Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed major limitations on trauma health care systems. This survey aims to identify how Canadian trauma centres altered their processes to care for injured patients and protect their staff during the pandemic.
Methods: A survey was distributed to trauma directors at level 1 Canadian adult trauma centres in July 2020. Questions included changes made to the trauma service in preparation for the pandemic, modification to clinical practice and expected lasting modifications after the pandemic.
Results: The response rate was 68.4%. All trauma centres modified their treatment and investigation protocols for the pandemic. Most respondents adopted online platforms for meetings and educational activities and used simulation to prepare for COVID-19-infected trauma patients. The approach to who would intubate trauma patients, which trauma patients should be tested for COVID-19 and who should use N95 ventilators, varied among the sites surveyed.
Conclusion: All centres modified some of their treatment and investigation protocols for the pandemic but not all modifications were adopted universally. Knowing these steps and comparing them with other global centres will help organize disaster plans for the current and future pandemics.
IntroductionThe ingestion of small, strong, rare-earth magnets, also termed ‘ball magnets’, can rapidly result in life-threatening bowel injuries. The objective of this study was to report the incidence and management of ‘ball magnet’ ingestion in children across the UK and to discuss the potential implications for policy-makers and public awareness campaigns.MethodsIn this multi-centre survey of UK major trauma centres (MTCs), paediatric patients admitted to hospital following ‘ball magnet’ ingestion from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 were included.ResultsResponses were received from 11 MTCs (52%) reporting a total of 53 children admitted with ‘ball magnet’ ingestion over the 1-year study period. Most patients (n=51) presented following unintentional ingestion. 36 (68%) patients presented asymptomatically following witnessed or reported ingestion. In symptomatic patients, abdominal pain and vomiting were the the most common symptoms. The median number of ‘ball magnets’ ingested was 5.0 (IQR 3.0–7.8), range 1 to 63. 27 (51%) patients underwent operative intervention; laparotomy being the the most common (n=24, 89%). There were no deaths reported during the study period.ConclusionThis multi-centre survey from the UK demonstrates the serious impact of ‘ball magnet’ ingestion in children. Clinicians, regulators and caregivers must work symbiotically in order to prevent, recognise and reduce life-threatening bowel injuries.
Abstract
Aim
Changes to the configuration of the NHS Trauma Services in T&O and the level of subspecialisation are changing and could impact training and the number of consultant posts available at CCT. The aim of this study was to review the number of T&O Consultant posts and determine the frequency of the subspecialist requirements of these posts from 2011 to 2020, to assess the perceived reduction in advertised numbers and the increasing sub specialisation as a whole.
Method
451 volumes of the BMJ were reviewed over Jan 2011 - April 2020. The total number of jobs advertised were recorded. Additionally, for each post, sub-specialism, regional analysis and substansive or locum tenure were recorded.
Results
1141 jobs were advertised during this period. There has been a decreasing trend in the total number of advertised posts of 13% per annum. Proportion of specialty jobs remain constant yearly. However, jobs listing Trauma clearly decreased after 2012, when trauma centres were initiated. Clear decreases were present in North-west and Scotland in number of jobs. There has also been an increasing trend of advertisement of substantive posts, with locum posts forming less than 13% of total advertisements.
Conclusions
We found no significant increase in job specialism contradicting previous research. Overall, the total number of Consultant jobs in Trauma and Orthopaedics is decreasing, especially in the north-west and Scotland, two of the biggest employers. Questions must be asked for the future of training in T&O to meet service needs.
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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? 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