the abnormal x-rays, 88% of the V/Q scans were low probability for a PE despite an average abnormal radiograph rating of moderate. A high-probability V/Q for PE was diagnosed in 3% of the population despite chest x-ray ratings of moderate to severe. Six patients had their empiric anticoagulation discontinued after obtaining the results of the V/Q scan, and no anticoagulation was started for PE after a low-probability V/Q scan. Conclusion: Despite the large percentage of moderate-to-severe x-ray abnormalities, PE can still be diagnosed (high-probability scan) in the ICU with a portable V/Q scan. Although low-probability scans do not rule out acute PE, it appeared less likely that any patient with a low-probability V/Q scan had severe hypoxemia or hemodynamic instability due to a significant PE, which was useful to clinicians and allowed them to either stop or not start anticoagulation.

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08. Missed Diagnosis of Pneumothorax During Aeromedical Transport

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00045829 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 11 (S2) ◽

pp. S38-S38

Author(s):

SH Thomas ◽

P DeVellis ◽

T Harrison ◽

SK Wedel

Keyword(s):

Trauma Center ◽

Air Transport ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

X Ray ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Missed Diagnosis ◽

Level I ◽

Aeromedical Transport ◽

One Year ◽

Needle Decompression

Purpose: Difficulties with physical assessment inherent to the helicopter environment have led to suggestion that aeromedical crews may be unable to identify hemo- or pneumothorax (HTX/PTX) while in-flight. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of missed HTX/PTX in trauma patients undergoing air transport.Methods: One year (1994) of an air medical service's trauma transports to a Level I trauma center were analyzed to identify patients undergoing tube thoracostomy (TT) within 2 hours of trauma center arrival. Patients who had received intra-transport needle thoracostomy were excluded. Records were reviewed to determine how HTX/PTX was diagnosed at the trauma center.Results: Only 11 patients who had not received aeromedical needle decompression underwent TT at the receiving center. Two of the 11 were trauma arrests and received TT as part of thoracotomy, without air or blood return on TT. None of the remaining 9 patients had TT on clinical suspicion alone. Four had normal physical examination and underwent TT after chest X-ray (CXR). Remaining patients had no HTX/PTX clues on exam or CXR; one had a small HTX identified on chest computed tomography and the other four received intra-operative TT because of rib fractures in the setting of multisystem trauma.

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Ultrasound Detection of Pneumothorax Compared with Chest X-Ray and Computed Tomography Scan

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313481107700427 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 480-483 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Khanjan Nagarsheth ◽

Stanley Kurek

Keyword(s):

Ct Scan ◽

Negative Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Chest Ct ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

X Rays ◽

Thoracic Ultrasound ◽

X Ray ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Chest Ct Scan

Pneumothorax after trauma can be a life threatening injury and its care requires expeditious and accurate diagnosis and possible intervention. We performed a prospective, single blinded study with convenience sampling at a Level I trauma center comparing thoracic ultrasound with chest X-ray and CT scan in the detection of traumatic pneumothorax. Trauma patients that received a thoracic ultrasound, chest X-ray, and chest CT scan were included in the study. The chest X-rays were read by a radiologist who was blinded to the thoracic ultrasound results. Then both were compared with CT scan results. One hundred and twenty-five patients had a thoracic ultrasound performed in the 24-month period. Forty-six patients were excluded from the study due to lack of either a chest X-ray or chest CT scan. Of the remaining 79 patients there were 22 positive pneumothorax found by CT and of those 18 (82%) were found on ultrasound and 7 (32%) were found on chest X-ray. The sensitivity of thoracic ultrasound was found to be 81.8 per cent and the specificity was found to be 100 per cent. The sensitivity of chest X-ray was found to be 31.8 per cent and again the specificity was found to be 100 per cent. The negative predictive value of thoracic ultrasound for pneumothorax was 0.934 and the negative predictive value for chest X-ray for pneumothorax was found to be 0.792. We advocate the use of chest ultrasound for detection of pneumothorax in trauma patients.

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Cross-sectional imaging of the torso reveals occult injuries in asymptomatic blunt trauma patients

World Journal of Emergency Surgery ◽

10.1186/s13017-019-0287-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gregory J. Roberts ◽

Lewis E. Jacobson ◽

Michelle M. Amaral ◽

Courtney D. Jensen ◽

Louis Cooke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blunt Trauma ◽

Chest Ct ◽

Physical Exam ◽

Trauma Patients ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

X Ray ◽

Cross Sectional Imaging ◽

Normal Chest ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Sectional Imaging

Abstract Background High morbidity and mortality rates of trauma injuries make early detection and correct diagnosis crucial for increasing patient’s survival and quality of life after an injury. Improvements in technology have facilitated the rapid detection of injuries, especially with the use of computed tomography (CT). However, the increased use of CT imaging is not universally advocated for. Some advocate for the use of selective CT imaging, especially in cases where the severity of the injury is low. The purpose of this study is to review the CT indications, findings, and complications in patients with low Injury Severity Scores (ISS) to determine the utility of torso CT in this patient cohort. Methods A retrospective review of non-intubated, adult blunt trauma patients with an initial GCS of 14 or 15 evaluated in an ACS verified level 1 trauma center from July 2012 to June 2015 was performed. Data was obtained from the hospital’s trauma registry and chart review, with the following data included: age, sex, injury type, ISS, physical exam findings, all injuries recorded, injuries detected by torso CT, missed injuries, and complications. The statistical tests conducted in the analysis of the collected data were chi-squared, Fischer exact test, and ANOVA analysis. Results There were 2306 patients included in this study, with a mean ISS of 8. For patients with a normal chest exam that had a chest CT, 15% were found to have an occult chest injury. In patients with a negative chest exam and negative chest X-ray, 35% had occult injuries detected on chest CT. For patients with a negative abdominal exam and CT abdomen and pelvis, 16% were found to have an occult injury on CT. Lastly, 25% of patients with normal chest, abdomen, and pelvis exams with chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scans demonstrated occult injuries. Asymptomatic patients with a negative CT had a length of stay 1 day less than patients without a corresponding CT. No incidents of contrast-induced complications were recorded. Conclusions A negative physical exam combined with a normal chest X-ray does not rule out the presence of occult injuries and the need for torso imaging. In blunt trauma patients with normal sensorium, physical exam and chest X-ray, the practice of obtaining cross-sectional imaging appears beneficial by increasing the accuracy of total injury burden and decreasing the length of stay.

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