Observation-first versus angioembolization-first approach in stable patients with blunt liver trauma: A WTA multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies evaluating observation versus angioembolization (AE) for blunt liver injuries (BLT) with contrast extravasation (CE) on computed tomography imaging have yielded inconsistent conclusions, primarily due to limitations in single-center and/or retrospective study design. Therefore, this multicenter study aims to compare an observation versus AE-first approach for BLT, hypothesizing decreased liver-related complications (LRCs) with observation. METHODS: We conducted a post hoc analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study (2019-2021) across 23 centers. Adult patients with BLT + CE undergoing observation or AE within 8 hours of arrival were included. The primary outcome was LRCs, defined as perihepatic fluid collection, bile leak/biloma, pseudoaneurysm, hepatic necrosis, and/or hepatic abscess. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors associated with LRCs. RESULTS: From 128 patients presenting with BLT + CE on imaging, 71 (55.5%) underwent observation-first and 57 (45.5%) AE-first management. Both groups were comparable in age, vitals, mechanism of injury, and shock index (all p > 0.05), however the AE group had increased frequency of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grade IV injuries (51.0% vs. 22.0%, p = 0.002). The AE cohort demonstrated increased rates of in-hospital LRCs (36.8% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.038), emergency department representation (25.0% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.025), and hospital readmission for LRCs (12.3% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.012). However, the two cohorts had similar mortality rates (5.7% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.912). After adjusting for age, ISS, and grade of liver injury, an AE-first approach had a similar associated risk of LRCs compared with observation-first management (odds ratio, 1.949; 95% confidence interval, 0.673-5.643; p = 0.219). CONCLUSION: Patients with blunt liver injury and CE undergoing an observation-first approach were associated with a similar adjusted risk of LRCs and rate of mortality compared with AE-first approach. Overall, this calls for reevaluation of the role of routine AE in blunt liver trauma patients with CE. Future prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management, Level IV.

Less is more: Streamlining management of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in the modified brain injury guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (iTSAH) are managed according to the modified Brain Injury Guidelines (mBIG) class. The current study aimed to describe patients with iTSAH and analyze their clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on trauma patients with iTSAH. Exclusion criteria were Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) â€‹< â€‹13 and pre-injury antiplatelet/anticoagulant use. RESULTS: 276 patients were identified over the 8-year study period. The median number of head CT scans was 2. Neurosurgery consultation was obtained in 80.4 â€‹% of patients. A total of 19 (8.6 â€‹%) patients had radiographic progression. Six (2.2 â€‹%) patients had neurologic deterioration. No patients required operative intervention or readmission. No deaths were related to iTSAH. CONCLUSIONS: There were no patients with iTSAH that required neurosurgical consultation despite a subset of patients having radiographic or neurologic progression. These patients may not require repeat head CT scan or neurosurgical consult, necessitating a change of SAH definitions in the mBIG.

An assessment of nationwide trends in emergency department (ED) resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) use - A trauma quality improvement program registry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for temporary hemorrhage control in severe non-compressible torso trauma remains controversial, with limited data on patient selection and outcomes. This study aims to analyze the nationwide trends of its use in the emergency department (EDs). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS-TQIP) from 2017 to 2022 was performed, focusing on REBOA placements in EDs. RESULTS: The analysis included 3398 REBOA procedures. Majority patients were male (76 â€‹%) with a median age of 40 years (27-58) and injury severity score of 20 (20-41). The most common mechanism was collision (64 â€‹%), with emergency surgeries most frequently performed for pelvic trauma (14 â€‹%). Level 1 trauma centers performed 82 â€‹% of these procedures, with consistent low annual utilization (<200 facilities). Survival rates were 85 â€‹% at 1-h post-placement, decreasing significantly to 42 â€‹% by discharge. CONCLUSIONS: REBOA usage in remains limited but steady, primarily occurring at level 1 trauma center EDs. While short-term survival rates are favorable, they drop significantly by the time of discharge.

Managing career transitions in the profession of acute care surgery.

Career shifts are a naturally occurring part of the trauma and acute care surgeon's profession. These transitions may occur at various timepoints throughout a surgeon's career and each has their own specific challenges. Finding a good fit for your first job is critical for ensuring success as an early career surgeon. Equally, understanding how to navigate promotions or a change in job location mid-career can be fraught with uncertainty. As one progresses in their career, knowing when to take on a leadership position is oftentimes difficult as it may mean a change in priorities. Finally, navigating your path towards a fulfilling retirement is a complex discussion that is different for each surgeon. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) convened an expert panel of acute care surgeons in a virtual grand rounds session in August 2023 to address the aforementioned career transitions and highlight strategies for successfully navigating each shift. This was a collaboration between the AAST Associate Member Council (consisting of surgical resident, fellow and junior faculty members), the AAST Military Liaison Committee and the AAST Healthcare Economics Committee. Led by two moderators, the panel consisted of early, mid-career and senior surgeons, and recommendations are summarized below and in figure 1.

The employment of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in deployed settings.

BACKGROUND: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been often used in place of open aortic occlusion for management of hemorrhagic shock in trauma. There is a paucity of data evaluating REBOA usage in military settings. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We queried the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (DODTR) for all cases with at least one intervention or assessment available within the first 72 h after injury between 2007 and 2023. We used relevant procedural codes to identify the use of REBOA within the DODTR, and we used descriptive statistics to characterize its use. RESULTS: We identified 17 cases of REBOA placed in combat settings from 2017 to 2019. The majority of these were placed in the operating room (76%) and in civilian patients (70%). A penetrating mechanism caused the injury in 94% of cases with predominantly the abdomen and extremities having serious injuries. All patients subsequently underwent an exploratory laparotomy after REBOA placement, with moderate numbers of patients having spleen, liver, and small bowel injuries. The majority (82%) of included patients survived to hospital discharge. DISCUSSION: We describe 17 cases of REBOA within the DODTR from 2007 to 2023, adding to the limited documentation of patients undergoing REBOA in military settings. We identified patterns of injury in line with previous studies of patients undergoing REBOA in military settings. In this small sample of military casualties, we observed a high survival rate.

A novel preoperative score to predict severe acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: In a large multicenter trial, The Parkland Grading Scale (PGS) for acute cholecystitis outperformed other grading scales and has a positive correlation with complications but is limited in its inability to preoperatively predict high-grade cholecystitis. We sought to identify preoperative variables predictive of high-grade cholecystitis (PGS 4 or 5). METHODS: In a six-month period, patients undergoing cholecystectomy at a single institution with prospectively graded PGS were analyzed. Stepwise logistic regression models were constructed to predict high-grade cholecystitis. The relative weight of the variables was used to derive a novel score, the Severe Acute Cholecystitis Score (SACS). This score was compared with the Emergency Surgery Acuity Score(ESS), American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) preoperative score and Tokyo Guidelines (TG) for their ability to predict high-grade cholecystitis. Severe Acute Cholecystitis Score was then validated using the database from the AAST multicenter validation of the grading scale for acute cholecystitis. RESULTS: Of the 575 patients that underwent cholecystectomy, 172 (29.9%) were classified as high-grade. The stepwise logistic regression modeling identified seven independent predictors of high-grade cholecystitis. From these variables, the SACS was derived. Scores ranged from 0 to 9 points with a C statistic of 0.76, outperforming the ESS ( C statistic of 0.60), AAST (0.53), and TG (0.70) ( p < 0.001). Using a cutoff of 4 or more on the SACS correctly identifies 76.2% of cases with a specificity of 91.3% and a sensitivity of 40.7%. In the multicenter database, there were 464 patients with a prospectively collected PGS. The C statistic for SACS was 0.74. Using the same cutoff of 4, SACS correctly identifies 71.6% of cases with a specificity of 83.8% and a sensitivity of 52.2%. CONCLUSION: The Severe Acute Cholecystitis Score can preoperatively predict high-grade cholecystitis and may be useful for counseling patients and assisting in surgical decision making. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test/Criteria; Level III.

High-grade liver injuries with contrast extravasation managed initially with interventional radiology versus observation: A secondary analysis of a WTA multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: High-grade liver injuries with extravasation (HGLI â€‹+ â€‹Extrav) are associated with morbidity/mortality. For low-grade injuries, an observation (OBS) first-strategy is beneficial over initial angiography (IR), however, it is unclear if OBS is safe for HGLI â€‹+ â€‹Extrav. Therefore, we evaluated the management of HGLI â€‹+ â€‹Extrav patients, hypothesizing IR patients will have decreased rates of operation and mortality. METHODS: HGLI â€‹+ â€‹Extrav patients managed with initial OBS or IR were included. The primary outcome was need for operation. Secondary outcomes included liver-related complications (LRCs) and mortality. RESULTS: From 59 patients, 23 (39.0%) were managed with OBS and 36 (61.0%) with IR. 75% of IR patients underwent angioembolization, whereas 13% of OBS patients underwent any IR, all undergoing angioembolization. IR patients had an increased rate of operation (13.9% vs. 0%, p â€‹= â€‹0.049), but no difference in LRCs (44.4% vs. 43.5%) or mortality (5.6% vs. 8.7%) versus OBS patients (both p â€‹> â€‹0.05). CONCLUSION: Over 60% of patients were managed with IR initially. IR patients had an increased rate of operation yet similar rates of LRCs and mortality, suggesting initial OBS reasonable in appropriately selected HGLI â€‹+ â€‹Extrav patients.

A Real-Time Automated Machine Learning Algorithm for Predicting Mortality in Trauma Patients: Survey Says it's Ready for Prime-Time.

BACKGROUND: Though artificial intelligence ("AI") has been increasingly applied to patient care, many of these predictive models are retrospective and not readily available for real-time decision-making. This survey-based study aims to evaluate implementation of a new, validated mortality risk calculator (Parkland Trauma Index of Mortality, "PTIM") embedded in our electronic healthrecord ("EHR") that calculates hourly predictions of mortality with high sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: This is a prospective, survey-based study performed at a level 1 trauma center. An anonymous survey was sent to surgical providers and regarding PTIM implementation. The PTIM score evaluates 23 variables including Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), vital signs, and laboratory data. RESULTS: Of the 40 completed surveys, 35 reported using PTIM in decision-making. Prior to reviewing PTIM, providers identified perceived top 3 predictors of mortality, including GCS (22/38, 58%), age (18/35, 47%), and maximum heart rate (17/35, 45%). Most providers reported the PTIM assisted their treatment decisions (27/35, 77%) and timing of operative intervention (23/35, 66%). Many providers agreed that PTIM integrated into rounds and patient assessment (22/36, 61%) and that it improved efficiency in assessing patients' potential mortality (21/36, 58%). CONCLUSIONS: Artificial intelligence algorithms are mostly retrospective and lag in real-time prediction of mortality. To our knowledge, this is the first real-time, automated algorithm predicting mortality in trauma patients. In this small survey-based study, we found PTIM assists in decision-making, timing of intervention, and improves accuracy in assessing mortality. Next steps include evaluating the short- and long-term impact on patient outcomes.

Burn and Trauma Burden and Screening for Interpersonal Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Nationwide shelter-in-place (SIP) orders during the pandemic have had long-lasting effects, including increased rates of domestic violence and interpersonal violence. Screening for violence varies by institution, which tool is used, and when. Given increases in burn and trauma admissions over the course of the pandemic, we sought to examine trends at our institution during this time period to better guide care and anticipate system-level effects. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of pediatric burn and adult burn and trauma patients at our level 1 trauma/burn center between March-May 2019 and March-May 2020. Home safety screening was performed by nursing staff using a 1-part screening questionnaire. Patients presenting before March 15, 2020, were defined as "pre-SIP; " between March 16-May 19, 2020, were "during SIP; " and those after May 19, 2020, were designated as "post-SIP." Descriptive and chi-square statistics were used. Demographic, injury patterns, and screening information were collected. RESULTS: Blunt trauma comprised 60% of injuries, followed by burns (30%) then penetrating injury (7%). Over the entire time period analyzed, 1822 patients had documented home safety screening; ∼2% of patients screened reported a safety concern pre-SIP, compared to 3% of patients during SIP. There were higher rates of burns and penetrating injury during SIP compared to other periods (P ≤ 0.0001). Home safety screening rates were 94%-95% pre- and during SIP, but dropped to 85% post-SIP (P < 0.0001). Home safety concerns were reported almost 2% of the time pre-SIP and 3% during SIP (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: We noted an increase in trauma and burns during and after SIP orders, consistent with the experiences of other institutions. Implementation of a nurse-driven screening process demonstrated high compliance with appropriate referrals. The burden of burn and traumatic injury remains significant, highlighting a need for continued psychosocial screening and the provision of psychosocial support resources in the acute trauma setting.

Futility in acute care surgery: first do no harm.

The consequences of the delivery of futile or potentially ineffective medical care and interventions are devastating on the healthcare system, our patients and their families, and healthcare providers. In emergency situations in particular, determining if escalating invasive interventions will benefit a frail and/or severely critically ill patient can be exceedingly difficult. In this review, our objective is to define the problem of potentially ineffective care within the specialty of acute care surgery and describe strategies for improving the care of our patients in these difficult situations.

Tick-tock: Prehospital intubation is associated with longer field time without any survival benefit.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital endotracheal intubation is a debated topic, and few studies have found it beneficial after trauma. A growing body of evidence suggests that prehospital endotracheal intubation is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Our study was designed to compare patients with attempted prehospital endotracheal intubation to those intubated promptly upon emergency department arrival. METHODS: A retrospective review of a single-center trauma research data repository was utilized. Inclusion criteria included age ≥15 years, transport from the scene by ground ambulance, and undergoing prehospital endotracheal intubation attempts or intubation within 10 minutes of emergency department arrival without prior prehospital endotracheal intubation attempt. Propensity score matching was used to minimize differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Standard mean differences are also presented for pre- and post-matching datasets to evaluate for covariate balance. RESULTS: In total, 208 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 95 patients (46%) underwent prehospital endotracheal intubation, which was successful in 47% of cases. A control group of 113 patients (54%) were intubated within 10 minutes of emergency department arrival. We performed propensity score matching between cohorts based on observed differences after univariate analysis and used standard mean differences to estimate covariate balance. After propensity score matching, patients who underwent prehospital endotracheal intubation experienced a longer time on scene as compared with those intubated in the emergency department (9 minutes [interquartile range 6-12] vs 6 minutes [interquartile range 5-9], P < .01) without difference in overall mortality (67% vs 65%, P = 1.00). Rapid sequence intubation was not used in the field; however, it was used for 58% of patients intubated within 10 minutes of emergency department arrival. After matched analysis, patients with a failed prehospital intubation attempt were equally likely to receive rapid sequence intubation during re-intubation in the emergency department as compared with those undergoing a first attempt (n = 13/28, 46% vs n = 28/63, 44%, P = 1.00, standard mean differences 0.04). Among patients with prehospital arrest (n = 98), prehospital endotracheal intubation was associated with shorter time to death (8 minutes [interquartile range 3-17] vs 14 minutes [interquartile range 8-45], P = .008) and longer total transport time (23 minutes [interquartile range 19-31] vs 19 minutes [interquartile range 16-24], P = .006), but there was no difference in observed mortality (n = 29/31, 94% vs n = 30/31, 97%, P = 1.00, standard mean differences = 0.15) after propensity score matching. CONCLUSION: Prehospital providers should prioritize expeditious transport over attempting prehospital endotracheal intubation, as prehospital endotracheal intubation is inconsistently successful, may delay definitive care, and appears to have no survival benefit.

Early administration of high dose enoxaparin after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Early enoxaparin 30 mg BID administration at 24 h post-injury has been demonstrated in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However this dose can also yield subtherapeutic anti-Xa levels in 30-50% of trauma patients, suggesting that larger doses may be required for adequate prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE). The safety of enoxaparin 40 mg BID in trauma patients has previously been shown - however, these studies have largely excluded TBI patients. Therefore, we sought to demonstrate the safety of early enoxaparin 40 mg BID in a low-risk group of TBI patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of TBI patients at a Level 1 trauma center was performed. Patients with stable computed tomography (CT) of the head at 6 to 24 h post-injury who received enoxaparin 40 mg BID were included and serial GCS evaluations to identify possible clinical complications. To evaluate the safety of this dosing regimen, data was then compared to patients from our institution with similar TBI profiles who had received 5,000 units (U) of subcutaneous heparin (SQH) prophylaxis. RESULTS: 199 TBI patients were identified over a nine month period, 40/199 (19.7%) received DVT prophylaxis after traumatic injury. Of these 40, 19 (47.5%) received enoxaparin 40 mg BID and 21 (52.5%) received 5,000U of SQH. Low risk TBI patients who were either given enoxaparin (n = 7) or SQH (n = 4), demonstrated no clinical decline in mental status during their inpatient stay. CONCLUSION: Prior studies have demonstrated that enoxaparin 40 mg BID dosing is superior to traditional VTE prophylaxis in trauma patients. However, TBI patients are often excluded from this dosing due to concern for progression. Our study showed no clinical decline in mental status in a small cohort of low-risk TBI patients who received enoxaparin 40 mg BID.

Plant phylogeny determines host selection and acceptance of the oligophagous leaf beetle Cassida rubiginosa.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the host range of biocontrol agents is important for the safe and effective implementation of biocontrol of weeds. In this study, we examined the phylogenetic pattern of host selection and acceptance by the biocontrol beetle, Cassida rubiginosa. The beetle was released in New Zealand for control of Cirsium arvense, its primary host plant, but has potential to attack many Cardueae (thistles and knapweeds) species. We conducted a series of no-choice and choice experiments and modelled the responses of Cassida rubiginosa in relation to phylogenetic distance from Cirsium arvense. RESULTS: The olfactory recognition (single odour) and preference (two odours) of the beetle showed a significant phylogenetic relationship. These relationships showed a high degree of correlation with 66.9% of the variation in olfactory recognition and 82.8% of the variation in olfactory preference explained by phylogeny. Where the beetle could contact plants, under no-choice conditions there was no phylogenetic pattern to host plant acceptance. However, under choice conditions, phylogenetic distance was a strong predictor of feeding and oviposition preference. These relationships showed a high degree of correlation, with 63.4% of the variation in feeding preference, and 89.0% of the variation in oviposition preference, explained by phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS: As far as we are aware, this is the first demonstration of an herbivorous insect that exhibits a phylogenetic pattern to olfactory host plant selection. Host plant utilisation by Cassida rubiginosa in New Zealand will be mostly restricted to Cirsium and Carduus species, with minimal potential for impact on other Cardueae weeds. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Imaging acute cholecystitis, one test is enough.

BACKGROUND: Patients with right upper quadrant pain are often imaged using multiple modalities with no established gold standard. A single imaging study should provide adequate information for diagnosis. METHODS: A multicenter study of patients with acute cholecystitis was queried for patients who underwent multiple imaging studies on admission. Parameters were compared across studies including wall thickness (WT), common bile duct diameter (CBDD), pericholecystic fluid and signs of inflammation. Cutoff for abnormal values were 3 mm for WT and 6 mm for CBDD. Parameters were compared using chi-square tests and Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS: Of 861 patients with acute cholecystitis, 759 had ultrasounds, 353 had CT and 74 had MRIs. There was excellent agreement for wall thickness (ICC = 0.733) and bile duct diameter (ICC = 0.848) between imaging studies. Differences between wall thickness and bile duct diameters were small with nearly all <1 mm. Large differences (>2 mm) were rare (<5%) for WT and CBDD. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging studies in acute cholecystitis generate equivalent results for typically measured parameters.

Establishing a core outcomes set for massive transfusion: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma modified Delphi method consensus study.

BACKGROUND: The management of severe hemorrhage has changed significantly over recent decades, resulting in a heterogeneous description of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in the literature, which is not suitable for data pooling. Therefore, we sought to develop a core outcome set (COS) to help guide future massive transfusion (MT) research and overcome the challenge of heterogeneous outcomes reporting. METHODS: Massive transfusion content experts were invited to participate in a modified Delphi study. For Round 1, participants submitted a list of proposed core outcomes. In subsequent rounds, panelists used a 9-point Likert scale to score proposed outcomes for importance. Core outcomes consensus was defined as >85% of scores receiving 7 to 9 and <15% of scores receiving 1 to 3. Feedback and aggregate data were shared between rounds. RESULTS: From an initial panel of 16 experts, 12 (75%) completed three rounds of deliberation to reevaluate variables not achieving predefined consensus criteria. A total of 64 items were considered, with 4 items achieving consensus for inclusion as core outcomes: blood products received in the first 6 hours, 6-hour mortality, time to mortality, and 24-hour mortality. CONCLUSION: Through an iterative survey consensus process, content experts have defined a COS to guide future MT research. This COS will be a valuable tool for researchers seeking to perform new MT research and will allow future trials to generate data that can be used in pooled analyses with enhanced statistical power. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test or Criteria; Level V.

Using Trauma Video Review to Assess EMS Handoff and Trauma Team Non-Technical Skills.

OBJECTIVE: Handoffs by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel suffer from poor structure, inattention, and interruptions. The relationship between the quality of EMS communication and the non-technical performance of trauma teams remains unknown. METHODS: We analyzed 3 months of trauma resuscitation videos (highest acuity activations or patients with an Injury Severity Score [ISS] of ≥15). Handoffs were scored using the mechanism-injury-signs-treatment (MIST) framework for completeness (0-20), efficiency (category jumps), interruptions, and timeliness. Trauma team non-technical performance was scored using the Trauma Non-Technical Skills (T-NOTECHS) scale (5-15). RESULTS: We analyzed 99 videos. Handoffs lasted a median of 62 seconds [IQR: 43-74], scored 11 [10-13] for completeness, and had 2 [1-3] interruptions. Most interruptions were verbal (85.2%) and caused by the trauma team (64.9%). Most handoffs (92%) were efficient with 2 or fewer jumps. Patient transfer during handoff occurred in 53.5% of the videos; EMS providers giving handoff helped transfer in 69.8% of the Primary surveys began during handoff in 42.4% of the videos. Resuscitation teams who scored in the top-quartile on the T-NOTECHS (>11) had higher MIST scores than teams in lower quartiles (13 [11.25-14.75] vs. 11 [10-13]; p < .01). There were no significant differences in ISS, efficiency, timeliness, or interruptions between top- and lower-quartile groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between EMS MIST completeness and high performance of non-technical skill by trauma teams. Trauma video review (TVR) can help identify modifiable behaviors to improve EMS handoff and resuscitation efforts and therefore trauma team performance.

How Do Hospital-Specific Data Dictionaries Impact Competency Level With Data Collection: A National Survey.

BACKGROUND: Trauma registry staff are tasked with high-quality data collection to support program requirements. Hospital-specific data dictionaries are increasingly used to ensure accurate data collection, yet it is unknown how such a resource impacts a trauma registry team's competency with data collection. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to explore whether having a hospital-specific data dictionary affected trauma service team members' self-reported competency level with abstracting required and nonrequired data elements. METHODS: This study used an anonymous, cross-sectional survey distributed (July 2020 to September 2020) by the Society of Trauma Nurses, the American College of Surgeons, and the Trauma System News outlets to trauma registrars, trauma nurse coordinators, clinical quality specialists, program managers, program directors, and trauma research personnel. A 26-question survey was designed using a visual sliding scale from 0 to 100 to measure self-reported competence and associated variables. RESULTS: A total of 881 respondents completed the survey from at least 495 centers. Six hundred ninety-six (79.0%) respondents were from Level I or Level II programs. Several factors were associated with team members feeling highly competent in collecting data for various reporting requirements, including the level of trauma center verification, tenure working in trauma services, and the presence of a hospital-specific data dictionary. CONCLUSION: Trauma centers should consider establishing a hospital-specific data dictionary as they are associated with higher registry staff competence working with trauma registry data.

Trauma Registry Data Collection Practices and the Impact of Hospital Data Dictionaries: A National Survey.

BACKGROUND: Trauma programs are required to collect a uniform set of trauma variables and submit data to regional, state, and or national registries. Programs may also collect unique data elements to support hospital-specific initiatives. OBJECTIVE: This study explored what additional data elements are being collected by U.S. trauma programs and the impact of having a hospital-specific data dictionary. METHODS: An anonymous, cross-sectional survey exploring what additional data are being collected, and the impact of having a hospital-specific data dictionary, was distributed by the Society of Trauma Nurses, Trauma System News, and the American College of Surgeons. The survey was open from July 2020 to September, 2020. RESULTS: There were 693 respondents from approximately 368 Level I/II trauma programs. The estimated trauma center response rate was 59.4% (n = 368/620). Level I programs had a higher response rate than Level II programs (66.9% and 53.4%, respectively).In our sample, 85.5% of responding centers collect additional data. The most common additional data collected at Level I/II programs concerned quality improvement initiatives (70.3% and 66.1%, respectively). Other commonly collected data pertained to deaths (60.6%) and complications (50.3%).Only 43% of responding centers (n = 161/368) have a hospital-specific data dictionary. Hospitals that collect additional data were more likely to have such a resource compared with those that do not (n = 147/315, 46.7% vs. n = 14/53, 26.4%, p = .01). CONCLUSION: Most trauma programs collect data outside required fields. Fewer than half define these data in a data dictionary. Centers should consider establishing a data dictionary to define data collected.