Deconstructing dogma: Nonoperative management of small bowel obstruction in the virgin abdomen.

BACKGROUND: Management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) has become more conservative, especially in those patients with previous abdominal surgery (PAS). However, surgical dogma continues to recommend operative exploration for SBO with no PAS. With the increased use of computed tomography imaging resulting in more SBO diagnoses, it is important to reevaluate the role of mandatory operative exploration. Gastrografin (GG) administration decreases the need for operative exploration and may be an option for SBO without PAS. We hypothesized that the use of GG for SBO without PAS will be equally effective in reducing the operative exploration rate compared with that for SBO with PAS. METHODS: A post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted for patients with SBO from February 2015 through December 2016. Patients younger than 18 years, pregnant patients, and patients with evidence of hypotension, bowel strangulation, peritonitis, closed loop obstruction or pneumatosis intestinalis were excluded. The primary outcome was operative exploration rate for SBO with or without PAS. Rate adjustment was accomplished through multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 601 patients with SBO were included in the study, 500 with PAS and 101 patients without PAS. The two groups were similar except for age, sex, prior abdominal surgery including colon surgery, prior SBO admission, and history of cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that PAS (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; p = 0.03) and the use of GG (OR, 0.11; p < 0.01) were independent predictors of successful nonoperative management, whereas intensive care unit admission (OR, 16.0; p < 0.01) was associated with a higher likelihood of need for operation. The use of GG significantly decreased the need for operation in patients with and without PAS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with and without PAS who received GG had lower rates of operative exploration for SBO compared with those who did not receive GG. Patients with a diagnosis of SBO without PAS should be considered for the nonoperative management approach using GG. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, level IV.

Trends in helmet use by motorcycle riders in the decades following the repeal of mandatory helmet laws.

Several US states repealed universal motorcycle helmet laws in the 1990s and 2000s. The purpose of this study was to examine national trends in helmet use among adult trauma patients with motorcycle-related injuries. We hypothesized that motorcycle helmet use declined over time. We retrospectively analyzed the National Trauma Data Bank's National Sample Program for 2003-2010. We also obtained data on US motorcycle fatalities reported in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau to calculate motorcycle-related fatality rates over time. A total of 255,914 patients met inclusion criteria, of whom 148,524 (58%) were helmeted. During the study period, helmet use increased from 56% in 2003 to 60% in 2010 (p < 0.001). However, motorcycle-related fatality rates also increased in states with and without universal helmet laws. Nationally, rates of helmet use have increased. However, fatalities due to motorcycle crashes have also increased during the same period.

Post-trauma mortality increase at age 60: a cutoff for defining elderly?

BACKGROUND: There has been an increasing emphasis on identifying elderly trauma patients. However, definitions based solely on age vary widely, ranging from age 55 to 80 years, hampering optimal trauma management for older patients. The goal of this study was to develop an objective, data-driven definition for "elderly" in trauma care by evaluating mortality risk as a function of age. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 872,861 adult (≥18 years) patients from the National Trauma Data Bank's National Sample Program from 2003 to 2010. The primary outcome was risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality determined using multivariate logistic regression. Contribution of age to mortality was investigated through step-wise regression and percent of R2 attributable to age. We searched for straight-line trends in mortality rate at each age using the spline function of Statistical Analysis Software. RESULTS: Statistically significant increases in mortality rate were noted at ages 37, 60, and 78. Age was found to contribute 10% to mortality compared with greater than 80% for Glasgow coma scale and injury severity score combined. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest using age 60 years as a data-driven definition of "elderly" in trauma.

Benefits of Initial Limited Crystalloid Resuscitation in Severely Injured Trauma Patients at Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Whether initial limited crystalloid resuscitation (LCR) benefits to all severely injured trauma patients receiving blood transfusions at emergency department (ED) is uncertain. We aimed to determine the role of LCR and its associations with packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion during initial resuscitation. METHODS: Trauma patients receiving blood transfusions were reviewed from 2004 to 2013. Patients with LCR (L group, defined as < 2,000 mL) and excessive crystalloid resuscitation (E group, defined as ≥ 2,000 mL) were compared separately in terms of basic demographic, clinical variables, and hospital outcomes. Logistic regression, R-square (R(2)), and Spearman rho correlation were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 633 patients were included. The mortality was 51% in L group and 45% in E group (P = 0.11). No statistically significant difference was found in terms of basic demographics, vital signs upon arrival at ED, or injury severity between the groups. The volume of blood transfused strongly correlated with the volume of crystalloid infused in E group (R(2) = 0.955). Crystalloid to PRBC (C/PRBC) ratio was 0.8 in L group and 1.3 in E group (P < 0.01). The correlations between C/PRBC and ED versus ICU versus hospital length of stay (LOS) via Spearman rho were 0.25, 0.22, and 0.22, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Similar outcomes were observed in trauma patients receiving blood transfusions regardless of the crystalloid infusion volume. More crystalloid infusions were associated with more blood transfusions. The C/PRBC did not demonstrate predictive value regarding mortality but might predict LOS in severely injured trauma patients.

The Hispanic paradox: does it exist in the injured?

BACKGROUND: Hispanics have similar or lower all-cause mortality rates in the general population than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), despite higher risks associated with lower socioeconomic status, hence termed the "Hispanic Paradox." It is unknown if this paradox exists in the injured. We hypothesized that Hispanic trauma patients have equivalent or lower risk-adjusted mortality and observed-to-expected mortality ratios than other racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of adult patients from the 2010 National Trauma Data Bank was performed. Hispanic patients were compared with NHWs and African Americans (AAs) to assess in-hospital mortality risk in each group. RESULTS: Compared with NHWs, Hispanic patients had lower unadjusted risk of mortality. After adjusting for potential confounders, the difference was no longer statistically significant. Mortality risk was significantly lower for Hispanic patients compared with AAs in both crude and adjusted models. Hispanic patients had significantly lower observed-to-expected mortality ratios than NHWs and AAs. CONCLUSION: Despite reports of racial/ethnic disparities in trauma outcomes, Hispanic patients are not at greater risk of death than NHW patients in a nationwide representative sample of trauma patients.

Predictors of mortality among initially stable adult pelvic trauma patients in the US: Data analysis from the National Trauma Data Bank.

OBJECTIVES: Pelvic fractures are associated with increased risk of death among trauma patients. Studies show independent risks predicting mortality among patients with pelvic fractures vary across different geographic regions. This study analyses national data to determine predictors of mortality in initially stable adult pelvic trauma patients in the US. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of the US National Trauma Data Bank from January 2003 to December 2010 among trauma patients ≥18 years of age with pelvic fractures (including acetabulum). Over 150 variables were reviewed and analysed. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors predictive of in-hospital mortality in stable pelvic fracture patients. RESULTS: 30,800 patients were included in the final analysis. Overall in-hospital mortality rate was 2.7%. Mortality increased twofold in middle aged patients (age 55-70), and increased nearly fourfold in patients with advanced age ≥70. We found patients with advanced age, higher severity of injury, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <8, GCS between 9 and 12, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and/or in-hospital blood product administration experienced higher mortality. Patients transported to level 1 or level 2 trauma centres experienced lower mortality while concomitantly experiencing higher associated internal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric and middle aged pelvic fracture patients experience higher mortality. Predictors of mortality in initially stable pelvic fracture patients are advanced age, injury severity, mental status, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and/or in-hospital blood product administration. These patients might benefit from transport to local level 1 or level 2 trauma centres.