Predictors of missed injuries in hospitalized trauma patients in the emergency department

Aim  

To determine the extent of missed injuries in patients hospitalized with major trauma in a Turkish Level 1 emergency department. We also tried to identify the primary factors contributing to each missed injury and to determine their subsequent adverse short-term clinical outcomes.     

Clinical and autopsy analysis of delayed diagnosis and missed injuries in trauma patients

Delayed diagnosis of injury (DDI) during hospitalization and missed injuries (MI) on autopsy in trauma deaths result in untoward outcomes. Autopsy is an effective educational tool for health care providers to evaluate trauma care. A retrospective study of trauma registry patients and coroner's records was categorized into groups 1 (alive patients) and 2 (trauma deaths) and analyzed. DDI incidence was similar in group 1 (1.8%) and group 2 (1.9%). Autopsy analysis (163 patients) yielded 139 MI in 94 patients (57.6%), <3 per cent of MI had negative impact on survival. Bony injuries comprised 68 per cent of DDI and 19 per cent of MI. Group 1 DDI patients were sicker with higher injury severity score (ISS: 16.07) than their cohorts (ISS 7.13, P value <0.05). These patients had higher Glasgow Coma Scale (14.41) and lower ISS (16.07) as compared with group 2 MI patients (ISS: 33.49, GCS: 6.45, P value < 0.05). Autopsy rate was 99.5 per cent in trauma deaths, 57 per cent for nontrauma deaths, and 79 per cent for all deaths. Less than 3 per cent of MI had negative impact on survival. Routine ongoing patient assessment with pertinent diagnostic workup is essential in reducing DDI. Trauma autopsies reveal MI, which aid performance improvement (PI).     

Missing patients in a regional trauma registry: Incidence and predictors

Background

Trauma systems have data registries in order to describe and evaluate (the quality of) trauma care. If results between centres and countries (benchmarking) are to be compared, data has to be accurate, reliable and complete. All trauma registries deal with incompleteness. A contributor to incompleteness of the data is failure to include patients that fulfil the criteria; the so-called missing patients. The aim of this study is to assess the number of missing patients in our regional trauma registry and to identify predictors for being missing from the trauma registry.

Methods

A random sample was taken. Four calendar weeks from 2012 were selected and medical files of all consecutive presentations to the emergency department or trauma room during those weeks were studied. Patients who were already correctly included in the trauma registry were assigned to the ‘included’ group and patients who should have been but were not to the ‘missing’ group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for being missed from the trauma registry.

Results

Of a total of 338 patients, 50 (15%) were identified as missing. Characteristics of the missing patients did not differ substantially from the included patients. Transfer to another hospital after initial assessment and presentation in a Level 3 hospital compared to a Level 1 hospital were independent predictors for being missed from the trauma registry, with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.86 (95% CI: 2.08–16.52) and 6.64 (95% CI: 1.86–23.78), respectively.

Conclusions

Overall, 15% of the patients who met the inclusion criteria of the trauma registry were not included in the registry. Special attention should be paid to patients who are transferred to other hospitals in the network after initial assessment and to registration in Level 3 hospitals.     

CT with coronal reconstruction identifies previously missed smaller diaphragmatic injuries after blunt trauma

Diaphragmatic injuries (DIs) are difficult to diagnose and often go unrecognized after blunt trauma. We proposed that CT scan with coronal reconstruction (CTCR) improves the detection of small DIs missed by chest x-ray (CXR) and CT scan with axial views (CTAX). We performed a retrospective review at a Level I trauma center from 2001 to 2006 and identified 35 patients who underwent operative repair of DI after blunt trauma. The size of the DI and the radiographic test (CXR, CTAX, and CTCR) that identified the defect was compared. Results were analyzed using mean, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher exact test. Of the 35 DI repairs, nine were performed after CXR alone and 12 after identification by both a CXR and CTAX. There was no significant difference between the mean DI size identified by CXR with and without CTAX (10.6 vs 9.7, P = 0.88). The remaining 14 DIs were undetected by CXR and CTAX. Seven of these (before CTCR) were found during exploratory laparotomy and seven were identified by CTCR (4.6 cm vs 3.5 cm, P = 0.33). The mean DI size identified by CTCR was significantly smaller than that identified by CXR alone (4.6 cm vs 9.7 cm, P < 0.05) and by CXR and CTAX (4.6 cm vs 10.6 cm, P < 0.0005). CTCR improves the ability to detect smaller DI defects (4 to 8 cm) that were previously missed by CXR and CTAX. CTAX adds little to CXR alone for the diagnosis of large defects (greater than 8 cm).     

The utility of a second head CT scan after a negative initial CT scan in head trauma patients on new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)

BackgroundNew direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used in the management of atrial fibrillation and VTE. Currently, there is no strong evidence to support the current practice of routinely repeating computed tomography (CT) head in anticoagulated patients within 24 hours after their first negative CT scan to assess for new and delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Our hypothesis is that the vast majority will not have new CT scan findings of ICH and those who do would not require any further intervention.MethodsThis is retrospective cohort study. IRB approval was obtained. Subjects included adults age ≥ 18 taking DOACs who presented to our level III trauma center with confirmed or suspected blunt head trauma between August 2013 and October 2019 and received at least one head CT scans.Results498 Patient encounters met inclusion criteria. Only 19 patients (3.8%) had positive traumatic ICH on the initial CT head. Those had a higher ISS. 420 out of 479 initial negative CT encounters received a second CT head. Only 2 (0.5%) had delayed positive second CT scan for ICH. 95%CI [0.06%, 1.7%] Patients who developed a new ICH on the second CT head after an initial negative CT scan had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on presentation and a higher ISS. None of those patients required neurosurgical interventionConclusionOur data suggests that the risk of developing a new or delayed traumatic ICH for patients on DOAC on a second CT head within 24 hours following an initial negative CT is very low and when present did not require neurosurgical intervention and thus does not support routinely obtaining a repeat CT head within 24 hours after a negative initial CT scan. Patients presenting with lower GCS and higher ISS had a higher chance of having a delayed ICH.     

Implementation of a tertiary trauma survey decreases missed injuries

BACKGROUND: Missed injuries (MIs) adversely affect patient outcome and damage physician/institutional credibility. The primary and secondary surveys are designed to identify all of a patient's injuries and prioritize their management; however, MIs are prevalent in severely injured and multisystem trauma patients, especially when the patient's condition precludes completion of the secondary survey. We hypothesized that implementation of a routine tertiary trauma survey (TS) would reduce the incidence of MIs in a Level I trauma center. METHODS: In mid 1999, a TS form was created and TS documentation was mandated on all trauma intensive care unit (TICU) patients within 24 hours of admission. Patient data, including TS documentation and injury patterns, were concurrently recorded in an institutional trauma registry. Data were compared for patients admitted in 1997 to 1998 (PRE period) and 2000 to 2001 (POST period) using chi or Student's test. RESULTS: MIs decreased from 2.4% to 1.5% overall, and from 5.7% to 3.4% in TICU patients, after TS implementation. Patients with MIs were slightly older (49 vs. 45 years; > 0.05) and had higher Injury Severity Scores (21 vs. 10; < 0.05) than patients without MIs. Sixty percent of MI patients had brain injuries, 56% were admitted to the TICU, and 26% went directly from the emergency department to the operating room. The large majority of MIs in the POST period were detected in patients not undergoing timely TS. CONCLUSION: ICU patients-particularly brain injury victims and those undergoing emergent surgical procedures-appear to be at highest risk for MI. Implementation of a standardized TS decreased MIs by 36% in our Level I trauma center, and more timely TS would likely have further reduced MIs. A TS should be routine in trauma centers.     

Penetrating arterial trauma. Analysis of missed vascular injuries

From 1976 to 1981, 677 patients with potential vascular injuries from penetrating wounds to the upper and lower extremities and the neck were treated. Surgical exploration was used to evaluate 237 patients; 440 patients were evaluated by arteriography alone, with negative results. In the group that underwent surgery, there were 137 arterial injuries detected. Follow-up studies were performed to assess the rate of missed vascular injuries using each diagnostic modality. Short-term follow-up was obtained in 81% of all patients. Long-term follow-up, averaging 5.1 years, was obtained in 33% of the patients. Vascular injuries, which went undetected at the time of initial evaluation, were present in both the group evaluated by vascular exploration and the arteriography group. The combination of arteriography and exploration detected no missed injuries on follow-up.     

Unexpected, unsuspected and missed injuries in a paediatric trauma unit

In a newly established trauma unit 12 282 patients were seen in 1 year, of whom 1 557 were admitted. Out of the total there was 0.3% of missed, unexpected or unsuspected injuries; this was 2.5% of ward admissions. These injuries are classified and analysed, highlighting the need for constant vigilance. Although the majority were orthopaedic injuries, the abdominal injury cases show that these can be more severe than clinically suspected.     

Diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in abdominal blunt trauma

Obiective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of CT scan findings in Patients ith blunt abdominal trauma admitted to the university hospital.Methods: All the atients ith blunt abdominal trauma admitted at a tertiary teaching trauma center in Iran between 2005 and 2007 were enrolled in this study.In the absence of any clinical anifestations,he patients underwent a diagnostic CT scan.Laparatomy was performed in those with positive CT results.Others were observed for 48 hours and discharged in case no problem as reported;otherwise they underwent laparatomy.Information on patients'demographic ata,mechanism of trauma,indication for CT scan,CT scan findings,results of laparotomy ere gathered.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the CT-scan images in regard ith the organ injured were calculated.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the T scan were calculated in each case.Results: CT Scan had the highest sensitivity for etecting the injuries to liver (100%) and spleen (86.6%).The specificity of the method or detecting retroperitoneal hematoma (100%) and injuries to kidney (93.5%) was higher han other organs.The accuracy of CT images to detect the injuries to spleen,liver,idney and retroperitoneal hematoma was reported to be 96.1%,94.4%,91.6% and 91.6% espectively.Conclusion: The findings of the present study reveal that CT scan could econsidered as a good choice,especially for patients with blunt abdominal trauma in eaching hospitals where the radiologic academic staff is not present in the hospital in the night shifts.     

CT扫描在肝脏外伤诊断中的价值(附126例报告)

目的　探讨CT扫描在肝脏外伤中的诊断价值。方法　分析 12 6例 (男 93例 ,女 33例 )经手术、临床证实的肝脏外伤的CT表现 ;所有病例先行平扫 ,88例平扫后行增强扫描。结果　12 6例中肝挫裂伤 99例 ,肝内血肿 15例 ,肝包膜下血肿 12例。病灶分布在左右肝 4 2例 (33.3% ) ,单纯右肝损伤 74例 (5 8.4 % ) ,左肝损伤 10例 (8.3% )。结论　CT扫描对明确有无肝脏损伤、判断损伤程度、估计腹腔出血量、选择适当的治疗方法具有重要的价值。     

The value of CT scan in gunshot injuries of the brain

Summary Fourteen cases of gunshot wounds of the brain, evaluated by CT scanning are presented. The results indicate that CT scanning is superior to other diagnostic tests in missile wounds of the brain. In individual patients it revealed gross injury to the skull, the location of the bullet or its fragments and indriven bone fragments, the track of the bullet, the gross injury suffered by the brain, the extent of oedema, the presence of any intracranial haematoma and late cerebral atrophy.Visualization of the missile track is of particular importance; this cannot be achieved by any other diagnostic method. It is essential for the planning of the surgical approach in these lesions.     

Missed injuries during the initial assessment in a cohort of 1124 level-1 trauma patients

IntroductionDespite the presence of diagnostic guidelines for the initial evaluation in trauma, the reported incidence of missed injuries is considerable. The aim of this study was to assess the missed injuries in a large cohort of trauma patients originating from two European Level-1 trauma centres.MethodsWe analysed the 1124 patients included in the randomised REACT trial. Missed injuries were defined as injuries not diagnosed or suspected during initial clinical and radiological evaluation in the trauma room. We assessed the frequency, type, consequences and the phase in which the missed injuries were diagnosed and used univariate analysis to identify potential contributing factors.ResultsEight hundred and three patients were male, median age was 38 years and 1079 patients sustained blunt trauma. Overall, 122 injuries were missed in 92 patients (8.2%). Most injuries concerned the extremities. Sixteen injuries had an AIS grade of ≥3. Patients with missed injuries had significantly higher injury severity scores (ISSs) (median of 15 versus 5, p < 0.001). Factors associated with missed injuries were severe traumatic brain injury (GCS ≤ 8) and multitrauma (ISS ≥ 16). Seventy-two missed injuries remained undetected during tertiary survey (59%). In total, 31 operations were required for 26 initially missed injuries.ConclusionDespite guidelines to avoid missed injuries, this problem is hard to prevent, especially in the severely injured. The present study showed that the rate of missed injuries was comparable with the literature and their consequences not severe. A high index of suspicion remains warranted, especially in multitrauma patients.