Trauma resuscitation errors and computer-assisted decision support.

HYPOTHESIS: This project tested the hypothesis that computer-aided decision support during the first 30 minutes of trauma resuscitation reduces management errors. DESIGN: Ours was a prospective, open, randomized, controlled interventional study that evaluated the effect of real-time, computer-prompted, evidence-based decision and action algorithms on error occurrence during initial resuscitation between January 24, 2006, and February 25, 2008. SETTING: A level I adult trauma center. PATIENTS: Severely injured adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome variable was the error rate per patient treated as demonstrated by deviation from trauma care algorithms. Computer-assisted video audit was used to assess adherence to the algorithms. RESULTS: A total of 1171 patients were recruited into 3 groups: 300 into a baseline control group, 436 into a concurrent control group, and 435 into the study group. There was a reduction in error rate per patient from the baseline control group to the study group (2.53 to 2.13, P = .004) and from the control group to the study group (2.30 to 2.13, P = .04). The difference in error rate per patient from the baseline control group to the concurrent control group was not statistically different (2.53 to 2.30, P = .21). A critical decision was required every 72 seconds, and error-free resuscitations were increased from 16.0% to 21.8% (P = .049) during the first 30 minutes of resuscitation. Morbidity from shock management (P = .03), blood use (P < .001), and aspiration pneumonia (P = .046) were decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Computer-aided, real-time decision support resulted in improved protocol compliance and reduced errors and morbidity. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00164034.

Management deficiencies and death preventability of road traffic fatalities before and after a new trauma care system in Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The Consultative Committee's findings that preventable or potentially preventable (P/PP) death rates (survival prospects > or =25%) of road crash fatalities who received treatment were unaltered between 1992 and 1998 led to a Ministerial Taskforce on Trauma and the gradual introduction of a new Victorian trauma care system. The present study compares outcomes before (1997-1998) and after (2002-2004) the new system. METHODS: The emergency and clinical management and death preventability of 245 consecutive fatalities in the 'before' period and 193 in the 'after' period was assessed by the committee's multidisciplinary panels using the complete hospital, ambulance, and autopsy findings. RESULTS: Emergency department admissions to expanded Major Trauma Services (MTS) increased from 34% to 62% (p < 0.05). More patients were attended by Advanced Trauma Life Support paramedics (p < 0.05) and scene times increased (p < 0.05). Patients admitted within 1 hour decreased from 70% to 45% (p < 0.05). The mean number of deficiencies per patient including those contributing to death was decreased (p < 0.05). The combined P/PP death rates decreased from 36% to 28% (22% relative risk reduction). The P/PP death rates for MTS, Metropolitan Trauma Services, Rural Trauma Services, and Urgent Care Centers for 2002 to 2004 were 25%, 33%, 50%, and 83%, respectively, and did not differ significantly from those of 1997 to 1998 (23%, 49%, 36%, 75%, respectively). The P/PP death rates in MTS were less than those of the other hospital groups. CONCLUSIONS: The new Victorian trauma care system has resulted in a significant decrease in deficiencies including those contributing to death and a decrease in P/PP deaths rates. The improvement has been largely consequent to a marked increase in admissions to MTS.

Evaluation of management of road trauma survivors with brain injury and neurologic disability in Victoria.

BACKGROUND: Victoria recently established a new trauma care system following the Consultative Committee's findings on frequent preventable deaths after road crash injury. This study investigates the contribution to neurologic disability of preventable deficiencies in health care in survivors of road crashes occurring from 1998 to 1999. METHODS: The emergency and clinical management of 60 road crash survivors with head Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 3 and residual neurologic disability were evaluated by analysis and multidisciplinary discussion of their complete prehospital, hospital, and rehabilitation records. RESULTS: The mean number of potentially preventable errors or inadequacies per patient was 19.2 +/- 7.5, with 10.5 +/- 7.2 contributing to neurologic disability. The mean number contributing to neurologic disability was greatest in the emergency room (3.5 +/- 3.2), followed by the intensive care unit (2.2 +/- 2.7) and the prehospital setting (1.8 +/- 2.0). Eighty-four percent of the deficiencies were management errors/inadequacies and 7% were system inadequacies. Fifty-five percent of deficiencies contributed to neurologic disability. In patients with a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg with hypovolemia consequent to inadequate resuscitation, the frequency of severe neurologic disability was increased almost twofold (p < 0.05). Deficiencies contributing to neurologic disability were significantly less frequent in university teaching hospitals with neurosurgical units. CONCLUSION: Improvement in neurologic outcomes can be achieved through appropriate triage and increased attention to basic principles of trauma and head injury care.