Mobilization of the obese patient and prevention of injury.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: Obese patients are difficult to transport between emergency departments, imaging facilities, operating rooms, intensive care units, acute care units, and rehabilitation facilities. Each move, along with turning, bathing, and access to bathrooms, poses risks of injury to patients and personnel. Similarly, inadequate mobilization raises the risk of pressure ulcers. The costs can be prohibitive. METHODS: On 6 pilot units, mobilization of patients was delegated to trained lift team technicians who covered the units in pairs, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to assist with moving and lifting of patients weighing 200 pounds or more, with a Braden Scale score of 18 or less and/or the presence of pressure ulcers. RESULTS: In fiscal year 2012, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers on pilot units decreased by 43% (from 61 to 35). Patient handling-related employee injuries on pilot units decreased by 38.5% (from 13 to 8). Employee satisfaction related to organizational commitment to employee safety and impact on job satisfaction was positively impacted by implementation of the lift team. With the reduction in employee injuries and the fall in the prevalence of pressure ulcers, the adoption of the lift team program decreased costs by $493,293.00. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of lift teams on pilot nursing units decreased patient handling-related employee injuries, resulting in sharp improvements in quality patient care and reduced costs.

Prospective study examining clinical outcomes associated with a negative pressure wound therapy system and Barker's vacuum packing technique.

BACKGROUND: The open abdomen has become a common procedure in the management of complex abdominal problems and has improved patient survival. The method of temporary abdominal closure (TAC) may play a role in patient outcome. METHODS: A prospective, observational, open-label study was performed to evaluate two TAC techniques in surgical and trauma patients requiring open abdomen management: Barker's vacuum-packing technique (BVPT) and the ABThera(TM) open abdomen negative pressure therapy system (NPWT). Study endpoints were days to and rate of 30-day primary fascial closure (PFC) and 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Altogether, 280 patients were enrolled from 20 study sites. Among them, 168 patients underwent at least 48 hours of consistent TAC therapy (111 NPWT, 57 BVPT). The two study groups were well matched demographically. Median days to PFC were 9 days for NPWT versus 12 days for BVPT (p = 0.12). The 30-day PFC rate was 69 % for NPWT and 51 % for BVPT (p = 0.03). The 30-day all-cause mortality was 14 % for NPWT and 30 % for BVPT (p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that patients treated with NPWT were significantly more likely to survive than the BVPT patients [odds ratio 3.17 (95 % confidence interval 1.22-8.26); p = 0.02] after controlling for age, severity of illness, and cumulative fluid administration. CONCLUSIONS: Active NPWT is associated with significantly higher 30-day PFC rates and lower 30-day all-cause mortality among patients who require an open abdomen for at least 48 h during treatment for critical illness.

Damage control in trauma and abdominal sepsis.

Damage control surgery, initially formalized <20 yrs ago, was developed to overcome the poor outcomes in exsanguinating abdominal trauma with traditional surgical approaches. The core concepts for damage control of hemorrhage and contamination control with abbreviated laparotomy followed by resuscitation before definitive repair, although simple in nature, have led to an alteration in which emergent surgery is handled among a multitude of problems, including abdominal sepsis and battlefield surgery. With the aggressive resuscitation associated with damage control surgery, understanding of abdominal compartment syndrome has expanded. It is probably through avoiding this clinical entity that the greatest improvement in surgical outcomes for various emergent surgical problems has occurred in the past two decades. However, with its success, new problems have emerged, including increases in enterocutaneous fistulas and open abdomens. But as with any crisis, innovative strategies are being developed. New approaches to control of the open abdomen and reconstruction of the abdominal wall are being developed from negative pressure dressing therapies to acellular allograft meshes. With further understanding of new resuscitative strategies, the need for damage control surgery may decline, along with its concomitant complications, at the same time retaining the success that damage control surgery has brought to the critically ill trauma and general surgery patient in the past few years.

A contemporary rural trauma center experience in blunt traumatic aortic injury.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic aortic injury (TAI) is a rare yet highly lethal injury associated with blunt force deceleration injury. The adoption of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become a safer option than traditional open repair. The purpose of this study is to review a rural trauma center experience with TAI. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed, reviewing all patients who presented with TAI between 2000 and 2009. Clinical, anatomical, and procedural variables of all cases were systematically reviewed. Clinical endpoints included mortality, and aortic-related mortality, and hospital length of stay. The study population was stratified by those that underwent surgical repair (SR) and those managed medically (MM). RESULTS: Fifty-six patients presented with blunt TAI; 35 patients (62.5%) were surgically repaired (22 open, 13 TEVAR), while 21 (37.5%) were MM. The only difference in comorbidities was a higher rate of coronary artery disease in MM. Mean hospital arrival time (SR, 188.6 ± 30.3 minutes, MM, 253 ± 65.3 minutes), aortic injury grade (SR, 2.7 ± 0.1; MM, 2.3 ± 0.2), and injury severity score were not significantly different between the groups. Head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) was worse in the MM group, while chest AIS was worse in the SR group (P < .05). There were nine (42.9%) deaths in the MM group, while there were only two (5.7%) in the SR group (P < .001). There was no significant difference in aortic-related mortality. Mean follow-up time was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: These data provide a group of stable patients to examine the management of TAI in the endovascular era. The low aortic-related mortality in the MM group demonstrates that there is time for a thorough evaluation in patients sustaining TAI who arrive without hemodynamic instability.

Impact of hypothermia in the rural, pediatric trauma patient.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothermia is an independent predictor of mortality in adult trauma studies. However, the impact of hypothermia on the pediatric trauma population has not been described. The purpose of this study is to evaluate hypothermia as a cofactor to mortality, complications, and among survivors, hospital length of stay parameters in the pediatric trauma population. DESIGN: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database (National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons) over a 5-yr period (July 2002 to June 2007). SETTING: A rural, level I trauma center. PATIENTS: One thousand six hundred twenty-nine pediatric patients admitted with a traumatic injury. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the association of hypothermia with mortality, infectious complications, organ dysfunction, and among survivors, hospital length of stay parameters. Of 1,629 pediatric trauma patients admitted, 182 (11.1%) patients were hypothermic (temperature below 36 degrees C) on admission. Hypothermia had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-5.22, p = .025) for mortality. After controlling for covariates, hypothermia had associations with developing pneumonia (AOR, 0.185, 95% CI, 0.040-0.853; p = .031) and a bleeding diathesis (AOR, 3.14, 95% CI, 1.04-9.44; p = .042). The median days in the hospital, intensive care unit (ICU), and ventilator were longer in the hypothermic cohort; however, after controlling for covariates, hypothermia was not associated with differences in hospital days, ICU days, or ventilator days. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia is a common problem at admission among pediatric trauma patients. Hypothermia is associated with an increase in the odds of death and the development of a bleeding diathesis, while having decreased odds for developing pneumonia. While the length of stay indicators were longer in the hypothermic cohort among survivors, no significant association was noted with hypothermia for hospital, ICU, or ventilator days after controlling for confounders.

Running out of gas but not trauma patients: the effect of the price of gas on trauma admissions.

As fuel costs steadily rise and motor vehicle collisions continue to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, we examined the relationship between the price of gasoline and the rate of trauma admissions related to gasoline consumption (GRT). The National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons data of a rural Level I trauma center were queried over 27 consecutive months to identify the rate of trauma admissions/month related to gas utilization compared with the number of nongasoline related trauma admissions, based on season and day of the week. The average price/gallon of regular gas in our region was obtained from the NorthCarolinaGasPrices. com database. A log linear model with a Poisson distribution was created. No significant association exists between the average price/gallon of gasoline and the GRT rate across the months, seasons, and weekday and weekend periods. As the price of gas continues to rise, the rate of rural GRT does not decrease. Over a longer period of time and with skyrocketing prices, this relationship may not hold true. These findings may also be explained by the rural area where limited alternative transportation opportunities exist and a trauma patient population participating in high risk behavior regardless of cost.

"Damage control" in the elderly: futile endeavor or fruitful enterprise?

BACKGROUND: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) provides effective management in carefully selected, exsanguinating trauma patients. However, the effectiveness of this approach has not been examined in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to characterize elderly DCL patients. METHODS: The National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons was queried for patients admitted to our Level I trauma center between January 2003 and June 2008. Patients who underwent a DCL were included in the study. Elderly (55 years or older) and young (16-54 years) patients were compared for demographics, injury severity, intraoperative transfusion volume, complications, and mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 62 patients met inclusion criteria. Elderly and young cohorts were similar in gender (male, 78.6% vs. 75.0%, p = 0.78), Injury Severity Score (25.1 ± 2.1 vs. 23.8 ± 1.7, p = 0.49), packed red blood cell transfusion volume (3036 mL ± 2760 mL vs. 2654 mL ± 2194 mL, p = 0.51), and number of complications (3.21 ± 0.48 vs. 3.33 ± 0.38, p = 0.96). Mortality was greater in the elderly cohort (42.9% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.02). The mean time to death for the elderly was 9.8 days ± 10.2 days and 26 days ± 21.5 days in the young (p = 0.485). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the severity of injury, the outcome of elderly DCL patients is better than what might be predicted. They succumb to their injuries more frequently and earlier in the hospital course compared with the young, but the majority of these patients survive. DCL in the elderly is not a futile endeavor.

Trauma intensive care unit survival: how good is an educated guess?

BACKGROUND: Resource utilization in medicine is becoming a more and more urgent issue with ongoing national discussions on healthcare coverage. In the management of a trauma system, large amounts of resources and money are expended on individual patients in hope of a "great save." In addition, those of us caring for these patients are required to estimate outcomes daily to the family in an effort to choose the best course of care for an individual patient. Hence, we undertook a study to analyze the accuracy of outcomes predictions of various members of the healthcare team. METHODS: During a period of 38 months (July 2005 to August 2008), an observational study of patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was undertaken. Institutional Review Board permission was obtained before starting the study. Only patients older than 18 years were included. Patients who were moribund or expected discharge within 72 hours were excluded.Our traumatized ICU patients are cared for by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a trauma/ICU attending, all of whom have additional certification in surgical critical care and who rotate through the ICU on a weekly basis, a surgical ICU fellow, residents and medical students of several levels of training who rotate on a monthly basis, trauma advanced-level practitioners who rotate weekly, and bedside ICU nurses who work routine shifts. Respiratory therapists, nutritionists, ICU pharmacists, and other members of the rounding team were not included in the study because they do not provide global patient care. Regardless of admitting physician, the patients are managed by the team, and our practice of care is similar across the group, based on protocols and consensus.For each of the study patients, a survey tool was filled out by the ICU rounding team on hospital day 1 and hospital day 3. The tool was completed by members of the team providing global care to the patient and varied depending on the members of the group at each day's rounds. All current and admission data on injuries, study and laboratory results, and current patient status were available to all members of the team. Each member was expected to fill out the survey tool independently, and the results of the tool were not discussed during rounds.Concurrently, data were collected by the ICU fellow and research nurse. These data and the results of the survey tools were entered in a database for analysis after patient discharge. A retrospective analysis was undertaken to analyze the relative accuracy of the care, team members' assessment, and actual survival. Statistical analysis was done using by-chance accuracy comparisons. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-three patients had 326 observations performed. Day 3 accuracy improved for most groups. In all groups, accuracy was found to be statistically significantly better than by-chance accuracy. Given that the majority of patients in the trauma population are survivors, sensitivity and positive predictive value of the observer's ability to predict death were also evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Although significantly better than chance prediction, the ability of members of the ICU team to predict survival of trauma patients remains poor, particularly on initial evaluation. A period of clinical observation improves the accuracy. Unfortunately, experience of the observer does not seem to improve accuracy of survival prediction. This data indicate that care must be taken when describing likely outcomes to patient family members.

Sustaining an inclusive trauma system in a rural state: the role of regional care systems, partnerships, and quality of care.

Different approaches exist for developing inclusive trauma systems with a regional system approach. The purpose of this article is to describe a sustainable and replicable structure for developing a trauma system with urban and rural environments. A relatively new trauma system is presented to show (1) how rural health networks and relationships can support rural trauma system development; (2) how partnerships help to support trauma system development; and (3) how the trauma system infrastructure has used assessment and assurance strategies to support regional systems of care to foster optimal care of the trauma patient.

The elderly trauma patient: an investment for the future?

BACKGROUND: The cost of care in elderly (ELD) trauma patients is high compared with younger patients, but the association between age and reimbursement relative to cost is less clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between total costs (TC) and reimbursement in young (YNG) and ELD trauma patients. METHODS: The National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons was queried for patients admitted to a level I trauma center between January 2002 and December 2004. YNG patients (18-64 years) were compared with ELD patients (> or =65 years) for mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, and outcome variables. Data obtained from the hospital cost accounting system included TC, total payment, and net margin (P-L). Virtually, all patients were reimbursed based on the fixed diagnostic-related group payment. RESULTS: There were 641 ELD and 3,470 YNG patients included in the study. ELD patients were more commonly injured via a blunt mechanism than the YNG patients (97% vs. 83%; p < 0.001). The ELD were more severely injured (Injury Severity Score 14.9 +/- 10.8 vs. 13.3 +/- 10.9), developed more complications (54% vs. 34%), and died more frequently (17% vs. 4.7%; all p < 0.05). TC for the ELD were significantly higher than the YNG ($20,788.92 +/- $28,305.54 vs. $19,161.11 +/- $30,441.56; p = 0.02). Total payment ($20,049.75 +/- $29,754.52 vs. $16,766.14 +/- $31,169.15) and P-L (-$739.18 +/- $17,207.84 vs. -$2,294.98 +/- $22,309.51; both p < 0.05) were significantly better for the ELD cohort. However, a financial loss was realized for all patients with trauma. CONCLUSION: When compared with YNG trauma patients, reimbursement in the ELD appears favorable. However, compensation via diagnostic-related group payment fails to cover costs even in the ELD. Reimbursement for all patients with trauma is suboptimal and needs to be improved.

Tissue oxygenation monitoring in the field: a new EMS vital sign.

BACKGROUND: A tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (STO2) monitor was created to assess the perfusion status of a peripheral muscle bed using near infrared light to directly measure oxygen saturation in the microcirculation. Hypoperfusion has been noted when the STO2 is <75%. The use of this technology has not been tested in the prehospital setting. This pilot study was performed to assess the technology's ease of use in the field and to correlate STO2 readings with patient outcomes. METHODS: Hospital-based transport vehicles were equipped with STO2 monitors and personnel were asked to evaluate the functionality of the technology. Initial, average, and minimal STO2 values were collected and compared with data of the trauma registry. RESULTS: Forty five of 55 surveys were returned with 100% reporting ease of use and no reports of interference with monitors or avionics. Monitoring length averaged 16.9 minutes +/- 6.9 minutes. Forty-one patients had complete data sets and five deaths were reported for a mortality rate of 12%. STO2 endpoints revealed and increased risk of death for every 10% decrease in STO2. CONCLUSION: The STO2 monitor can easily be used in the prehospital environment. In addition, initial recordings were significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors with every 10% decrease in STO2 increasing mortality threefold. This monitor seems to give the prehospital provider a noninvasive tool for assessment of hypoperfusion in the field and may allow for earlier resuscitative efforts to commence.

What price commitment: what benefit? The cost of a saved life in a developing level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: In 1999, a Level I Trauma Center committed significant resources for development, recruitment of trauma surgeons, and call pay for subspecialists. Although this approach has sparked a national ethical debate, little has been published investigating efficacy. This study examines the price of commitment and outcomes at a Level I Trauma Center. METHODS: Direct personnel costs including salary, call pay, and personnel expenses were analyzed against outcomes for two periods defined as PRE (1994-1999) and POST (2000-2005). Patient care costs and 1999 to 2000 transition data were excluded. Demographics, outcomes, and direct personnel costs were compared. Significant mortality reductions stratified by age and injury severity score (ISS) were used to calculate lives saved in relation to direct personnel costs. Student's t test and chi were used (significance *p < 0.05). RESULTS: In the PRE period, there were 7,587 admissions compared with 11,057 POST. There were no significant differences PRE versus POST for age (41.4 +/- 24.4 years vs. 41.3 +/- 24.9 years), gender (62.4% vs. 63.7% male), mechanism of injury (11.5% vs. 11.8% penetrating), and percent intensive care unit admissions (30.1 vs. 29.9). Significant differences were noted for ISS (10.5 +/- 9.7 vs. 11.6 +/- 10.1*), percent admissions with ISS >or=16 (18.5 vs. 27.3*), and revised trauma score (10.8 +/- 2.8 vs. 10.7 +/- 2.8*). Both the average length of stay (6.8 +/- 8.8 vs. 6.5 +/- 9.8*) and percent mortality for ISS >or=16 (23 vs. 17*) were reduced. When mortality was stratified by both age and ISS, significant reductions were noted and a total of 173 lives were saved as a result. However, direct personnel costs increased from $7.6 million to $22.7 million. When cost is allocated to lives saved; the cost of a saved life was more than $87,000. CONCLUSIONS: Resources for program development, including salary and call pay, significantly reduced mortality. Price of commitment: $3 million per year. The cost of a saved life: $87,000. The benefit: 173 surviving patients who would otherwise be dead.

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation as a rescue therapy for adult trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: High-frequency oscillatory ventilation is an alternative ventilation mode that improves oxygenation in trauma patients in whom conventional ventilation strategies have been unsuccessful. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation on oxygenation, survival, and parameters predictive of survival in trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective case series of 24 adult patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit at a level I trauma center between November 2001 and July 2005 and treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared for mechanism and severity of injury, oxygenation parameters related to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, and hospital course. RESULTS: Of the 8577 patients admitted during the study period, acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 103 (1%). Of those 103 patients, 24 (23%) were treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. Most of the patients treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation had sustained blunt trauma (79%). Oxygenation parameters improved significantly with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in all patients, regardless of survival. Of the 24 patients treated with this ventilation mode, 15 (62%) survived. Survival did not correlate with improved oxygenation parameters but with the number of failed organ systems and injury severity. CONCLUSION: Although high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves oxygenation, severity of traumatic injury and organ failure, not respiratory parameters, are predictors of survival. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation should be considered for pulmonary rescue of severely injured patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Impact of acute care general surgery coverage by trauma surgeons on the trauma patient.

Although acute care general surgery (ACS) coverage by trauma surgeons may help re-invigorate the field of trauma surgery, introducing additional responsibilities to an already overburdened system may negatively impact the trauma patient. Our purpose was to determine the impact on the trauma patient of a progressive integration of ACS coverage into a trauma service. Data from a university, Level I trauma registry was retrospectively reviewed to compare demographics, injury severity, complications, and outcomes over a 6-year period. During this study period, the trauma service treated only trauma patients for 32 months, then added ACS coverage 2 days per week for 32 months, and then expanded to 4 days per week coverage for 9 months. Trauma patients admitted during periods of ACS coverage were not different with respect to gender, mechanism of injury, Revised Trauma Score, or Glasgow Coma Score; however, they were slightly older and had slightly higher injury severity scores. As ACS coverage progressively increased, trauma patients had an increase in ventilator days (P < 0.0001), intensive care unit length of stay (P < 0.0001), and hospital length of stay (P < 0.0001). Occurrences of neurologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and infectious complications were similar during all three time periods, whereas cardiac and renal complications progressively increased after ACS coverage was added. Mortality remained unchanged after ACS integration.

Field hypotension in patients who arrive at the hospital normotensive: a marker of severe injury or crying wolf?

INTRODUCTION: Trauma patients with hypotension in the field who arrive at a hospital with a normal blood pressure (BP) may not be recognized as significantly injured. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, demographic, injury severity, and disposition data were retrospectively analyzed for patients > or =16 years of age with documented hypotension in the field (systolic BP < or =90 mm Hg) and normal BP (systolic BP >90 mmHg) on hospital arrival (hypotensive group). This group was compared to patients with normal BP in the field and on hospital arrival (normotensive group). RESULTS: During the study, 2207 patients with documented BP were transported directly from the scene. Of this number 44 (2%) were assigned to the hypotensive group, 2086 (94%) were assigned to the normotensive group, and 77 (4%) patients were hypotensive on hospital arrival. The hypotensive group had a systolic BP in the field of 70 +/- 26 mmHg compared to 140 +/- 26 mmHg in the normotensive group (p < 0.0001). Arrival BP at the hospital was normal in both groups. Compared to the normotensive group, the hypotensive group had higher Injury Severity Scores (22.0 vs. 11.1, p < 0.0001), lower Glasgow Coma Scores (10.8 vs. 14.0, p < 0.0001), lower Revised Trauma Scores (65 vs. 7.4, p < 0.0O01), more emergency department deaths (7% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), longer lengths of stay in the intensive care unit (8.6 vs. 7.0 days, p < 0.0001) and hospital (14.0 vs. 7.0 days, p < 0.0001), and increased hospital mortality (18% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The retrospective design and exclusion of patients without documentation of BP in the field may have resulted in selection bias. CONCLUSION: Despite these limitations, field hypotension is a marker of significant injury in patients arriving at the hospital normotensive.

Rural trauma recidivism: a different disease.

HYPOTHESIS: Unlike the well-characterized urban trauma recidivist (RC), factors associated with the rural RC remain undefined. In an attempt to devise preventative strategies, we theorized that the rural RC profile would be similar to that of urban counterparts. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Rural, university-affiliated, level I trauma center. PATIENTS: All trauma patients admitted between January 1, 1994, and December 30, 2002. INTERVENTIONS: Identification and characterization of rural trauma RCs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trauma recidivism incidence, risk factors, and cost. RESULTS: Of 15 370 consecutive admissions, 528 (3.4%) were RCs. Demographic comparisons to a non-RC cohort demonstrated rural RCs to be significantly older (mean +/- SD age, 55.9 +/- 24.8 vs 39.7 +/- 24.1 years), disproportionately white (65.2% [344/528] vs 56.5% [8386/14 842]), and more likely female (49.1% [259/528] vs 37.3% [5537/14 842]) (P<.001 for all). Clinical comparisons revealed significant associations between recidivism and substance abuse. The percentage of positive blood ethanol screen results (58.7% [310/528] vs 39.9% [5923/14 842]) and the mean +/- SD blood ethanol content (132.1 +/- 139.9 mg/dL [28.7 +/- 30.4 mmol/L] vs 69.5 +/- 114.4 mg/dL [15.1 +/- 24.8 mmol/L]) were higher for RCs (P<.001 for both). In addition, cocaine use was significantly higher in the RC cohort (6.4% [34/528] vs 4.1% [607/14 842]; P=.02). The total cost for all RC admissions exceeded $7 million. CONCLUSIONS: The rural RC profile is strikingly different from urban counterparts. The common feature seems to be substance abuse. Correspondingly, prevention strategies for recidivism must be considerably different among rural and urban populations.

Body mass index and outcomes in critically injured blunt trauma patients: weighing the impact.

BACKGROUND: The influence of increased body mass index (BMI) on morbidity and mortality in critically injured trauma patients has been studied, with conflicting results. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between stratified BMI and outcomes in blunt injured patients. STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive adult trauma patients from July 2001 to November 2005 with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > or = 16 and blunt mechanism were evaluated using the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons. Demographics, injury severity, hospital course, complications, and mortality were compared among standard BMI strata. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals and evaluate BMI as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 1,543 patients. Controlling for age, gender, Injury Severity Score, and Revised Trauma Score, and using BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2) as the reference category, morbid obesity (BMI> or =40 kg/m(2)) was associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 3.675, 95% CI, 1.237 to 10.916), acute respiratory failure (OR 2.793, 95% CI, 1.633 to 4.778), acute renal failure (OR 13.506, 2.388 to 76.385), multisystem organ failure (OR 2.639, 95% CI, 1.085 to 6.421), pneumonia (OR 2.487, 95% CI, 1.483 to 4.302), urinary tract infection (OR 2.332, 95% CI, 1.229 to 4.427), deep venous thrombosis (OR 4.112, 95% CI, 1.253 to 13.496), and decubitus ulcer (OR 2.841, 95% CI, 1.382 to 5.841). Morbid obesity was not associated with increased mortality (OR 0.810, 95% CI, 0.353 to 1.856). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to date evaluating the relationship between BMI and outcomes in critically injured trauma patients. Increasing BMI increases morbidity while having no proved influence on mortality.

Morbidity reduction in critically ill trauma patients through use of a computerized insulin infusion protocol: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Recent data have demonstrated that intensive glycemic control during critical illness improves outcome. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of a computerized hospital insulin protocol (CHIP) on glycemic control and outcome in critically ill trauma patients. METHODS: Two, 6-month cohorts were compared, one 6 months prior to chip implementation (pre-CHIP) and one from the 6-month period after implementation (post-CHIP), using finger stick blood glucose values and demographic, injury severity, and outcome variables for adult patients with intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) > or =72 hours. Infectious morbidity was based upon the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons definitions. Differences between cohorts were assessed using Student's t test and Fisher's exact test for continuous and categorical variables. RESULTS: The 129 pre- and 128 post-CHIP patients were well matched for demographics and injury severity. Significant reductions in mean finger stick blood glucose, rates of ventilator- associated pneumonia, central venous line infection, total infections, and all LOS categories were demonstrated in the post-CHIP cohort. However, mortality was significantly higher in the post-CHIP cohort. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study demonstrates significant morbidity and LOS reductions with the use of a CHIP, but significantly increased mortality. Further prospective studies are necessary to assess the effects of intensive glycemic control on outcome after injury, particularly in sub populations who might be adversely affected.

Myths and realities of the 80-hour work week.

BACKGROUND: Myths are so ingrained into cultural traditions that emotion frequently overshadows a rational evaluation of the facts. The reduction in resident work hours has resulted in the formation of several myths. The purpose of this review is to examine the published data on resident work hours to separate out myth from reality. METHODS: An electronic database was searched for publications related to resident training, work-hours, continuity of care, sleep deprivation, quality of life, patient safety, clinical/operative experience, faculty work hours, and surgical education. RESULTS: Sleep deprivation has been shown to be harmful, and residents played a role in advocating for work-hour limits. Surgical residents have seen a less dramatic improvement in quality of life compared with other disciplines. Work-hour reductions have decreased participation in clinic but have not resulted in a significant decline in clinical or operative exposure. Limiting resident work hours will unlikely result in a decrease health-care cost. Reduction in resident work hours has not resulted in an improvement or deterioration in patient outcome. Reduction of work hours has not increased faculty work hours nor made surgery a more attractive career choice. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strongly held opinions, resident work-hour reduction has resulted in little significant change in lifestyle, clinical exposure, patient well-being, faculty work hours, or medical student recruitment.

Low-dose dopamine: a physiologically based review.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to prevent or alter the course of acute renal failure, many surgeons continue to use low-dose dopamine. This article critically reviews the physiologic reasons why low-dose dopamine is not clinically efficacious. METHODS: A critical review of English language literature. RESULTS: The effect of dopamine on renal blood flow remains controversial. If dopamine does increase renal blood flow, the vascular anatomy of the kidney would limit its effectiveness. Rather than improving renal function, dopamine has been shown to impair renal oxygen kinetics, inhibit feedback systems that protect the kidney from ischemia, and may worsen tubular injury. Dopamine has not been proven useful in the prevention or alteration of the course of acute renal failure as a result of heart failure, cardiac surgery, abdominal aortic surgery, sepsis, and transplantation. Dopamine has been associated with multiple complications involving the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the anatomy and physiology of the kidney, low-dose dopamine would not be expected to improve renal failure and this has been demonstrated by the lack of efficacy in clinical trials.