Usefulness of the BIG Score in Predicting Massive Transfusion and In-Hospital Death in Adult Trauma Patients.

The base deficit (B), international normalized ratio (I), and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (BIG) score is useful in predicting mortality in pediatric trauma patients; however, studies on the use of BIG score in adult patients with trauma are sparse. In addition, studies on the correlation between the BIG score and massive transfusion (MT) have not yet been conducted. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of BIG score for mortality and the need for MT in adult trauma patients. This retrospective study used data collected between 2016 and 2020 at our hospital's trauma center and registry. The predictive value of BIG score was compared with that of the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS). Logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess whether BIG score was an independent risk factor. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed, and predictive values were evaluated by measuring the area under the ROC curve (AUROC). In total, 5,605 patients were included in this study. In logistic regression analysis, BIG score was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR): 1.1859; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1636-1.2086) and MT (OR: 1.0802; 95% CI: 1.0609-1.0999). The AUROCs of BIG score for in-hospital mortality and MT were 0.852 (0.842-0.861) and 0.848 (0.838-0.857), respectively. Contrastingly, the AUROCs of ISS and RTS for in-hospital mortality were 0.795 (0.784-0.805) and 0.859 (0.850-0.868), respectively. Moreover, AUROCs of ISS and RTS for MT were 0.812 (0.802-0.822) and 0.838 (0.828-0.848), respectively. The predictive value of BIG score for mortality and MT was significantly higher than that of the ISS. The BIG score also showed a better AUROC for predicting in-hospital mortality compared with RTS. In conclusion, the BIG score is a useful indicator for predicting mortality and the need for MT in adult trauma patients.

The Addition of ROTEM Parameter Did Not Significantly Improve the Massive Transfusion Prediction in Severe Trauma Patients.

Background: Rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM) has been used to evaluate the coagulation state, predict transfusion, and optimize hemostatic management in trauma patients. However, there were limited studies on whether the prediction value could be improved by adding the ROTEM parameter to the prediction model for in-hospital mortality and massive transfusion (MT) in trauma patients. Objective: This study assessed whether ROTEM data could improve the MT prediction model. Method: This was a single-center, retrospective study. Patients who presented to the trauma center and underwent ROTEM between 2016 and 2020 were included. The primary and secondary outcomes were massive transfusions and in-hospital mortality, respectively. We constructed two models using multivariate logistic regression with backward conditional stepwise elimination (Model 1: without the ROTEM parameter and Model 2: with the ROTEM parameter). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated to assess the predictive ability of the models. Result: In total, 969 patients were included; 196 (20.2%) received MT. The in-hospital mortality rate was 14.1%. For MT, the AUROC was 0.854 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.825-0.883) and 0.860 (95% CI, 0.832-0.888) for Model 1 and 2, respectively. For in-hospital mortality, the AUROC was 0.886 (95% CI, 0.857-0.915) and 0.889 (95% CI, 0.861-0.918) for models 1 and 2, respectively. The AUROC values for models 1 and 2 were not statistically different for either MT or in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: We found that the addition of the ROTEM parameter did not significantly improve the predictive power of MT and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients.

Pre-hospital modified shock index for prediction of massive transfusion and mortality in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Modified shock index (MSI) is a useful predictor in trauma patients. However, the value of prehospital MSI (preMSI) in trauma patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of preMSI in predicting massive transfusion (MT) and hospital mortality among trauma patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, single-center study. Patients presenting consecutively to the trauma center between January 2016 and December 2017, were included. The predictive ability of both prehospital shock index (preSI) and preMSI for MT and hospital mortality was assessed by calculating the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs). RESULTS: A total of 1007 patients were included. Seventy-eight (7.7%) patients received MT, and 30 (3.0%) patients died within 24 h of admission to the trauma center. The AUROCs for predicting MT with preSI and preMSI were 0.773 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.746-0.798) and 0.765 (95% CI, 0.738-0.791), respectively. The AUROCs for predicting 24-hour mortality with preSI and preMSI were 0.584 (95% CI, 0.553-0.615) and 0.581 (95% CI, 0.550-0.612), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PreSI and preMSI showed moderate accuracy in predicting MT. PreMSI did not have higher predictive power than preSI. Additionally, in predicting hospital mortality, preMSI was not superior to preSI.

A Case of Methemoglobinemia Successfully Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygenation Monotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Methylene blue is the first-line therapy for methemoglobinemia, but it can be intermittently unavailable due to production issues. For this clinical scenario, alternative treatment options need to be explored. Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) is conventionally applied as an adjunctive therapy during the systemic administration of methylene blue. Currently, little is known regarding the effects of HBO monotherapy in methemoglobinemia. We report a case of methemoglobinemia that was successfully treated with HBO monotherapy. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with dyspnea and dizziness subsequent to smoking in a garage filled with motor vehicle exhaust gas. There were no abnormal heart or lung sounds. While administering oxygen flowing at 15 L/min via a mask with a reservoir bag, blood tests revealed high methemoglobin (MetHb) levels at 59.6%. He was treated with HBO monotherapy, and sequential tests showed that the MetHb level decreased significantly to 34.0%, 12.8%, 6.2%, and eventually, 3.5%. He was discharged with stable vital signs the next day. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: HBO monotherapy is an effective alternative treatment for methemoglobinemia when methylene blue is not available.

Transthoracic echocardiogram in syncope patients with normal initial evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the low diagnostic yield of echocardiogra0, it is often used in the evaluation of syncope. This study determined whether patients without abnormalities in the initial evaluation benefit from transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and the clinical factors predicting an abnormal TTE. METHODS: This study enrolled 241 patients presenting to the emergency department with syncope. The TTE results were analyzed based on risk factors suggesting cardiogenic syncope in the initial evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 115 patients with at least one risk factor, 97 underwent TTE and 27 (27.8%) had TTE abnormalities. In comparison, of the 126 patients without risk factors, 47 underwent TTE and only 1 (2.1%) had TTE abnormalities. Significantly different factors between patients with normal and abnormal TTE findings were entered in a multiple logistic regression analysis, which yielded age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.15; p=0.006], an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) (aOR, 7.44; 95% CI, 1.77-31.26; p=0.010), and a brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of >100pg/mL (aOR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.21-5.73; p=0.011) as independent predictors of TTE abnormalities. The cutoff value of age predicting an abnormal TTE was 59.0years (area under the curve, 0.777; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A patient who is older than 59years or has an abnormal ECG or an elevated BNP level may benefit from TTE. Otherwise, TTE should be deferred in patients with no risk factors in the initial evaluation.