Outcomes of PEG placement by acute care surgeons compared to those placed by gastroenterology.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are placed by gastroenterologists (GI) and surgeons throughout the country. At Rhode Island Hospital, before July of 2017, all PEGs were placed by GI. In July of 2017, in response to a growing need for PEGs, acute care surgeons (ACS) also began performing PEGs at the bedside in ICUs. The purpose of this study was to review and compare outcomes of PEG tubes placed by ACS and GI. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients who received a PEG placed by ACS or GI at the bedside in any ICU from December 2016 to September 2019. Charts were reviewed for the following outcomes: Success rates of placing PEG, duration of procedure, major complications, and death. Secondary outcomes included discharge disposition, and rates of comfort measures only after PEG. RESULTS: In 2017, 75% of PEGs were placed by GI and 25% surgery. In 2018, 47% were placed by GI and 53% by surgery. In 2019, 33% were placed by GI and 67% by surgery. There was no significant difference in success rates between surgery (146/156 93.6%) and GI (173/185 93.5%) (p 0.97). On average, GI performed the procedure faster than surgery [Median 10 (7-16) min vs 16 (13-21) mins, respectively, p < 0.001]. There were no significant differences between groups in any of the PEG outcomes or complications investigated. CONCLUSION: Bedside PEG tube placement appears to be a safe procedure in the ICU population. GI and Surgery had nearly identical success rates in placing PEGs. GI performed the procedure faster than surgery. There were no significant differences in the reviewed patient outcomes or complications between PEGs placed by ACS or GI. Of note, when a complication occurred, ACS PEG patients typically were managed in the OR while GI tended to re-PEG patients highlighting a potential difference in management that should be further investigated.

Unjustified Administration in Liberal Use of Tranexamic Acid in Trauma Resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Early administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been widely implemented for the treatment of presumed hyperfibrinolysis in hemorrhagic shock. We aimed to characterize the liberal use of TXA and whether unjustified administration was associated with increased venous thrombotic events (VTEs). METHODS: We identified injured patients who received TXA between January 2016 and January 2018 by querying our Level 1 trauma center's registry. We retrospectively reviewed medical records and radiologic images to classify whether patients had a hemorrhagic injury that would have benefited from TXA (justified) or not (unjustified). RESULTS: Ninety-five patients received TXA for traumatic injuries, 42.1% were given by emergency medical services. TXA was considered unjustified in 35.8% of the patients retrospectively and in 52% of the patients when given by emergency medical services. Compared with unjustified administration, patients in the justified group were younger (47.6 versus 58.4; P = 0.02), more hypotensive in the field (systolic blood pressure: 107 ± 31 versus 137 ± 32 mm Hg; P < 0.001) and in the emergency department (systolic blood pressure: 97 ± 27 versus 128 ± 27; P < 0.001), and more tachycardic in emergency department (heart rate: 99 ± 29 versus 88 ± 19; P = 0.04). The justified group also had higher injury severity score (median 24 versus 11; P < 0.001), was transfused more often (81.7% versus 20.6%; P < 0.001), and had higher in-hospital mortality (39.3% versus 2.9%; P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the rate of VTE (8.2% versus 5.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight a high rate of unjustified administration, especially in the prehospital setting. Hypotension and tachycardia were indications of correct use. Although we did not observe a difference in VTE rates between the groups, though, our study was underpowered to detect a difference. Cautious implementation of TXA in resuscitation protocols is encouraged in the meantime. Nonetheless, adverse events associated with unjustified TXA administration should be further evaluated.

Population of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Decade of Change.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the natural history of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) following hospitalizations. SETTING: Between 2005 and 2014. PARTICIPANTS: Adults who had incident admissions to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with a diagnosis of TBI. DESIGN: Retrospective review of the Minimum Data Set. MAIN MEASURES: Main variables were cognitive and physical function, length of stay, presence of feeding tube, terminal condition, and dementia. RESULTS: Incident admissions to SNFs increased annually from 17 247 patients to 20 787 from 2005 to 2014. The percentage of patients with activities of daily living score 23 or more decreased from 25% to 14% (P < .05). The overall percentage of patients with severe cognitive impairment decreased from 18% to 10% (P < .05). More patients had a diagnosis of dementia in 2014 compared with previous years (P < .05), and the presence of a terminal condition increased from 1% to 1.5% over the 10-year period (P < .05). The percentage of patients who stayed fewer than 30 days was noted to increase steadily over the 10 years, starting with 48% in 2005 and ending with 53% in 2013 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Understanding past trends in TBI admissions to SNFs is necessary to guide appropriate discharge and predict future demand, as well as inform SNF policy and practice necessary to care for this subgroup of patients.

Hypertonic saline for the treatment of intracranial hypertension.

Intracranial hypertension is caused by brain edema generated by different disorders, the commonest of which is traumatic brain injury. The treatment of brain edema focuses on drawing water out of brain tissue into the intravascular space. This is typically accomplished with osmolar therapy, most commonly mannitol and hypertonic saline. Recent human trials suggest that hypertonic saline may have a more profound and long-lasting effect in reducing intracranial hypertension following traumatic brain injury when compared with mannitol. However, reports suffer from inconsistencies in dose, frequency, concentration, and route of administration. Side effect profile, potential complications, and contraindications to administration need to be factored in when considering which first-line osmotherapy to choose for a given patient with head injury.

A Consequence of an Electrical-Burn Injury: Atrial Fibrillation.

Cardiac arrhythmias following electrocution injuries can accompany high-voltage or high- intensity currents. Contributing factors to electrical hazard are the type of current, voltage, resistance, and duration of contact and pathway through the body. It is important to monitor for delayed arrhythmias in patients with an electrical injury. We describe a case of a 52-year-old man who presented after an electrical shock injury while grabbing a 5,000-voltage wire at work. In this case report, we discuss the presentation, management, and follow-up recommendations for this type of injury.

Maintaining a whole blood-centered transfusion improves survival in hemorrhagic resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Whole blood (WB) transfusion has been shown to improve mortality in trauma resuscitation. The optimal ratio of packed red blood cells (pRBC) to WB in emergent transfusion has not been determined. We hypothesized that a low pRBC/WB transfusion ratio is associated with improved survival in trauma patients. METHODS: We analyzed the 2021 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database to identify patients who underwent emergent surgery for hemorrhage control and were transfused within 4 hours of hospital arrival, excluding transfers or deaths in the emergency department. We stratified patients based on pRBC/WB ratios. The primary outcome was mortality at 24 hours. Logistic regression was performed to estimate odds of mortality among ratio groups compared with WB alone, adjusting for injury severity, time to intervention, and demographics. RESULTS: Our cohort included 17,562 patients; of those, 13,678 patients had only pRBC transfused and were excluded. Fresh frozen plasma/pRBC ratio was balanced in all groups. Among those who received WB (n = 3,884), there was a significant increase in 24-hour mortality with higher pRBC/WB ratios (WB alone 5.2%, 1:1 10.9%, 2:1 11.8%, 3:1 14.9%, 4:1 20.9%, 5:1 34.1%, p = 0.0001). Using empirical cutpoint estimation, we identified a 3:1 ratio or less as an optimal cutoff point. Adjusted odds ratios of 24-hour mortality for 4:1 and 5:1 groups were 2.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-6.81) and 2.89 (95% CI, 1.29-6.49), respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios of 24-hour mortality were 2.83 (95% CI, 1.18-6.77) for 3:1 ratio, 3.67 (95% CI, 1.57-8.57) for 4:1 ratio, and 1.97 (95% CI, 0.91-4.23) for 5:1 ratio. CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows that higher pRBC/WB ratios at 4 hours diminished survival benefits of WB in trauma resuscitation. Further efforts should emphasize this relationship to optimize trauma resuscitation protocols. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Comparison of surgical stabilization of rib fractures vs epidural analgesia on in-hospital outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) improves functional outcomes compared to controls, partly due to reduction in pain. We investigated the impact of early SSRF on pulmonary complications, mortality, and length of stay compared to non-operative analgesia with epidural analgesia (EA). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) 2017 dataset for adults with rib fractures, excluding those with traumatic brain injury or death within twenty-four hours. Early SSRF and EA occurred within 72 h, and we excluded those who received both or neither intervention. Our primary outcome was a composite of pulmonary complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Additional outcomes included unplanned endotracheal intubation, in-hospital mortality, and hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) for those surviving to discharge. Multiple logistic and linear regressions were controlled for variables including age, sex, flail chest (FC), injury severity, additional procedures, and medical comorbidities. RESULTS: We included 1,024 and 1,109 patients undergoing early SSRF and EA, respectively. SSRF patients were more severely injured with higher rates of FC (42.8 vs 13.3%, p<0.001), Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 16 (56.9 vs 36.1%, p<0.001), and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) Thorax > 3 (33.3 vs 12.2%, p<0.001). Overall, 49 (2.3%) of patients developed ARDS or VAP, 111 (5.2%) required unplanned intubation, and 58 (2.7%) expired prior to discharge. On multivariable analysis, SSRF was not associated with the primary composite outcome (OR: 1.65, 95%CI: 0.85-3.21). Early SSRF significantly predicted decreased risk of unplanned intubation (OR:0.59, 95%CI: 0.38-0.92) compared with early EA alone, however, was not a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 0.68-2.39). SSRF was associated with significantly longer hospital (Exp(ß): 1.06, 95%CI: 1.00-1.12, p = 0.047) and ICU LOS (Exp(ß): 1.17, 95%CI: 1.08-1.27, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aside from unplanned intubation, we observed no statistically significant difference in the adjusted odds of in-hospital pulmonary morbidity or mortality for patients undergoing early SSRF compared with early EA. Chest wall injury patients may benefit from referral to trauma centers where both interventions are available and appropriate surgical candidates may receive timely intervention.

Funding the war in America: A look in the mirror.

BACKGROUND: Health care political action committees (HPACs) historically contribute more to candidates opposing firearm restrictions (FRs), clashing with their affiliated medical societies. These societies have increasingly emphasized the prevention of firearm violence and it is not known if recent contributions by their HPACs have aligned with their stated goals. We hypothesized that such HPACs still contribute similar amounts toward legislators up for reelection opposing FR. METHODS: We identified HPACs of medical societies endorsing one or both calls-to-action against firearm violence published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2015, 2019). House of Representatives (HOR) votes on H.R.8, a background checks bill, were characterized from GovTrack. We compiled HPAC contributions between the H.R.8 vote and election to HOR members up for re-election from the National Institute on Money in Politics. Our primary outcome was total campaign contributions by H.R.8 stance. Secondary outcomes included percentage of politicians funded and total contributions. RESULTS: Nineteen societies endorsed one or both call-to-action articles. Three hundred eighty-five of 430 HOR members ran for reelection in 2020. Those endorsing H.R.8 (n = 226, 59%) received $2.8 M for $4,750 (interquartile range [IQR], $1000-$15,500) per candidate. Those opposing (n = 159, 41%) received $1.5 M for $2,500 (IQR, $0-$11,000) per candidate ( p = 0.0057). Health care political action committees donated toward a median of 20% (IQR, 7-28) of candidates endorsing H.R.8 and 9% (IQR, 4-22) of candidates opposing H.R.8 ( p = 0.0014). Those endorsing H.R.8 received 1,585 total contributions for a median of 3 (IQR, 1-10) contributions per candidate, while those opposing received 834 total contributions for a median of 2 (IQR, 0-7) contributions per candidate ( p = 0.0029). CONCLUSION: Politicians voting against background checks received substantial contributions toward reelection from the HPACs of societies advocating for firearm restrictions. However, this is the first study to suggest that HPAC's contributions have become more congruent with their respective societies. Further alignment of medical society goals and their HPAC political contributions could have a profound impact on firearm violence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Impact of Geriatric Trauma Co-Management on 1-Year Mortality in Older Adults with Multiple Rib Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Rib fractures in older adults are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Geriatric trauma co-management programs have looked at in-hospital mortality but not long-term outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study of multiple rib fracture patients 65 years and older (n=357), admitted from September 2012 to November 2014 comparing Geriatric trauma co-management (GTC) vs Usual Care by trauma surgery (UC). The primary outcome was 1-year mortality. RESULTS: 38.9% (139) were cared for by GTC. Compared to the UC, GTC patients were older (81.6±8.6 years vs 79±8.5) and had more comorbidities (Charlson 2.8±1.6 vs 2.2±1.6). GTC patients had 46% less chance of dying in 1-year compared to UC (HR 0.54, 95% CI [0.33-0.86]).  Conclusions: GTC showed a significant reduction in 1-year mortality even though patients were overall older and more comorbid. This shows multidisciplinary teams are crucial to patient outcomes and should continue to be further explored.

Effectiveness of Sternal Intraosseous Device in Patients Presenting with Circulatory Shock: A Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic shock requires timely administration of blood products and resuscitative adjuncts through multiple access sites. Intraosseous (IO) devices offer an alternative to intravenous (IV) access as recommended by the massive hemorrhage, A-airway, R-respiratory, C-circulation, and H-hypothermia (MARCH) algorithm of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). However, venous injuries proximal to the site of IO access may complicate resuscitative attempts. Sternal IO access represents an alternative pioneered by military personnel. However, its effectiveness in patients with shock is supported by limited evidence. We conducted a pilot study of two sternal-IO devices to investigate the efficacy of sternal-IO access in civilian trauma care. METHODS: A retrospective review (October 2020 to June 2021) involving injured patients receiving either a TALON® or a FAST1® sternal-IO device was performed at a large urban quaternary academic medical center. Baseline demographics, injury characteristics, vascular access sites, blood products and medications administered, and outcomes were analyzed. The primary outcome was a successful sternal-IO attempt. RESULTS: Nine males with gunshot wounds transported to the hospital by police were included in this study. Eight patients were pulseless on arrival, and one became pulseless shortly thereafter. Seven (78%) sternal-IO placements were successful, including six TALON devices and one of the three FAST1 devices, as FAST1 placement required attention to Operator positioning following resuscitative thoracotomy. Three patients achieved return of spontaneous circulation, two proceeded to the operating room, but none survived to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Sternal-IO access was successful in nearly 80% of attempts. The indications for sternal-IO placement among civilians require further evaluation compared with IV and extremity IO access.

To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave.

Navigating planned and emergent leave during medical practice is very confusing to most physicians. This is especially challenging to the trauma and acute care surgeon, whose practice is unique due to overnight in-hospital call, alternating coverage of different services, and trauma center's staffing challenges. This is further compounded by a surgical culture that promotes the image of a 'tough' surgeon and forgoing one's personal needs on behalf of patients and colleagues. Frequently, surgeons find themselves having to make a choice at the crossroads of personal and family needs with work obligations: to leave or not to leave. Often, surgeons prioritize their professional commitment over personal wellness and family support. Extensive research has been conducted on the topic of maternity leave and inequality towards female surgeons, primarily focused on trainees. The value of paternity leave has been increasingly recognized recently. Consequently, significant policy changes have been implemented to support trainees. Practicing surgeon, however, often lack such policy support, and thus may default to local culture or contractual agreement. A panel session at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma 2022 annual meeting was held to discuss the current status of planned or unanticipated leave for practicing surgeons. Experiences, perspectives, and propositions for change were discussed, and are presented here.

Lucky number 13: Association between center-specific chest wall stabilization volumes and patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Chest wall stabilization (CWS) improves outcomes for patients with chest wall injury (CWI). We hypothesized that patients treated at centers with higher annual CWS volumes experience superior outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study of adults with acute CWI undergoing surgical stabilization of rib or sternal fractures within the 2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database, excluding those with 24-hour mortality or any Abbreviated Injury Scale body region of six, was conducted. Hospitals were grouped in quartiles by annual CWS volume. Our primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality, ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and unplanned intubation or intensive care unit readmission. Regression was controlled for age, sex, Injury Severity Scale, flail chest, medical comorbidities, and Abbreviated Injury Scale chest. We performed cut-point analysis and compared patient outcomes from high- and low-volume centers. RESULTS: We included 3,207 patients undergoing CWS at 430 hospitals with annual volumes ranging from 1 to 66. There were no differences between groups in age, sex, or Injury Severity Scale. Patients in the highest volume quartile (Q4) experienced significantly lower rates of the primary outcome (Q4, 14%; Q3, 18.4%; Q2, 17.4%; Q1, 22.1%) and significantly shorter hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay. Q4 versus Q1 had lower adjusted odds of the primary outcome (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.80). An optimal cut point of 12.5 procedures annually was used to define high- and low-volume centers. Patients treated at high-volume centers experienced significantly lower rates of the primary composite outcome, in-hospital mortality, and deep venous thrombosis with shorter lengths of stay and higher rates of home discharge. CONCLUSION: Center-specific CWS volume is associated with superior in-hospital patient outcomes. These findings support efforts to establish CWI centers of excellence. Further investigation should explore the impact of center-specific volume on patient-reported outcomes including pain and postdischarge quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level III.

Safety and Feasibility of Ultra-Restrictive Transfusion Protocol as a Blood-Preservation Strategy During Shortage Crises.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that implementation of new ultra-restrictive transfusion protocol in adult surgical intensive care units (SICU) was safe and feasible during pandemic-associated shortage crises. METHODS: Retrospective analysis two months pre- and post-implementation of ultra-restrictive transfusion protocol in March 2020 with hemoglobin cutoff of 6 g/dL (6.5 g/dL if ≥ 65 years old) for patients without COVID, active bleeding, or myocardial ischemia. RESULTS: We identified 16/93 and 27/168 patients PRE and POST meeting standard transfusion threshold (7 g/dL); within POST, 12 patients met ultra-restrictive cutoffs. There was no significant difference between PRE and POST in the rate of mortality, ischemic complications, or the number of transfusions per patient, however, the overall incidence of transfusion was lower in the POST group (7.1 vs 17.2%, p = 0.02). Patients received a mean (SD) of 4(3.8) and 2.4(1.5) PRBC transfusions pre- and post-implementation. Odds ratio of mortality in POST group was 0.62 (95%CI: 0.08-5.12) adjusted for age, sex, and SOFA score. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an ultra-restrictive transfusion protocol was feasible and effective as a blood- preservation strategy.

Comparison of Infectious Complications after Surgical Fixation versus Epidural Analgesia for Acute Rib Fractures.

Background: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) is associated with decreased mortality and respiratory complications. Patients who are not offered SSRF are often treated with epidural analgesia (EA) to reduce pain and improve pulmonary mechanics. We sought to compare infectious complications in patients undergoing either SSRF or EA. We hypothesized that infectious complications are equivalent between the two treatment groups. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients with acute rib fractures within the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) 2017 dataset and used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes to identify patients who underwent SSRF or EA. We excluded patients who received both treatments in the same admission. Our primary outcome was the development of sepsis. Secondary outcomes were specific infections including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for age, injury severity score (ISS), chest Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), flail chest, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and comorbidities. Results: We identified 2,252 and 1,299 patients who underwent SSRF and EA, respectively. Patients with SSRF were younger with higher ISS and longer length of stay (LOS). There was no difference in mortality, however, SSRF had higher rate of sepsis (1.6% vs. 0.5%; p = 0.001), VAP (5.1% vs. 0.9%; p < 0.001), CAUTI (1.7% vs. 0.5%; p = 0.001), and CLABSI (0.2% vs. 0%; p = 0.05). On multiple regression, SSRF was associated with higher odds of sepsis (odds ratio [OR], 2.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-6.63), CAUTI (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.11-7.88), and VAP (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.73-6.06). Among those who developed sepsis, there was no significant difference in mortality or LOS between groups. Conclusions: Despite no difference in mortality, SSRF was associated with increased risk of septic complications in patients with rib fractures compared to epidural analgesia. Identifying, and addressing, risk factors of sepsis in this patient population is a critical performance improvement process to optimize outcomes without increased adverse events.

The association between household and neighborhood characteristics and COVID-19 related ICU admissions.

Introduction: Approaches to COVID-19 mitigation can be more efficiently delivered with a more detailed understanding of where the severe cases occur. Our objective was to assess which demographic, housing and neighborhood characteristics were independently and collectively associated with differing rates of severe COVID-19. Methods: A cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 in a single health system from March 1, 2020 to February 15, 2021 was reviewed to determine whether demographic, housing, or neighborhood characteristics are associated with higher rates of severe COVID-19 infections and to create a novel scoring index. Characteristics included proportion of multifamily homes, essential workers, and ages of the homes within neighborhoods. Results: There were 735 COVID-19 ICU admissions in the study interval which accounted for 61 percent of the state's ICU admissions for COVID-19. Compared to the general population of the state those admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 were disproportionately older, male sex, and were more often Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Patients disproportionately resided in neighborhoods with three plus unit multifamily homes, homes built before 1940, homes with more than one person to a room, homes of lower average value, and in neighborhoods with a greater proportion of essential workers. From this our COVID-19 Neighborhood Index value was comparatively higher for the ICU patients (61.1) relative to the population of Rhode Island (49.4). Conclusion: COVID-19-related ICU admissions are highly related to demographic, housing and neighborhood-level factors. This may guide more nuanced and targeted vaccine distribution plans and public health measures for future pandemics.

Surgical Infection Society: Chest Wall Injury Society Recommendations for Antibiotic Use during Surgical Stabilization of Traumatic Rib or Sternal Fractures to Reduce Risk of Implant Infection.

Background: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures is recommended in patients with flail chest or multiple displaced rib fractures with physiologic compromise. Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) and surgical stabilization of sternal fractures (SSSF) involve open reduction and internal fixation of fractures with a plate construct to restore anatomic alignment. Most plate constructs are composed of titanium and presence of this foreign, non-absorbable material presents opportunity for implant infection. Although implant infection rates after SSRF and SSSF are low, they present a challenging clinical entity often requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy, debridement, and potentially implant removal. Methods: The Surgical Infection Society's Therapeutics and Guidelines Committee and Chest Wall Injury Society's Publication Committee convened to develop recommendations for antibiotic use during and after surgical stabilization of traumatic rib and sternal fractures. Clinical scenarios included patients with concomitant infectious processes (sepsis, pneumonia, empyema, cellulitis) or sources of contamination (open chest, gross contamination) incurred as a result of their trauma and present at the time of their surgical stabilization. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for pertinent studies. Using a process of iterative consensus, all committee members voted to accept or reject each recommendation. Results: For patients undergoing SSRF or SSSF in the absence of pre-existing infectious process, there is insufficient evidence to suggest existing peri-operative guidelines or recommendations are inadequate. For patients undergoing SSRF or SSSF in the presence of sepsis, pneumonia, or an empyema, there is insufficient evidence to provide recommendations on duration and choice of antibiotic. This decision may be informed by existing guidelines for the concomitant infection. For patients undergoing SSRF or SSSF with an open or contaminated chest there is insufficient evidence to provide specific antibiotic recommendations. Conclusions: This guideline document summarizes the current Surgical Infection Society and Chest Wall Injury Society recommendations regarding antibiotic use during and after surgical stabilization of traumatic rib or sternal fractures. Limited evidence exists in the chest wall surgical stabilization literature and further studies should be performed to delineate risk of implant infection among patients undergoing SSSRF or SSSF with concomitant infectious processes.

Development and testing of low-volume hyperoncotic, hyperosmotic spray-dried plasma for the treatment of trauma-associated coagulopathy.

BACKGROUND: Trauma-associated coagulopathy carries an extremely high mortality. Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is the mainstay of treatment; however, its availability in the battlefield is limited. We have already shown that lyophilized, freeze-dried plasma (FDP) reconstituted in its original volume can reverse trauma-associated coagulopathy. To enhance the logistical advantage (lower volume and weight), we developed and tested a hyperoncotic, hyperosmotic spray-dried plasma (SDP) product in a multiple injuries/hemorrhagic shock swine model. METHODS: Plasma separated from fresh porcine blood was stored as FFP or preserved as FDP and SDP. In in vitro testing, SDP was reconstituted in distilled water that was either equal (1 × SDP) or one-third (3 × SDP) the original volume of FFP. Analysis included measurements of prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), fibrinogen levels, and activity of selected clotting factors. In in vivo testing, swine were subjected to multiple injuries (femur fracture and grade V liver injury) and hemorrhagic shock (60% arterial hemorrhage, with the "lethal triad" of acidosis, coagulopathy, and hypothermia) and were treated with FFP, FDP, or 3 × SDP (n=4-5/group). Coagulation profiles (PT, PTT, and thromboelastography) were measured at baseline, post-shock, post-crystalloid, treatment (M0), and during 4 hours of monitoring (M1-4). RESULTS: In vitro testing revealed that clotting factors were preserved after spray drying. The coagulation profiles of FFP and 1 × SDP were similar, with 3 × SDP showing a prolonged PT/PTT. Multiple injuries/hemorrhagic shock produced significant coagulopathy, and 3 × SDP infusion was as effective as FFP and FDP in reversing it. CONCLUSION: Plasma can be spray dried and reconstituted to one-third of its original volume without compromising the coagulation properties in vivo. This shelf-stable, low-volume, hyperoncotic, hyperosmotic plasma is a logistically attractive option for the treatment of trauma-associated coagulopathy in austere environments, such as a battlefield.

Application of pie-crusting technique to facilitate closure of open abdomen after decompressive laparotomy.

We present the case of a 23-year-old man who developed abdominal compartment syndrome secondary to severe pancreatitis and required decompressive laparotomy and pancreatic necrosectomy. Despite application of a temporary abdominal closure system (ABThera Open Abdomen Negative Pressure Therapy), extensive retroperitoneal oedema and inflammation continued to contribute to loss of domain and prevented primary closure of the skin and fascia. The usual course of action would have involved reapplication of ABThera system until primary closure could be achieved or sufficient granulation tissue permitted split-thickness skin grafting. Though a safe option for abdominal closure, application of a skin graft would delay return to baseline functional status and require eventual graft excision with abdominal wall reconstruction for this active labourer. Thus, we achieved primary closure of the skin through the novel application of abdominal wall 'pie-crusting', or tension-releasing multiple skin incisions, technique.

Optimizing surgical stabilization of rib fractures using intraoperative ultrasound localization.

BACKGROUND: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) significantly improve the outcomes of patients with rib fractures. Ultrasound is a specific modality for localizing rib fractures. We hypothesized that use of perioperative ultrasound localization of fracture sites optimizes surgical approach and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing SSRF and compared those with and without adjunctive perioperative ultrasound fracture localization. Our primary outcome was improved surgical efficiency as measured by incision length and total operative time. Secondary clinical outcomes included numeric pain score on follow-up visit and daily morphine milligram equivalent prescribed within 30 days from discharge. RESULTS: We performed 49 surgical rib fixations between 2015 and 2020; of which, 13 (26.5%) additionally underwent ultrasound localization (26.5%). There were no significant differences between groups in age, sex, number of ribs repaired, or days till surgery. More patients in the ultrasound group had nonflail chest wall injury (76.9% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.003). Use of perioperative ultrasound was associated with shorter incision length (median, 9 vs. 15.5 cm; p = 0.0001), shorter operative time (median, 120 vs. 174 minutes; p = 0.003), less daily morphine milligram equivalent (25 vs. 68 mg, p = 0.009), and reduced numeric pain score on follow up (median, 4 vs. 7, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of perioperative ultrasound localization of rib fractures to optimize surgical approach for SSRF was associated with reduced incision length, operative time, and opioid requirements on patient discharge. We recommend considering routine perioperative localization to improve surgical approach and efficiency during SSRF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, level IV.

Emergency medical services protocols for traumatic brain injury in the United States: A call for standardization.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with acute elevation in intracranial pressure (ICP) is a neurologic emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to indicated trauma resuscitation, emergency department (ED) management includes empiric administration of hyperosmolar agents, rapid diagnostic imaging, anticoagulation reversal, and early neurosurgical consultation. Despite optimization of in-hospital care, patient outcomes may be worsened by variation in prehospital management. In this study, we evaluate geographic variation between emergency medical services (EMS) protocols for patients with suspected TBI. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of statewide EMS protocols in the United States in December 2020 and included all complete protocols published on government websites. Outcome measures were defined to include protocols or orders for the following interventions, given TBI: (1) hyperventilation and end-tidal capnography (EtCO2) goals, (2) administration of hyperosmolar agents, (3) tranexamic acid (TXA) administration for isolated head injury, (4) non-invasive management including head-of-bed elevation, and (5) hemodynamic goals. RESULTS: We identified 32 statewide protocols including Washington, D.C., 4 of which did not include specific guidance for TBI. Of 28 states providing ventilatory guidance, 22/28 (78.6%) recommend hyperventilation, with 17/22 (77.3%) restricting hyperventilation to signs of acute herniation. The remaining 6 states prohibited hyperventilation. Regarding EtCO2 goals among states permitting hyperventilation, 17/22 (77.3%) targeted an EtCO2 of < 35 mmHg, while 5/22 (22.7%) provided no guide EtCO2 for hyperventilation. Rhode Island was the only state identified that included hypertonic saline (3%), and Delaware was the only state that allowed TXA in the setting of isolated TBI with GCS ≤ 12. Only 15/32 (46.9%) identified states recommend head-of-bed elevation. For blood pressure goals, 12/28 (42.9%) of states set minimum systolic blood pressure at 90 mmHg, while 10/28 (35.7%) set other SBP goals. The remaining 6/28 (21.4%) did not provide TBI-specific SBP goals. CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation among civilian prehospital protocols for traumatic brain injury. Prehospital care within the first "golden hour" may dramatically affect patient outcomes. Neurocritical care providers should be mindful of geographic variation in local protocols when designing and evaluating quality improvement interventions and should aim to standardize prehospital care protocols.