Racial Differences in Discharge Location After a Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults

ObjectiveTo determine if there were racial differences in discharge location among older adults treated for traumatic brain injury (TBI) at a level 1 trauma center.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingR Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.ParticipantsBlack and white adults aged ≥65 years treated for TBI between 1998 and 2012 and discharged to home without services or inpatient rehabilitation (N=2902).Main Outcome MeasuresWe assessed the association between race and discharge location via logistic regression. Covariates included age, sex, Abbreviated Injury Scale-Head score, insurance type, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and comorbidities.ResultsThere were 2487 (86%) whites and 415 blacks (14%) in the sample. A total of 1513 (52%) were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation and 1389 (48%) were discharged home without services. In adjusted logistic regression, blacks were more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation than to home without services compared to whites (odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.70).ConclusionsIn this group of Medicare-eligible older adults, blacks were more likely to be discharged to inpatient rehabilitation compared to whites.     

Changes in spatial QRS-T angle and QTc interval in patients with traumatic brain injury with or without intra-abdominal hypertension

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects cardiac electrical function, and several extra-cerebral factors, including intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), might further modulate this brain-heart interaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of TBI, and of increased IAP during TBI, on cardiac electrical function as measured by vectorcardiographic (VCG) variables.

Cervical spine computed tomography utilization in pediatric trauma patients

Background

Guidelines for evaluating the cervical spine in pediatric trauma patients recommend cervical spine CT (CSCT) when plain radiographs suggest an injury. Our objective was to compare usage of CSCT between a pediatric trauma center (PTC) and referral general emergency departments (GEDs).

Methods

Patient data from a pediatric trauma registry from 2002 to 2011 were analyzed. Rates of CSI and CSCT of patients presenting to the PTC and GED were compared. Factors associated with use of CSCT were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

5148 patients were evaluated, 2142 (41.6%) at the PTC and 3006 (58.4%) at the GED. Groups were similar with regard to age, gender, GCS, and triage category. GED patients had a higher median ISS (14 vs. 9, p < 0.05) and more frequent ICU admissions (44.3% vs. 26.1% p < 0.05). CSI rate was 2.1% (107/5148) and remained stable. CSCT use increased from 3.5% to 16.1% over time at the PTC (mean 9.6% 95% CI = 8.3, 10.9) and increased from 6.8% to 42.0% (mean 26.9%, CI = 25.4, 28.4) at the GED. Initial care at a GED remained strongly associated with CSCT.

Conclusions

Despite a stable rate of CSI, rate of CSCT increased significantly over time, especially among patients initially evaluated at a GED.     

Fluid therapy and acute kidney injury in cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest

Aim of the study

It has recently been suggested that acute kidney injury (AKI) may strongly be influenced by post-resuscitation disease and cardiogenic shock (CS), and may not just be a consequence of cardiac arrest and time without spontaneous circulation. AKI also has been suggested as a strong independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Therefore the present study aimed at investigating the effect of fluid management on the incidence of AKI in patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest treated by mild therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods

Fluid therapy and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was retrospectively reviewed in 51 patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest comparing patients with and without hemodynamic (PPV, SVV) and volumetric (ELWI, GEDI) monitoring.

Results

There was no significant difference in baseline or cardiac arrest characteristics between hemodynamic monitored patients and conventional monitored patients. 28 patients were monitored by standard monitoring, in 23 patients monitoring was complemented by a PICCO system. In the first 24 h of treatment the total amount of fluid was significantly higher in patients under PICCO monitoring compared to conventional monitoring (4375 ± 1285 ml vs. 5449 ± 1438 ml, p = 0.007). This was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of AKI (RIFLE ‘I’/‘F’: PICCO-group: 1 (4.3%) vs. conventional group 8 (28.6%), p = 0.03).

Conclusion

The presented data suggest that volume therapy guided by volumetric (ELWI, GEDI) and arterial waveform derived variables (PPV, SVV) can reduce the incidence of AKI in patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac arrest treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia.     

重型颅脑创伤316例临床分析

目的:探讨重型颅脑损伤后救治时间及GCS评分对患者预后的影响。方法:回顾分析山西省榆次市人民医院自1993年1月至2003年12月收治的316例重型颅脑外伤患者的临床资料。结果:研究组中颅脑损伤患者伤后小于3h救治者病死率25.66%,3h～24h者为37.13%,大于24h者为47.22%。随着救治时间的延长病死率呈上升趋势,各组间差异具有显著性(P<0.05)。GCS计分3分～5分颅脑损伤患者病死率为51.00%,6分～8分者为23.32%,各组间差异具有显著性(P<0.0005)。结论:重型颅脑损伤者的预后主要取决于原发伤程度,原发伤愈重GCS评分愈低,其预后愈差;伤后救治时间愈早,患者预后相应愈好。     

丁胱亚磺酰亚胺排空组织谷胱甘肽对大鼠心肌谷胱甘肽系统的影响

目的:观察采用谷氨酰半胱氨酸合成酶抑制剂--丁胱亚磺酰亚胺(BSO)排空大鼠心肌谷胱甘肽(GSH)是否影响大鼠心肌组织GSH的稳态,以及是否对GSH代谢相关酶活性及mRNA表达产生影响.方法:采用长时间力竭运动、注射BSO排空GSH两种实验模型,比较对照组与注射BSO组SD大鼠心肌在静息状态和长时间力竭运动后GSH状态及其代谢变化.结果:注射BSO 8天后,大鼠心脏GSH含量分别为对照组?%,且GSH的下降伴随着氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)的下降,GSH/GSSG的比值无显著变化.GSH排空导致GSH代谢酶活性发生适应性变化,注射BSO后心肌中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)活性与对照组相比显著下降(P < 0.001).注射BSO组与对照组相比,心肌谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)活性显著增加(P < 0.05).注射BSO力竭组与注射BSO组相比,心肌GGT活性显著增加(P < 0.001),心肌注射BSO抑制γ-谷氨酰半胱酸合成酶(GCS)活性,注射BSO力竭组大鼠心肌GCS mRNA表达量高于注射BSO组,表明极度排空谷胱甘肽后,GCS mRNA表达量的增加可能是机体产生的应激反应.