The open abdomen in mesenteric ischemia: A tool for patients undergoing revascularization.

BACKGROUND: We examined outcomes in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia (AMI) with the hypothesis that Open Abdomen (OA) is associated with decreased mortality. METHODS: We performed a cohort study reviewing NSQIP emergency laparotomy patients, 2016-2020, with a postoperative diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia. OA was defined using flags for patients without fascial closure. Logistic regression was used with outcomes of 30-day mortality and several secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 5514 cases, 4624 (83.9%) underwent resection and 387 (7.0%) underwent revascularization. The OA rate was 32.6%. 10.8% of patients who were closed required reoperation. After adjustment for demographics, transfer status, comorbidities, preoperative variables including creatinine, white blood cell count, and anemia, as well as operative time, OA was associated with OR 1.58 for mortality (95% CI [1.38, 1.81], p < 0.001). Among revascularizations, there was no such association (p = 0.528). OA was associated with ventilator support >48 h (OR 4.04, 95% CI [3.55, 4.62], and p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: OA in AMI was associated with increased mortality and prolonged ventilation. This is not so in revascularization patients, and 1 in 10 patients who underwent primary closure required reoperation. OA should be considered in specific cases of AMI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective cohort, Level III.

An Intensive Multidisciplinary Approach in Management of Extensive Nonuremic Calciphylaxis of the Bilateral Lower Extremities with Angioinvasive Fungus and Mold.

Management of infected wounds related to calciphylaxis poses a significant clinical challenge with high morbidity and mortality. Given no definitive management guidelines exist specific to nonuremic calciphylaxis, multiple modalities including sodium thiosulfate, antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgical debridement with wound care must be considered. When occurring over a large surface area, standard daily dressing changes are especially labor intensive, inefficient, and ineffective. Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time offers broad wound coverage with ongoing therapeutic benefit. We present the case of a previously healthy 19-year-old woman who was transferred for tertiary level care of extensive nonuremic calciphylaxis wounds of the bilateral lower extremities complicated by angioinvasive coinfection with fungus and mold that was managed with a multidisciplinary approach of intensive medical management, aggressive surgical debridement, and negative pressure wound therapy with instillation of hypochlorous acid solution. Ultimately, she achieved full granulation and wound coverage with skin grafting. Large area, infected wounds related to nonuremic calciphylaxis can be successfully managed with multidisciplinary medical management, aggressive surgical debridement, and negative pressure wound therapy that can instill and dwell hypochlorous acid solution.

Fibroid expulsion: a unique presentation of mechanical small bowel obstruction 11 years after uterine artery embolization: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine artery embolization in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma has been rarely associated with dislodgement and expulsion of infarcted uterine fibroids through the vagina, peritoneum, or bowel wall, predominantly occurring within 6 months of uterine artery embolization. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 54-year-old African American woman who underwent uterine artery embolization 11 years prior and developed mechanical small bowel obstruction from the migration of fibroid through a uteroenteric fistula with ultimate impaction within the distal small bowel lumen. Small bowel resection and hysterectomy were curative. CONCLUSIONS: Uteroenteric fistula with small bowel obstruction due to fibroid expulsion may present as a delayed finding after uterine artery embolization and requires heightened awareness.

Pain Interference and Decreased Physical Function After Emergency General Surgery: Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing emphasis on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) measures in healthcare, but this area remains largely unexplored in emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions. We hypothesized that postoperative patients in our EGS clinic would report detrimental changes in several domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: We administered the PROMIS-29, a HRQoL measurement tool, to postoperative patients in our EGS clinic (11/2019-4/2020). Patients responded to measures of 7 domains. Domain scores were converted to t-scores, allowing comparison to average values within the general US population (set to 50 by definition). We report the mean scores within each domain. Higher scores in negatively worded domains (e.g., "Depression") are worse; vice versa for positively worded domains (e.g., "Physical Function"). Changes in scores at subsequent clinic visits were analyzed using the paired t-test. RESULTS: There were 97 patients who completed the PROMIS-29 at the first postoperative visit. Mean (SD) age was 54.1 (16.2) years; 51% were male. There was no difference in our patients from the average US population in the domains of Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities, Anxiety, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbance. However, EGS patients experienced significantly greater Pain Interference (56.1 [54.1, 58.1]) and worse Physical Function (40.6 [38.4, 42.7]) than average. For patients seen in follow-up twice (13 patients, median interval between clinic visits 21 days), there were improvements in the domains of Physical Function (42.9 vs 37.3; p = 0.04) and Fatigue. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate room for improvement in the domains of pain interference and physical function. While positive changes over a relatively short period of time are encouraging, consideration should be given to patient perceptions of illness and lifestyle impact when managing EGS patients.

COVID-19 Pandemic Significantly Decreases Acute Surgical Complaints.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly reduced elective surgery in the United States, but the impact of COVID-19 on acute surgical complaints and acute care surgery is unknown. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed of all surgical consults at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the 30 days prior to and 30 days following confirmation of the first COVID-19 patient at the institution. Consults to all divisions within general surgery were included. RESULTS: Total surgical consult volume decreased by 43% in the post-COVID-19 period, with a significant reduction in the median daily consult volume from 14 to 8 (P < .0001). Changes in consult volume by patient location, chief complaint, and surgical division were variable, in aggregate reflecting a disproportionate decrease among less acute surgical complaints. The percentage of consults resulting in surgical intervention remained equal in the 2 periods (31% vs 28%, odds ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.61-1.21, P = .38) with most but not all operation types decreasing in frequency. The rise in the COVID-19 inpatient census led to increased consultation for vascular access, accommodated at our center by the creation of a new surgical procedures team. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the landscape of acute surgical complaints at our large academic hospital. An appreciation of these trends may be helpful to other Departments of Surgery around the country as they deploy staff and allocate resources in the COVID-19 era.

Navigated Ultrasonic Osteotomy to Aid in En Bloc Chordoma Resection via Spondylectomy.

BACKGROUND: Chordomas are rare, locally malignant tumors derived from remnants of the notochord that can manifest anywhere in the spine or base of the skull. Surgical treatment for chordomas of the lumbar spine often fails to achieve successful en bloc resection, which is critical to minimizing recurrence risk. CASE DESCRIPTION: In this case report, the authors describe total en bloc resection of a lumbar vertebral body chordoma via the first documented approach of navigated ultrasonic osteotomy for spondylectomy. The patient is a 43-year-old man with end-stage renal disease, requiring dialysis, secondary to diabetes mellitus. The lesion in question was incidentally discovered in the L5 vertebral body during full body scanning for evaluation for a renal transplant. The lesion was diagnosed as a chordoma via percutaneous coaxial needle biopsy. Allogeneic renal transplant was canceled pending treatment of this newly discovered lesion. A combined, staged approach of L3-pelvis posterior instrumented fusion, L5 laminectomy and spondylectomy, and anterior L5 cage reconstruction with L4-S1 fusion was planned. Intraoperative computed tomography scan was performed and stereotactic osteotomies were planned. Ultrasonic osteotome (SONOPET Ultrasonic Aspirator) was registered as a navigation tool and employed, after verification, to complete the posterior stereotactic osteotomies, with postoperative computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathology demonstrating successful en bloc resection. The navigated osteotome provided a critical combination of surgical precision and efficiency intraoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This approach offers a promising technological adjunct for the treatment of complex spine tumors requiring precise resection and reconstruction.

Outcomes After Tracheostomy in COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcomes of patients undergoing tracheostomy for COVID-19 and of healthcare workers performing these procedures. BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is often performed for prolonged endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients. However, in the context of COVID-19, tracheostomy placement pathways have been altered due to the poor prognosis of intubated patients and the risk of transmission to providers through this highly aerosolizing procedure. METHODS: A prospective single-system multi-center observational cohort study was performed on patients who underwent tracheostomy after acute respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients who underwent tracheostomy, the average time from endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 19.7 days ±â€Š6.9 days. The most common indication for tracheostomy was acute respiratory distress syndrome, followed by failure to wean ventilation and post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation decannulation. Thirty patients (56.6%) were liberated from the ventilator, 16 (30.2%) have been discharged alive, 7 (13.2%) have been decannulated, and 6 (11.3%) died. The average time from tracheostomy to ventilator liberation was 11.8 days ±â€Š6.9 days (range 2-32 days). Both open surgical and percutaneous dilational tracheostomy techniques were performed utilizing methods to mitigate aerosols. No healthcare worker transmissions resulted from performing the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations to tracheostomy practices and processes were successfully instituted. Following these steps, tracheostomy in COVID-19 intubated patients seems safe for both patients and healthcare workers performing the procedure.

Management of Infected Mesh After Abdominal Hernia Repair: Systematic Review and Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: Mesh infection after abdominal hernia repair is a devastating complication that affects general and plastic surgeons alike. The purpose of this study was 3-fold: (1) to determine current evidence for treatment of infected abdominal wall mesh via systematic review of literature, (2) to analyze our single-institution experience with treatment of infected mesh patients, and (3) to establish a framework for how to approach this complex clinical problem. METHODS: Literature search was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines, followed by single-institution retrospective analysis of infected mesh patients. RESULTS: A total of 3565 abstracts and 92 full-text articles were reviewed. For qualitative and quantitative assessment, articles were subdivided on the basis of treatment approach: "conservative management," "excision of mesh with primary closure," "single-stage reconstruction," "immediate staged repair," and "repair in contaminated field." Evidence for each treatment approach is presented. At our institution, most patients (40/43) were treated by excision of infected mesh and single-stage reconstruction with biologic mesh. When the mesh was placed in a retrorectus or underlay fashion, 21.4% rate of hernia recurrence was achieved. Bridged repairs were highly prone to recurrence (88.9%; P = 0.001), but the bridging biologic mesh seemed to maintain domain and potentially contribute to a more effective repair in the future. Of the patients who underwent additional ("secondary") repairs after recurrence, 75% were eventually able to achieve "hernia-free" state. CONCLUSIONS: This study reviews the literature and our single-institution experience regarding treatment of infected abdominal wall mesh. Framework is developed for how to approach this complex clinical problem.

Arteriography for Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: Role of Preceding Abdominal Computed Tomographic Angiogram in Diagnosis and Localization.

IMPORTANCE: Optimizing the nature and sequence of diagnostic imaging when managing lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage may reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: To determine if preceding visceral arteriography with computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage increases hemorrhage identification and localization and to determine if CTA was superior to nuclear scintigraphy when used as a pre-angiogram test. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Analysis was conducted of prospectively acquired data from an interventional radiology database and of individual electronic medical records from an academic tertiary medical center. On January 1, 2009, a new, evidence-based, institutional protocol that formally incorporated CTA to manage acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage was launched after multidisciplinary consultation. All records of patients who underwent visceral angiography (VA) for acute lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2012, were evaluated. EXPOSURES: Imaging, procedural, and operative details were abstracted from the medical records of all patients who underwent VA for lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Visceral angiography results and efficacy were compared in patients before and after protocol implementation and compared based on which imaging method was used prior to angiography. RESULTS: A total of 161 angiographic procedures were performed during the study period (78 before and 83 after protocol implementation). Use of CTA increased from 3.8% to 56.6%, and use of nuclear scintigraphy decreased from 83.3% to 50.6% following protocol implementation (P < .001). Preceding angiography with CTA resulted in similar angiography contrast administration (mean [SD] amount for CTA prior to VA, 135 [63] vs 160 [77] mL; P = .18) and fluoroscopy time (mean [SD], 26.3 [16.8] vs 32.2 [34.9] minutes; P = .34). Although nuclear scintigraphy and CTA had similar sensitivity and specificity, localization of hemorrhage site by CTA was more precise and consistent with angiography findings. As a pre-angiography test, compared with nuclear scintigraphy, CTA reduced overall the number of imaging studies required (mean [SD] number per patient admission, 2.1 [0.3] vs 2.5 [0.8]; P = .005) and resulted in administration of more overall contrast (mean [SD], 220 [80] vs 130 [70] mL; P < .001) without worsening renal function. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Preceding VA with a diagnostic study improves positive localization of the site of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage compared with VA alone. Increasing the use of CTA for pre-angiography imaging may reduce overall imaging studies while appearing to increase positive yield at VA. Computed tomographic angiography can be used as part of a lower intestinal hemorrhage management algorithm and does not appear to worsen renal function despite the additional contrast load.

Analysis of perioperative factors associated with increased cost following abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR).

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernias are a common, challenging, and expensive problem for both the general and reconstructive surgeons; therefore, the aim of this study is to critically assess perioperative factors related to cost in abdominal wall reconstructions (AWR). METHODS: A retrospective review of AWR patients from 2007 and 2012 was performed. Analysis of perioperative factors associated with total cost of reconstruction was performed. Linear regression analyses were used to assess independent predictors of total cost. RESULTS: 134 consecutive AWR performed by a single surgeon over a 5-year period at an academic teaching center were included. The average total cost of AWR was $61,251 ± 55,624. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes (P = 0.026), increased American Society of Anesthesiologists score (P = 0.002), preoperative anemia (P = 0.001), and hernias derived from trauma (P = 0.015) were independently associated with added cost in AWR when controlling for confounding variables. In addition, patients requiring intra-abdominal procedures (P = 0.012) and those receiving an AWR using Acellular Dermal Matrix (P = 0.015) accrued significantly greater cost. Interestingly, preoperative placement of an epidural (P = 0.011) was independently associated with significant cost savings and reduced medical morbidity. Major surgical complications (P < 0.001) and length of stay (P < 0.001) were independently associated with increased cost following AWR. CONCLUSION: We present a critical assessment of cost in AWR at a major academic teaching hospital and quantify the impact of reconstruction in the setting of medical morbidities and reconstructive complexities. The data from this study can be used to adjust reimbursement schemes and to critically assess the cost-benefit of performing AWR.

Analysis of risk factors, morbidity, and cost associated with respiratory complications following abdominal wall reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernia remains a continued and expensive problem for general and reconstructive surgeons, alike. The aim of this study was to assess perioperative factors and cost associated with postoperative respiratory morbidity in abdominal wall reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective review of abdominal wall reconstruction patients operated on between 2007 and 2012 was performed. Analysis of perioperative factors associated with postoperative respiratory morbidity was performed using hospital-defined International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess independent predictors of postoperative respiratory morbidity, and linear regression was used to determine the financial impact. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four consecutive abdominal wall reconstructions performed by a single surgeon over a 5-year period were included. Respiratory complications occurred in 15.7 percent of patients (n = 21); 5.2 percent required reintubation (n = 7) and 5.2 percent failed to wean from ventilatory support postoperatively (n = 7). Patients experiencing respiratory morbidity stayed on average 16.2 days longer (p < 0.0001) and represented the only three patients in the study experiencing mortality (p = 0.003). Regression analysis demonstrated that intraoperative blood transfusions (p = 0.008), highest peak intraoperative airway pressure (p = 0.017), fascial closure (p = 0.013), and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (p = 0.019) were all associated with postoperative respiratory morbidity. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that respiratory complications added a cost of $60,933 per patient (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative respiratory morbidity following abdominal wall reconstruction is a common occurrence linked to identifiable perioperative risk factors and associated with significant mortality and a tremendous cost burden. These findings underscore the importance of preoperative risk stratification and patient selection to optimize outcome and contain cost.

The use of epidurals in abdominal wall reconstruction: an analysis of outcomes and cost.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernias are a common, challenging, and expensive problem for general and reconstructive surgeons. The authors assessed the impact of epidurals on morbidity following abdominal wall reconstruction for hernia. METHODS: A retrospective review of abdominal wall reconstruction patients operated on between 2007 and 2012 was performed with a specific focus on the use of epidurals. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess independent predictors of morbidity. Subgroup analyses were also performed. RESULTS: The study included 134 consecutive reconstructions performed by a single surgeon over a 5-year period at an academic teaching center. Patient groups were similar in terms of demographics, preoperative characteristics, hernia grade, and intraoperative characteristics. Epidural use was associated with a lower incidence of major surgical complications (19.7 percent versus 36.1 percent; p = 0.04) and medical complications (26.8 percent versus 54.1 percent; p = 0.001). A significant and independent reduction in medical morbidity (OR, 0.09; p ≤ 0.001) and unplanned reoperations (OR, 0.23; p = 0.052), was found with patients receiving epidurals. Furthermore, a notable trend toward reduced major surgical complications (OR, 0.45; p = 0.141) and cost savings (-$22,184; p = 0.01) was found in patients who received epidurals. Subgroup analysis did not demonstrate statistically significant reductions in major surgical morbidity in reconstruction either with (p = 0.13) or without (p = 0.07) concurrent intra abdominal procedures when epidurals were not or were used, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural use may be associated with reduced morbidity and cost savings in abdominal wall reconstruction. This effect appears to be related to reduced medical morbidity and shortened length of stay in patients undergoing more complex, concurrent intraabdominal hernia procedures. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

Validated model for predicting postoperative respiratory failure: analysis of 1706 abdominal wall reconstructions.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall reconstruction can be associated with significant rates of respiratory events. In this current study, the authors aim to characterize perioperative risk factors associated with postoperative respiratory failure and derive a model with which to predict postoperative respiratory failure. METHODS: The authors reviewed the 2005 to 2010 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases, identifying encounters for Current Procedural Terminology codes for both hernia repair (49560, 49561, 49565, 49566, and 49568) and component separation (15734). A predictive model of postoperative respiratory failure was developed using logistic regression analyses and validated using a bootstrap technique. RESULTS: Of 1706 patients undergoing complex abdominal reconstructions in the study period, 102 (6.0 percent) experienced postoperative respiratory failure. Patients experiencing postoperative respiratory failure had longer admissions (21.0±18.5 versus 5.9±5.5 days, p<0.001) and a higher mortality rate (14.7 percent versus 0.1 percent, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed eight variables significantly associated with postoperative respiratory failure. A history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p<0.001), dyspnea at rest (p=0.032), dependent functional status (p=0.032), malnutrition (p<0.001), recurrent incarcerated hernia (p=0.006), concurrent intraabdominal procedure (p=0.041), American Society of Anesthesiologists score greater than 3 (p<0.001), and prolonged operative time (p<0.001) were independently associated with higher rates of postoperative respiratory failure. The multivariate model was internally validated using a bootstrap technique and had good discrimination (c statistic=0.78). CONCLUSIONS: A validated predictive model and clinical risk-assessment tool of postoperative respiratory failure following abdominal wall reconstruction is presented. Respiratory complications were associated with significantly longer hospital stays and higher rates of mortality. Data derived from this large cohort can be used to risk-stratify patients and to enhance perioperative decision-making. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Transfer status: a risk factor for mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive disease that requires urgent surgical debridement for survival. Interhospital transfer (IT) may be associated with delay to operation, which could increase mortality. We hypothesized that mortality would be higher in patients undergoing surgical debridement for necrotizing fasciitis after IT compared to Emergency Department (ED) admission. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis from 2000-2006 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, primary diagnosis of NF, and surgical therapy within 72 hours of admission. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between admission source, patient and hospital variables, and mortality. RESULTS: We identified 9,958 cases over the study period. Patients in the ED group were more likely to be nonwhite and of lower income when compared with patients in the IT group. Unadjusted mortality was higher in the IT group than ED group (15.5% vs 8.7%, P < .001). After adjusting for potential confounders, odds of mortality were still greater in the IT (OR 2.04, CI 95% 1.60-2.59, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Interhospital transfer is associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality after surgical therapy for NF, a finding which persists after controlling for patient and hospital level variables.

Intensivist use of hand-carried ultrasonography to measure IVC collapsibility in estimating intravascular volume status: correlations with CVP.

BACKGROUND: Volume status assessment is an important aspect of patient management in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Echocardiologist-performed measurement of IVC collapsibility index (IVC-CI) provides useful information about filling pressures, but is limited by its portability, cost, and availability. Intensivist-performed bedside ultrasonography (INBU) examinations have the potential to overcome these impediments. We used INBU to evaluate hemodynamic status of SICU patients, focusing on correlations between IVC-CI and CVP. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective evaluation of hemodynamic status was conducted on a convenience sample of SICU patients with a brief (3 to 10 minutes) INBU examination. INBU examinations were performed by noncardiologists after 3 hours of didactics in interpreting and acquiring two-dimensional and M-mode images, and > or =25 proctored examinations. IVC-CI measurements were compared with invasive CVP values. RESULTS: Of 124 enrolled patients, 101 had CVP catheters (55 men, mean age 58.3 years, 44.6% intubated). Of these, 18 patients had uninterpretable INBU examinations, leaving 83 patients with both CVP monitoring devices and INBU IVC evaluations. Patients in three IVC-CI ranges (<0.20, 0.20 to 0.60, and >0.60) demonstrated significant decrease in mean CVP as IVC-CI increased (p = 0.023). Although <5% of patients with IVC-CI <0.20 had CVP <7 mmHg, >40% of this group had a CVP >12 mmHg. Conversely, >60% of patients with IVC-CI >0.6 had CVP <7 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of IVC-CI by INBU can provide a useful guide to noninvasive volume status assessment in SICU patients. IVC-CI appears to correlate best with CVP in the setting of low (<0.20) and high (>0.60) collapsibility ranges. Additional studies are needed to confirm and expand on findings of this study.

The invisible trauma patient: emergency department discharges.

BACKGROUND: As the malpractice and financial environment has changed, injured patients evaluated by the trauma team and discharged from the emergency department (ED) are now commonplace. The evaluation, care, and disposition of this population has become a significant workload component but is not reported to accrediting organizations and is relatively invisible to hospital administrators. Our objective was to quantify and begin to qualify the evolving picture of the trauma ED discharge population as a work component of trauma service function in an urban, Level I trauma center with an aeromedical program. METHODS: Trauma registry (contacts, mechanism, transport, injuries, and disposition) and hospital databases (ED closure, occupancy rates) were queried for a 5-year period (1999-2003). Trend analysis provided statistical comparisons for questions of interest. RESULTS: During the 5-year study period, the total number of trauma contacts rose by 18.1% (2,220 in 1999 vs. 2,622 in 2003; trend p < 0.05). This increase in total contacts was not a manifestation of an increase in admissions (1,672 in 1999 vs. 1,544 in 2003) but rather a reflection of a marked increase in patients seen primarily by the trauma team and discharged from the ED (473 in 1999 vs. 1,000 in 2003; trend p < 0.05). These ED discharge patients were increasingly transported by helicopter (12.3% in 1999 vs. 29.2% in 2003; trend p < 0.05) and less frequently from urban areas (57.1% in 1999 vs. 48.1% in 2003; trend p < 0.05) over the course of the study period. Average injury severity of this group increased over the study period (Injury Severity Score of 2.7 +/- 0.1 in 1999 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.1 in 2003; trend p < 0.05). ED length of stay for this group increased 19.8% over the study period (trend p < 0.05), averaging nearly 5 hours in 2003. CONCLUSION: The total number, relative percentage, and injury severity of patients evaluated by the trauma team and discharged from the ED has significantly increased over the last 5 years, representing nearly 5,000 patient care hours in 2003. Systems to care for these patients in a cost- and resource-efficient fashion should be put in place. The impact of this growing population of patients on the workload of the trauma center should be recognized by accrediting agencies, hospital administration, and Emergency Medical Services.