An appraisal of trauma in the elderly

To review the trends of trauma in the elderly experienced at our trauma center compared with other Level I trauma centers. This was a retrospective trauma registry analysis (1996-2003) of 2783 blunt trauma in elderly (BTE) and 4568 adult (BTA) patients in a Level 1 trauma center. Falls and motor vehicular crashes were the most common mechanisms noted in 47 per cent and 31 per cent (84% and 13% in BTE, 25% and 42% in BTA). BTE were sicker, with higher Injury Severity Scores (ISS), lengths of stay, and mortality (5% vs 2%, P value < 0.05). ISS was 5.2-fold higher in nonsurvivors to survivors in BTA and 2.4-fold in BTE. Elevation in ISS resulted in higher linear increase in mortality in BTE (vs BTA) at any ISS level. Mortality in patients with ISS > or = 25 was 43.5 per cent vs 23.8 per cent. ISS > or = 50 had 31 per cent adult survivors but no elderly survivors. Among isolated injuries, head trauma in the elderly carried the highest mortality, at 12 per cent (19% in patients with an Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 3). Abdominal injuries were the most lethal (18.3% and 41.2% in patients with an Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 3) in multiple trauma victims (41% vs 18% in isolated trauma). There was 4.4-fold increased mortality in the presence of thoracic trauma. Combined head, chest, and abdominal trauma carried the worst prognosis. Thirty-four per cent of BTE and 88 per cent of BTA patients were discharged home. Elderly patients need more aggressive therapy, as they are sicker with higher mortality.     

Enhanced trauma program commitment at a level I trauma center: effect on the process and outcome of care

HYPOTHESIS: With advances in surgical care, the occurrences of major adverse outcomes have become a rare event. The effect of a surgical service can be more comprehensively evaluated by following the Donabedian model, looking at the triad of structure, process, and outcome. It is hypothesized that the implementation of a focused program commitment at a trauma center is associated with improvements in process of care and patient outcomes. DESIGN: Evaluation of prospectively collected information in a trauma registry for the 3-year periods immediately before (1995-1997) and after (1999-2001) the implementation (in 1998) of the full-time trauma service. SETTING: Level I university-affiliated trauma center. PATIENTS: Patients meeting criteria for major trauma. INTERVENTION: The implementation of a full-time trauma service, featuring 24-hour in-house attending coverage, dedicated trauma admitting unit, regular trauma core curriculum, regular multidisciplinary quality assurance meetings, and state designation for level I status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Process of care measures, including time in the emergency department (ED) and trauma "bypass" hours (ie, time spent in the trauma resuscitation area). Outcome measures, including lengths of stay, overall mortality and mortality, excluding ED deaths. RESULTS: The total number of patients with major trauma increased from 2240 (1995-1997) to 2513 (1999-2001). The average time in the ED for patients going to the operating room, intensive care unit, and observation wards all decreased significantly (84 vs 52 minutes, 197 vs 118 minutes, and 300 vs 140 minutes, respectively; all with P<.01). The number of hours that the trauma center was closed owing to ED overcrowding also decreased significantly, from 56 to 2.7 hours per month (P<.01). After excluding ED deaths, there was a trend on bivariate analyses toward lower overall mortality rates (4.5% vs 3.4%, P =.07) and mortality rates among patients with severe head injury (23.8% vs 17.2%, P =.07). On further analyses with multiple logistic regression, controlling for age, Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Score (for a head injury), and admission blood pressure, the later period is associated with a 31% decrease in overall odds of death (P =.047) and a 42% decrease in odds of death among patients with severe head injury (an Abbreviated Injury Score, >or=3; P =.03). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a full-time trauma service is associated with improved timeliness of triage and therapeutic interventions and improved patient outcomes.     

Utility of neurosurgical consultation for mild traumatic brain injury

Trauma patients presenting with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 14-15 are considered to have mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) with overall good neurologic outcomes. Current practice consists of initial stabilization, followed by a head CT, and neurosurgical consultation. Aside from serial neurologic examinations, patients with a GCS of 15 rarely require neurosurgical intervention. In this study, we examined the added value of neurosurgical consultation in the care of patients after TBI with a GCS of 15. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients presenting after blunt trauma with an abnormal head CT and GCS of 15 between January 2004 and January 2005. Patients with a normal head CT and <48 hours hospital stay were excluded. Data included demographics, mechanisms of injury, Injury Severity Score, the radiologists' dictated interpretations of the head CT, and neurosurgical interventions. Fifty-six patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 41+/-2.3 years, and the mean Injury Severity Scores was 10.2 +/-0.6. Mechanisms of injury included 64 per cent motor vehicle crash, 16 per cent motorcycle crash, 13 per cent fall, and 7 per cent all-terrain vehicle crash. The initial CT scans showed 43 per cent parenchymal contusions, 38 per cent subarachnoid hemorrhage, 14 per cent subdural hematomas, and 5 per cent epidural hematomas. All patients received a routine follow-up head CT, and 16 per cent showed changes (five improved and four were worse compared with initial CT scans). None of these patients received a neurosurgical intervention, and two were transferred to a rehabilitation service. In this era of limited resources, trauma patients who present with a GCS score of 15 after mild TBI can be safely managed without neurosurgical consultation, even in the presence of an abnormal head CT scan.     

Trauma in cirrhotics: survival and hospital sequelae in patients requiring abdominal exploration

Hepatic cirrhosis significantly increases the mortality and morbidity of elective surgery; therefore we hypothesized that cirrhosis would adversely impact outcome after abdominal trauma. We used the trauma registry to identify 17 patients with cirrhosis who sustained trauma injuries requiring emergent exploratory laparotomy. Patients were characterized with respect to age, sex, hospital days, intensive care unit days, and trauma scores. A control group (n = 73) was constructed from the registry by matching age, sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Abbreviated Injury score. Mortality rates were compared by Fisher's exact test and age, ISS, Revised Trauma Score 2, and hospital and intensive care unit days were compared by Student's t test. Despite similar ISS between cirrhotic patients and controls, patients with cirrhosis had a fourfold increase in mortality (mortality odds ratio = 7.2; 95% confidence interval = 2.2-24.0). Cirrhotic trauma patients had a complication rate of 71 per cent and a mortality of 44 per cent. We conclude that cirrhosis is a major independent risk factor for mortality in trauma patients with injuries that require emergent abdominal surgery.     

Intracranial pressure monitoring and outcomes after traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Uncontrolled intracranial hypertension after traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes significantly to the death rate and to poor functional outcome. There is no evidence that intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring alters the outcome of TBI. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that insertion of ICP monitors in patients who have TBI is not associated with a decrease in the death rate. DESIGN: Study of case records. METHODS: The data files from the Ontario Trauma Registry from 1989 to 1995 were examined. Included were all cases with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 12 from the 14 trauma centres in Ontario. Cases identifying a Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale score in the head region (MAIS head) greater than 3 were selected for further analysis. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between ICP and death. RESULTS: Of 9001 registered cases of TBI, an MAIS head greater than 3 was recorded in 5507. Of these patients, 541 (66.8% male, mean age 34.1 years) had an ICP monitor inserted. Their average ISS was 33.4 and 71.7% survived. There was wide variation among the institutions in the rate of insertion of ICP monitors in these patients (ranging from 0.4% to over 20%). Univariate logistic regression indicated that increased MAIS head, ISS, penetrating trauma and the insertion of an ICP monitor were each associated with an increased death rate. However, multivariate analyses controlling for MAIS head, ISS and injury mechanism indicated that ICP monitoring was associated with significantly improved survival (p < 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: ICP monitor insertion rates vary widely in Ontario's trauma hospitals. The insertion of an ICP monitor is associated with a statistically significant decrease in death rate among patients with severe TBI. This finding strongly supports the need for a prospective randomized trial of management protocols, including ICP monitoring, in patients with severe TBI.     

Beta-blocker exposure is associated with improved survival after severe traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND: Beta-blocker use in elective noncardiac surgery has been associated with a reduction in mortality and cardiovascular complications. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with a hyperadrenergic state. We hypothesized that adrenergic blockade would confer improved survival among TBI patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of the Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons database at a Level I trauma center was conducted. All trauma patients admitted from January 2004 to March 2005 with head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3 or greater were evaluated. Patients with length of stay <4 or >30 days were excluded. Beta-blocker exposure was defined as receiving beta-blockers for 2 or more consecutive days. RESULTS: In all, 420 patients met inclusion criteria: 174 patients exposed to beta-blockers [BB(+)] and 246 not exposed [BB(-)]. Mean age in BB(+) group was 50 years and 36 years in BB(-) group (p < 0.001). Mean Injury Severity Score was 33.6 for BB(+) group and 30.8 for BB(-) group (p = 0.01). Predicted survival (by Trauma and Injury Severity Score) for BB(+) group was 59.1% compared with 70.3% for BB(-) group (p < 0.001). Observed mortality for BB(+) group was 5.1%, 10.8% for BB(-) group (p = 0.036). Adjusted incidence rate ratio of mortality among those exposed to beta-blockers compared with those not exposed was 0.29 (95% confidence interval). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-blocker exposure was associated with a significant reduction in mortality in patients with severe TBI. This reduction in mortality is even more impressive, considering that the BB(+) group was older, more severely injured, and had lower predicted survival.     

Direct transport versus inter hospital transfer of severely injured trauma patients

IntroductionSeveral studies have suggested that severely injured patients should be transported directly to a trauma centre bypassing the nearest hospital. However, the evidence remains inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits in terms of mortality of direct transport to a trauma centre versus primary treatment in a level II or III centre followed by inter hospital transfer to a trauma centre for severely injured patients without Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).Patients and methodsWe used the regional trauma registry and included all patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 and an Abbreviated Injury Score <4 for head injury. We adjusted for survival bias by including “potential transfers”: patients who died at the nearest hospitals before transportation to a trauma centre.ResultsA total of 439 patients was included. The majority of patients (349/439, 79%) was transported directly to the level I trauma centre (direct group). The transferred group was formed by the remaining 90 patients, of whom 81 were transferred to the level I trauma centre after initial stabilisation elsewhere and 9 patients died in the emergency room before transfer to a level 1 trauma centre could occur. There were no significant differences in baseline and injury characteristics between the groups. Overall, 60 patients died in-hospital including 41 of the 349 patients (12%) in the direct group and 19 of the 90 patients (21%) in the transferred group. Nine of the 19 deaths in the transferred group were ascribed to potential transfers. After adjusting for prehospital Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and ISS, the odds ratio of death was 2.40 (95%CI: 1.07–5.40) for patients in the transfer group. When potential transfer patients were excluded from the analysis, the adjusted odds ratio of death was 1.14 (95%CI: 0.43–3.01).ConclusionsAfter adjusting for survivor bias by including potential transfers, the results of this study suggest a lower risk of death for patients who are directly transported to a level I trauma centre than for patients who receive primary treatment in a level II or III centre and are transferred to a trauma centre. However, this finding was only significant when adjusting for survival bias and therefore we conclude that it is still uncertain if there is a lower risk of death for patients who are transported directly to a level I trauma centre.     

Blunt gastric injuries

Gastric rupture after blunt abdominal trauma is a rare injury with few reports in the literature. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with blunt gastric injuries and compare outcomes with small bowel or colon injuries. All patients with hollow viscus perforations after blunt abdominal trauma from 1992 to 2005 at our level I trauma center were reviewed. Of 35,033 blunt trauma admissions, there were 268 (0.7%) patients with a total of 319 perforating hollow viscus injuries, 25 (0.07%) of which were blunt gastric injuries. When compared with the small bowel or colon injuries, the blunt gastric injury group had a higher Injury Severity Score (22 versus 17, P = 0.04), more patients with a chest Abbreviated Injury Score greater than 2 (36% versus 12%, P < 0.01), and a shorter interval from injury to laparotomy (221 versus 366 minutes, P = 0.017). Multivariate analysis identified five independent risk factors for mortality: age older than 55 years, head Abbreviated Injury Score greater than 2, chest Abbreviated Injury Score greater than 2, the presence of hypotension on admission, and Glasgow Coma Scale 8 or less. The results of this study suggest that mortality in patients with blunt hollow viscus injuries can be attributed to concurrent head and chest injuries, but not the specific hollow viscus organ that is injured.     

Alarming surge in nonsurvivable urban trauma and the case for violence prevention

HYPOTHESIS: A growing proportion of urban trauma mortality is characterized by devastating and likely nonsurvivable injuries. DESIGN: Consecutive samples from prospectively collected registry data. SETTING: University level I trauma center. PATIENTS: All trauma patients from January 1, 2000, to March 31, 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data for trauma patients, including locale of death and mechanism of injury, comparing early (years 2000 through 2003) and late (2004 and 2005) periods. RESULTS: A total of 11 051 trauma visits were registered during the study period with 366 deaths for an overall mortality of 3.3%. Penetrating injury occurred in 26.7% of patients; however, 71.9% of trauma mortalities (263 patients) died with penetrating injuries. Of the patients who died, 48.3% demonstrated severe penetrating injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score >/=4) to the head while 32.7% presented with severe penetrating chest injuries. There was a significant increase in the mortality rate over time (3.0% [early] vs 4.3% [late], P<.01). In parallel, emergency department mortality (patients dead on arrival and those not surviving to hospital admission) increased from 1.7% to 3.1% (P<.005), yet postadmission mortality remained constant (1.3% [early] vs 1.2% [late], P = .77). When emergency department mortality and the subsequent hospital mortality of patients with gunshot wounds to the head were combined, this represented 82.6% of all trauma mortalities in the late period. This was increased from 69.7% during the early period (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: While in-hospital mortality has remained the same, the proportion of nonsurvivable traumatic injuries has increased. In a mature trauma system, this provides a compelling argument for violence prevention strategies to reduce urban trauma mortality.     

Pedestrians injured by automobiles: relationship of age to injury type and severity

BACKGROUND: There is little research on the effect of age on the nature and severity of injuries to pedestrians struck by automobiles. STUDY DESIGN: Trauma registry study included all auto versus pedestrian trauma admissions of pedestrians injured by automobiles at an academic Level I trauma center over 10 years and 4 months. Injury Severity Score, severe body area (head, chest, abdomen, extremities) trauma with Abbreviated Injury Score >3, specific organ injuries, and mortality were calculated according to age groups (< or =14 years, 15 to 55 years, 56 to 65 years, >65 years). RESULTS: During the study period 5,838 admissions were reviewed. There were 1,136 patients (19.4%) 14 years old or less, 3,741 (64.1%) who were 15 to 55 years, 420 (7.2%) 56 to 65 years, and 541 (9.3%) older than 65 years. Overall mortality was 7.7% and ranged from 3.2% in the age group 14 years or less to 25.1% in patients over 65 years. The incidences of severe trauma (Injury Severity Score >15) in the four age groups were 11.2%, 18.7%, 23.6%, and 36.8%, respectively. The incidences of critical trauma (Injury Severity Score >30) were 2.3%, 3.9%, 5.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. The incidence of severe head and chest trauma (Abbreviated Injury Score >3) increased with age. The incidence of solid organ and hollow viscus injuries was similar in all age groups. Spinal injuries increased significantly with age and ranged from 0.4% in the pediatric group to 8.5% in the elderly group. Pelvic and tibial fractures were significantly more common in adults; femur fractures were significantly more common in the pediatric group. CONCLUSIONS: Age plays an important role in the anatomic distribution and severity of injuries and survival outcomes after pedestrian injuries.     

Serum levels of Hsp 72 measured early after trauma correlate with survival

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have shown that hemorrhagic shock is associated with the expression of inducible heat proteins, especially heat shock protein (Hsp) 72, in liver, brain, heart, and kidney. Moreover, induction of Hsp 72 by various stressors before the onset of shock has been associated with the attenuation of organ injury caused by hemorrhage. However, it is not known whether Hsp 72 is expressed after severe trauma in humans. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine whether Hsp 72 could be detected in the serum of patients early after severe trauma and whether serum levels of Hsp 72 might correlate with survival of trauma patients or the severity of the postinjury inflammatory response. METHODS: Clinical data were collected prospectively over a 3-year period for trauma patients mechanically ventilated for more than 2 days who met the following inclusion criteria: Injury Severity Score > or = 16, and age > 18 years. Physiologic data for quantitative assessment of organ dysfunction were collected for each patient. Hsp 72 and nitrate and nitrite levels were measured in the serum of trauma patients collected at or 12 to 48 hours after the admission to the emergency department. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with severe trauma were enrolled in the study. Hsp 72 was detected in the serum of all trauma patients. All patients with high initial serum levels of Hsp 72 (serum levels > 15 ng/mL) survived, whereas 29% of the patients with low Hsp 72 serum levels died from their traumatic injuries (p = 0.01). The overall mortality was 21%, occurring within 5 to 7 days. Patients who died were older (mean age, 54 +/- 15 years) than those who survived (mean age, 36 +/- 15 years) (p < 0.0.05). The cause of death was attributable to head injury in 79%, although the severity of head injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale score) was not statistically different between survivors with high serum values of Hsp 72 and patients who died. There was no correlation between the initial serum Hsp 72 values and the severity of organ dysfunction or clinical indicators of the inflammatory response. CONCLUSION: Hsp 72 can be detected in the serum of severely traumatized patients within 30 minutes after injury. Elevated initial serum levels of Hsp 72 (serum levels > 15 ng/mL) are associated with survival after severe trauma, but are not related to the incidence or severity of the postinjury inflammatory response or organ dysfunction.     

Recent trends in the management of combined pancreatoduodenal injuries

In an effort to better characterize the natural history of pancreatoduodenal injuries, we present a review of clinical experiences in the treatment of combined traumatic pancreatoduodenal injuries, focusing on patients in extremis. Records of patients with abdominal trauma admitted to a level 1 trauma center from 1997 to 2001 were reviewed. Of 240 patients who sustained a pancreatic or duodenal injury, 33 had combined pancreatoduodenal injuries. Eighty-two per cent of the patients (27/33) in this series had penetrating injuries, 72 per cent (24) sustained gunshot wounds (GSW). Thirty-one patients were male, and the mean age was 33 years (range, 7-74). These patients presented with an average Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 22 +/- 12 and an average Glasgow Coma Score of 14 +/- 2. Overall length of stay was 39 +/- 59 days (range, 0-351 days). These 33 patients underwent a total of 57 laparotomies with an average of 1.7 operations per patient (range, 1 to 5 operations). Eighty-four per cent of the patients had an associated gastrointestinal injury and 45 per cent had a major vascular injury. Thirteen of the 33 (39%) patients presented in extremis, all 13 underwent an abbreviated laparotomy. The complication rate was 36 per cent, including fistula, abscess, pancreatitis, and organ dysfunction. There were 6 hospital deaths for a mortality rate of 18 per cent. Pancreatoduodenal injuries are associated with a variety of other serious injuries, which add to the overall complexity of these patients. Abbreviated laparotomy may be helpful when managing combined pancreatoduodenal injuries in patients who are in extremis.     

Beta-blockers in isolated blunt head injury

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers on patients sustaining acute traumatic brain injury. Our hypothesis was that beta-blocker exposure is associated with improved survival. STUDY DESIGN: The trauma registry and the surgical ICU databases of an academic Level I trauma center were used to identify all patients sustaining blunt head injury requiring ICU admission from July 1998 to December 2005. Patients sustaining major associated injuries (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4 in any body region other than the head) were excluded. Patient demographics, injury profile, Injury Severity Score, and beta-blocker exposure were abstracted. The primary outcomes measure evaluated was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: During the 90-month study period, 1,156 patients with isolated head injury were admitted to the ICU. Of these, 203 (18%) received beta-blockers and 953 (82%) did not. Patients receiving beta-blockers were older (50 +/- 21 years versus 38 +/- 20 years, p < 0.001), had more frequent severe (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4) head injury (54% versus 43%, p < 0.01), Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8 less often (37% versus 47%, p = 0.01), more skull fractures (20% versus 12%, p < 0.01), and underwent craniectomy more frequently (23% versus 4%, p < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression identified beta-blocker use as an independent protective factor for mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.91; p = 0.01). On subgroup analysis, elderly patients (55 years or older) with severe head injury (Abbreviated Injury Score > or = 4) had a mortality of 28% on beta-blockers as compared with 60% when they did not receive them (odds ratio: 0.3; 96% CI, 0.1 to 0.6; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-blockade in patients with traumatic brain injury was independently associated with improved survival. Older patients with severe head injuries demonstrated the largest reduction in mortality with beta-blockade.     

Civilian craniocerebral gunshot wounds: an update in predicting outcomes

Given the high mortality in patients sustaining intracranial injury secondary to gunshot wounds (GSWs), predictors to identify patients at increased risk of death are needed to assist clinicians early in determining optimal treatment. There have been few recent studies involving penetrating craniocerebral injuries, and most studies have been restricted to small numbers of patients, which do not allow for adequate prediction of mortality. A retrospective chart review of 298 patients who sustained GSWs to the head between 1992 and 2003 was conducted at a level 1 trauma center. Demographics, bullet trajectory, admitting Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), as well as admission blood pressure and respiratory rate were evaluated. Univariate testing followed by multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of death. In-hospital mortality for patients with intracranial injury secondary to GSW was 51 per cent. A GCS <5 on admission and a high Injury Severity Score (ISS >25) was associated with mortality as compared with survivors (P < 0.05). Of those patients presenting with a GCS of 3, there were seven survivors to discharge. Logistic regression identified the following variables as predictors of death: respiratory arrest on admission, hypotension on admission, transhemispheric and transventricular GSW. Identification of those patients at the highest risk of death secondary to a craniocerebral GSW allows clinicians to better predict outcome and prognosis. This is not only important in determining treatment algorithms for physicians but also for appropriate counseling of family members to educate them with regard to patients' outcomes.     

Decompressive craniectomy in trauma patients with severe brain injury

Decompressive craniectomy in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is controversial. We conducted a retrospective review of prospectively collected data on all patients requiring surgery for TBI from 1995 through 2001 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Patients were separated into two groups: Group A, craniectomy, and Group B, craniotomy. We had 120 patients; 24 (20%) had craniectomy and 96 (80%) had craniotomy. There were no significant differences in demographics or Injury Severity Scores. The craniectomy group had significantly more TBI as evidenced by more frequently collapsed basilar cisterns on CT scan (P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in actuarial survival between the groups: 52.8 per cent in the craniectomy group and 79.2 per cent in the craniotomy group (P = 0.08). Calculated mortality for craniectomy was 37.5 per cent versus 18.8 per cent for craniotomy (P = NS). We found four preoperative findings to be significant predictors of mortality: 1) Glasgow Coma Scale score, 2) Injury Severity Score, 3) Simplified Acute Physiology Score, and 4) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. The type of surgery was not found to be a significant predictor of death even when adjusted for severity of injury. Craniectomy may be helpful for patients with TBI associated with preoperative CT scan evidence of basilar cistern collapse. This is evidenced by similar survival rates between the two groups despite clinical evidence of greater TBI among craniectomy patients.     

The development of acute lung injury is associated with worse neurologic outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of acute lung injury (ALI) in trauma patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), to evaluate the impact of ALI on mortality and neurologic outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to identify whether the development of ALI correlates with the severity of TBI. METHODS: Clinical data were collected prospectively over a 4-year period in a Level I trauma center. Patients included in the study met the following criteria: mechanical ventilation > 24 hours, head Abbreviated Injury Scale score >or= 3, no other body region Abbreviated Injury Scale score >or= 3, and age between 18 and 54 years. ALI was defined using international consensus criteria. Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were assessed at 3 and 12 months. Bivariate comparisons were made between ALI and non-ALI groups. Multivariate analysis with stepwise logistical regression was used to assess independent factors on mortality. The patient's admission head computed tomographic (CT) scan was graded using the Marshall system, and the presence and size of specific intracranial abnormality was noted. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Marshall CT scan score, and intracranial abnormality were correlated with the development of ALI. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients with isolated head trauma were enrolled in the study over a 4-year period. Thirty-one percent of patients with severe TBI developed ALI. Head trauma patients with ALI had a significantly higher ISS, a greater number of days on the ventilator, and a worse neurologic outcome for those who survived their hospitalization. Mortality was 38% in the ALI group and 15% in the non-ALI group (p = 0.004). Only 3 of 16 (19%) of the deaths within the ALI group were directly related to ALI. By multivariate analysis, only the presence of ALI, older age, and lower initial GCS score were associated with higher mortality. There was no association between ISS, the presence of arterial hypotension (arterial systolic pressure < 90 mm Hg) at admission to the hospital, or the amount of blood transfused and mortality. No correlation was found between the severity of head injury (GCS score, Marshall score, or intracranial abnormality) and development of ALI. CONCLUSION: The development of ALI is a critical independent factor affecting mortality in patients suffering traumatic brain injury and is associated with a worse long-term neurologic outcome in survivors. The risk of developing ALI is not associated with specific anatomic lesions diagnosed by cranial CT scanning.     

Trauma fatalities: time and location of hospital deaths

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the epidemiology, temporal distribution, and place of traumatic hospital deaths can be a useful tool in identifying areas for research, education, and allocation of resources. STUDY DESIGN: Trauma registry-based study of all traumatic hospital deaths at a Level I urban trauma center during the period 1993 to 2002. The time and hospital location where deaths occurred were analyzed according to mechanism of injury, age, Glasgow Coma Score, and body areas with severe injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] >/= 4). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with death at various times after admission. RESULTS: During the study period there were 2,648 hospital trauma deaths. The most common body area with critical injuries (AIS >/= 4) was the head (43%), followed by the chest (28%) and the abdomen (19%). Overall, 37% of victims had no vital signs present on admission. Chest AIS >/= 4, penetrating trauma, and age greater than 60 years were significant risk factors associated with no vital signs on admission. Patients with severe chest trauma (AIS >/= 4) reaching the hospital alive were significantly more likely to die within the first 60 minutes than were patients with severe abdominal or head injuries (17% versus 11% versus 7%). In patients reaching the hospital alive, the time and place of death varied according to mechanism of injury and injured body area. Deaths caused by severe head trauma peaked at 6 to 24 hours, and deaths caused by severe chest or abdominal trauma peaked at 1 to 6 hours after admission. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal distribution and location of trauma deaths are influenced by the mechanism of injury, age, and the injured body area. These findings may help in focusing research, education, and resource allocation in a more targeted manner to reduce trauma deaths.     

Management of polytrauma: our experience

In the advanced nations trauma represents the third cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and tumours. Recently, great importance has been given to the need to treat traumas as quickly as possible in order to reduce mortality and morbidity. Prompt management of is the gold standard in the emergency setting and the phrase "golden hour" is now commonly used. The authors report on their experience with the management of multiple trauma, through the study of 617 clinical cases. Patients were evaluated with the Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Of 420 (68%) cases of major trauma only one patient had ISS > 60. Patients were admitted on average after 47 +/- 18 min. Only two deaths occurred in the emergency unit. The task of the emergency unit is to stabilise the patients, anticipate the complications, including mainly shock and multiple organ failure, optimizing time, interventions and resources to reduce morbidity and mortality.     

Evaluating a pediatric trauma program: effectiveness versus preventable death rate

We compared effectiveness (E), the proportion of severely injured patients who were salvageable and survived, to the preventable death rate (PDR) over three consecutive 1-year periods. Severely injured patients were those with at least one injury with an Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) of greater than or equal to 4. Those with one fatal injury (AIS greater than or equal to 6), a critical head injury (AIS greater than or equal to 5) apart from acute epidural hematoma, or massive multiple injuries (Injury Severity Score greater than 59) were considered nonsalvageable; the remainder were considered salvageable. In the first year, six of 74 salvageable patients died, in the second year five of 76, and in the third year one of 69. The PDR rates were 0.32 (6/19), 0.23 (5/22), and 0.06 (1/17), respectively. There was no significant difference in the E of our trauma program over the 3 years. The apparent improvement in PDR in the second and third years resulted from an increased number of deaths among nonsalvageable patients and fewer deaths among salvageable patients. This finding demonstrates that PDR is sensitive to case mix and not just quality of care, and confirms the superiority of E over PDR for assessing a trauma program.