RESUMO
Introduction: The American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommends that special considerations be made during triage of trauma patients aged ≥55 due to an observed increase in morbidity and mortality in this population. The geriatric population aged ≥65 represents 30% of all trauma patients. Our objective was to assess which pre-existing conditions (PECs) are associated with worse outcomes in trauma patients aged ≥55. Methods: Study population was selected from the local trauma registry (2020-22). Bi-variate analysis compared PEC status with outcomes controlling for each Injury Severity Score (ISS) category. Injury Severity Score was defined as mild (1-8), moderate (9-15), severe (16-24), and critical (≥25). Results: A total of 5,168 patients were identified (54.9% female, 56.7% age ≥75, 49.1% mild injury). Patients who had chronic renal failure (CRF) were at increased odds of mortality after adjusting for mild (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.63), moderate (aOR: 2.97), severe (aOR: 2.84), and critical (aOR: 2.62) injuries. Patients who had cirrhosis or congestive heart failure (CHF) were at increased odds of mortality after adjusting for mild (aOR: 3.03, 1.61), moderate (aOR: 3.63, 2.14), and severe (aOR: 3.46, 1.93) injuries, respectively. In addition, there was a relationship between having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, anticoagulant therapy, or diabetes with unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission and development of acute kidney injury (AKI). Discussion: There is an association between certain pre-exiting conditions and worse outcomes. Early identification of these factors could provide a foundation for better interdisciplinary management, prevention of complications and associated mortality.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Patients with emergency surgical conditions (ESCs) experience higher complication rates than those without emergency conditions. Our purpose was to improve time-based key performance indicators (KPIs) of care for ESC patients, including diagnostic workup, empiric stabilization, and referral to definitive care. METHODS: A rapid response program (ESTAT) was developed to screen for and coordinate optimal, timely care for a spectrum of high-risk ESCs, from the patient's index clinical encounter up to definitive care. The Mann-Whitney test assessed whether any differences in KPIs were statistically significant (P < .05) before compared to after the implementation of ESTAT. RESULTS: 98 patients were identified: 44 in ESTAT group (70% age ≥55, 57% male); 54 in control group (57% age ≥55, 44% male). There were significant decreases from time of index clinical encounter to resuscitation (5 min. vs 34 min., P < .001), to diagnostic imaging (52 min. vs 1 hr. 19 min., P = .004), and to definitive care (2 hr. 17 min. vs 3 hr. 51 min., P = .007) in the ESTAT group compared to the control group, respectively. DISCUSSION: Improving time-based KPIs for delivery of clinical services is a common goal of medical emergency response systems (MERS) in numerous specialties. Implementation of an ESTAT program provides a screening tool for at-risk patients and reduces time to stabilize, diagnose and triage to definitive surgical intervention. These time benefits may ultimately translate to reduced complication rates for ESC patients. ESTAT may also represent a patient onboarding mechanism for surgical specialty verification programs promoted by quality improvement committees of various professional societies.