Protocol: identifying policy, system, and environment change interventions to enhance availability of blood for transfusion in Kenya, a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Safe blood is essential for the care of patients with life-threatening anemia and hemorrhage. Low blood donation rates, inefficient testing procedures, and other supply chain disruptions in blood administration affect patients in low-resource settings across Sub-Saharan countries, including Kenya. Most efforts to improve access to transfusion have been unidimensional, usually focusing on only point along the blood system continuum, and have excluded community stakeholders from early stages of intervention development. Context-appropriate interventions to improve the availability of safe blood at the point of use in low-resource settings are of paramount importance. Thus, this protocol proposes a multifaceted approach to characterize the Kenyan blood supply chain through quantitative and qualitative analyses as well as an industrial engineering approach. METHODS: This study will use a mixed-methods approach in addition to engineering process mapping, modeling and simulation of blood availability in Kenya. It will be guided by a multidimensional three-by-three-by-three matrix: three socioeconomic settings, three components of the blood system continuum, and three levels of urgency of blood transfusion. Qualitative data collection includes one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders across the continuum to characterize ground-level deficits and potential policy, systems, and environment (PSE) interventions. Prospectively-collected quantitative data will be used to estimate blood collection and transfusion of blood. We will create a process map of the blood system continuum to model the response to PSE changes proposed by stakeholders. Lastly, we will identify those PSE changes that may have the greatest impact on blood transfusion availability, accounting for differences across socioeconomic settings and levels of urgency. DISCUSSION: Identifying and prioritizing community-driven interventions to improve blood supply in low-resource settings are of utmost importance. Varied constraints in blood collection, processing, delivery, and use make each socioeconomic setting unique. Using a multifaceted approach to understand the Kenyan blood supply and model the response to stakeholder-proposed PSE changes may lead to identification of contextually appropriate intervention targets to meet the transfusion needs of the population.

The BLOODSAFE program: Building the future of access to safe blood in Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: The supply of blood in many low- and middle-income nations in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) does not meet the patient care needs. Lack and delay of blood transfusion cause harm to patients and slow the rate of progress in other parts of the health system. Recognizing the power of implementation science, the BLOODSAFE Program was initiated which supports three SSA research study teams and one data coordinating center (DCC) with the goal to improve access to safe blood transfusion in SSA. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study team in Ghana is focusing on studying and decreasing iron deficiency in blood donors and evaluating social engagement of blood donors through different approaches. The study team in Kenya is building a "vein to vein" workflow model to elucidate and devise strategies to overcome barriers to blood donation and improve infrastructural components of blood product production and use. The Malawi team is studying the infectious disease ramifications of blood donation as well as blood donor retention strategies aimed at blood donors who commence their donation career in secondary schools. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Together the project teams and the DCC work as a consortium to support each other through a shared study protocol that will study donor motivations, outcomes, and adverse events across all three countries. The BLOODSAFE Program has the potential to lead to generalizable improvement approaches for increasing access to safe blood in SSA as well as mentoring and building the research capacity and careers of many investigators.

Global neurotrauma research challenges and opportunities.

Traumatic injury to the brain or spinal cord is one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. The devastating impact of 'trauma', a term used to define the global burden of disease related to all injuries, is the leading cause of loss of human potential across the globe, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Enormous challenges must be met to significantly advance neurotrauma research around the world, specifically in underserved and austere environments. Neurotrauma research at the global level needs to be contextualized: different regions have their own needs and obstacles. Interventions that are not considered a priority in some regions could be a priority for others. The introduction of inexpensive and innovative interventions, including mobile technologies and e-health applications, focused on policy management improvement are essential and should be applicable to the needs of the local environment. The simple transfer of a clinical question from resource-rich environments to those of low- and middle-income countries that lack sophisticated interventions may not be the best strategy to address these countries' needs. Emphasis on promoting the design of true 'ecological' studies that include the evaluation of human factors in relation to the process of care, analytical descriptions of health systems, and how leadership is best applied in medical communities and society as a whole will become crucial.

Different Crises, Different Patterns of Trauma. The Impact of a Social Crisis and the COVID-19 Health Pandemic on a High Violence Area.

BACKGOUND: Santiago, Chile underwent two separate periods of crisis over the past year. The first period, the 'social crisis,' extended over thirteen weeks in late 2019 into early 2020 due to protests over income inequality and the government response to social unrest. The second period, the 'health crisis,' began in March 2020 with Chile's first case of COVID-19 and escalated rapidly to include 'stay at home orders,' traffic restrictions, and the shuttering of most businesses. We wished to evaluate the impact of these crisis periods on trauma epidemiology. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the South-East Metropolitan Health Service Trauma Registry. Trauma admissions, operative volume, and in-hospital mortality were evaluated during the crisis period and the year prior. RESULTS: The social crisis saw increased levels of trauma, both blunt and penetrating, relative to the time period immediately preceding. The health crisis saw an increase in penetrating trauma with a concomitant decline in blunt trauma. Both crisis periods had decreased levels of trauma, overall, compared to the year prior. There were no statistically significant differences in in-hospital trauma mortality. CONCLUSION: Different crises may have different patterns of trauma. Crisis periods that include extended periods of lockdown and curfew may lead to increasing penetrating trauma volume. Governments and health officials should anticipate the aggregate impact of these measures on public health and develop strategies to actively mitigate them. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The Successful Implementation of a Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Model in Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: For years, surgical emergencies in Ecuador were managed on a case-by-case basis without significant standardization. To address these issues, the Regional Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso adapted and implemented a model of "trauma and acute care surgery" (TACS) to the reality of Cuenca, Ecuador. METHODS: A cohort study was carried out, comparing patients exposed to the traditional model and patients exposed to the TACS model. Variables assessed included number of surgical patients attended to in the emergency department, number of surgical interventions, number of surgeries performed per surgeon, surgical wait time, length of stay and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The total number of surgical interventions increased (3919.6-5745.8, p ≤ 0.05); by extension, the total number of surgeries performed per surgeon also increased (5.37-223.68, p ≤ 0.05). We observed a statistically significant decrease in surgical wait time (10.6-3.2 h for emergency general surgery, 6.3-1.6 h for trauma, p ≤ 0.05). Length of stay decreased in trauma patients (9-6 days, p ≤ 0.05). Higher mortality was found in the traditional model (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the TACS model. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of TACS model in a resource-restrained hospital in Latin America had a positive impact by decreasing surgical waiting time in trauma and emergency surgery patients and length of stay in trauma patients. We also noted a statistically significant decrease in mortality. Savings to the overall system and patients can be inferred by decreased mortality, length of stay and surgical wait times. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a TACS model described in Latin America.

Effect of abdominal negative-pressure wound therapy on the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure.

BACKGROUND: In critically ill surgical patients undergoing abdominal negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), it remains uncertain whether or not intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurements should be obtained when NPWT is activated. We aimed to determine agreement between IAP measured with and without NPWT. METHODS: In this analytic cross-sectional study, critically ill surgical adults (≥18 y) requiring abdominal NPWT for temporary abdominal closure after a damage control laparotomy were selected. Patients with urinary tract injuries or with pelvic packing were excluded. Paired IAP measures were performed in the same patient, with and without NPWT; two different operators performed the measures unaware of the other's result. Bland-Altman methods assessed the agreement between the two measures. Subgroup analyses (trauma and nontrauma) were performed. RESULTS: There were 198 IAP measures (99 pairs) in 38 patients. Mean IAP with and without NPWT were 8.33 (standard deviation 4.01) and 8.65 (standard deviation 4.04), respectively. Mean IAP difference was -0.323 (95% confidence interval -0.748 to 0.101), and reference range for difference was -4.579 to 3.932 (P = 0.864). From 112 IAP measures (56 pairs) in 21 trauma patients, mean IAP difference was -0.268 (95% confidence interval -0.867 to 0.331), and reference range for the difference was -4.740 to 4.204 (P = 0.427). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant disagreement in IAP measures. IAP could be measured with or without NPWT. In critically ill surgical patients with abdominal NPWT for temporary abdominal closure, monitoring and management of IAP either with or without NPWT is recommended.

Effect of a Strategy of Initial Laryngeal Tube Insertion vs Endotracheal Intubation on 72-Hour Survival in Adults With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Emergency medical services (EMS) commonly perform endotracheal intubation (ETI) or insertion of supraglottic airways, such as the laryngeal tube (LT), on patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The optimal method for OHCA advanced airway management is unknown. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a strategy of initial LT insertion vs initial ETI in adults with OHCA. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multicenter pragmatic cluster-crossover clinical trial involving EMS agencies from the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium. The trial included 3004 adults with OHCA and anticipated need for advanced airway management who were enrolled from December 1, 2015, to November 4, 2017. The final date of follow-up was November 10, 2017. Interventions: Twenty-seven EMS agencies were randomized in 13 clusters to initial airway management strategy with LT (n = 1505 patients) or ETI (n = 1499 patients), with crossover to the alternate strategy at 3- to 5-month intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 72-hour survival. Secondary outcomes included return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital discharge, favorable neurological status at hospital discharge (Modified Rankin Scale score ≤3), and key adverse events. Results: Among 3004 enrolled patients (median [interquartile range] age, 64 [53-76] years, 1829 [60.9%] men), 3000 were included in the primary analysis. Rates of initial airway success were 90.3% with LT and 51.6% with ETI. Seventy-two hour survival was 18.3% in the LT group vs 15.4% in the ETI group (adjusted difference, 2.9% [95% CI, 0.2%-5.6%]; P = .04). Secondary outcomes in the LT group vs ETI group were return of spontaneous circulation (27.9% vs 24.3%; adjusted difference, 3.6% [95% CI, 0.3%-6.8%]; P = .03); hospital survival (10.8% vs 8.1%; adjusted difference, 2.7% [95% CI, 0.6%-4.8%]; P = .01); and favorable neurological status at discharge (7.1% vs 5.0%; adjusted difference, 2.1% [95% CI, 0.3%-3.8%]; P = .02). There were no significant differences in oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal injury (0.2% vs 0.3%), airway swelling (1.1% vs 1.0%), or pneumonia or pneumonitis (26.1% vs 22.3%). Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults with OHCA, a strategy of initial LT insertion was associated with significantly greater 72-hour survival compared with a strategy of initial ETI. These findings suggest that LT insertion may be considered as an initial airway management strategy in patients with OHCA, but limitations of the pragmatic design, practice setting, and ETI performance characteristics suggest that further research is warranted. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02419573.

Can an app help identify psychomotor function impairments during drinking occasions in the real world? A mixed-method pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Being able to measure the acute effects of alcohol consumption on psychomotor functions in natural settings could be useful in injury prevention interventions. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of collecting app-based measures of information processing, working memory, and gait stability during times of typical alcohol consumption among young adults. METHODS: Ten young adults (aged 21-26) with hazardous drinking completed a baseline assessment and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) on 4 consecutive Fridays and Saturdays, every hour from 8 pm to 12 am. EMA assessed alcohol consumption and perceived intoxication, followed by a digit symbol substitution task (DSST), a visuospatial working memory task (VSWMT), and a 5-step tandem gait task (TGT). Exit interviews probed user experiences. Multilevel models explored relationships between estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC; mg/dL) and DSST and VSWMT performance. RESULTS: Participants completed 32% of EMA. Higher rates of noninitiation occurred later in the evening and over time. In multilevel models, higher eBAC was associated with lower DSST scores. Eight out of 10 individuals had at least 1 drinking occasion when they did not perceive any intoxication. Lower DSST scores would identify impairment in 45% of these occasions. Exit interviews indicated that adding real-time feedback on task performance could increase awareness of alcohol effects. CONCLUSIONS: Collecting app-based psychomotor performance data from young adults during drinking occasions is feasible and acceptable, but strategies to reduce barriers to task initiation are needed. Mobile DSST is sensitive to eBAC levels and could identify occasions when an individual may not perceive impairments.

Drugs, Violence, and Trauma in Mexico and the USA.

The impact of illicit drug markets on the occurrence of violence varies tremendously depending on many factors. Over the last years, Mexico and the USA have increased security border issues that included many aspects of drug-related trade and criminal activities. Mexico experienced only a small reduction in trauma deaths after the enforcement of severe crime reinforcement policies. This strategy in the war on drugs is shifting the drug market to other Central American countries. This phenomenon is called the ballooning effect, whereby the pressure to control illicit drug-related activities in one particular area forces a shift to other more vulnerable areas that leads to an increase in crime and violence. A human rights crisis characterized by suffering, injury, and death related to drug trafficking continues to expand, resulting in the exorbitant loss of lives and cost in productivity across the continent. The current climate of social violence in Central America and the illegal immigration to the USA may be partially related to this phenomenon of drug trafficking, gang violence, and crime. A health care initiative as an alternative to the current war approach may be one of the interventions needed to reduce this crisis.

Implementation of a Hospital Electronic Surgical Registry in a Lower-Middle-Income Country.

BACKGROUND: While the benefits of using electronic health records (EHRs) in both developed and low- and middle-income countries are known, the barriers to implementing EHRs in lower-middle-income countries have not been fully characterized. We assessed organizational readiness for implementation of a mobile (tablet-based) EHR, to create a real-time electronic surgical registry, in a busy lower-middle-income country hospital. METHODS: Six semi-structured focus groups were conducted with hospital administrators, faculty surgeons, surgical residents, interns, nurses and medical students in a large urban hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay. Focus groups were conducted over the course of three weeks during the pre-implementation phase to identify barriers to implementation. Focus group data were coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which are 12 validated domains related to behavior change. RESULTS: Reinforcement, environmental context/resources and roles/responsibilities were the most relevant TDF domains that emerged. Residents and students were more uncertain than faculty and department heads about who would enforce the use of the tool in place of paper charting. Internet quality was a concern raised by all. The local, normative hierarchical structure within the surgical department, including piecemeal communication between the department heads and the residents about roles and responsibilities, was a major perceived barrier to implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Uncertainties about reinforcement, roles and responsibilities for using a novel EHR tool, and technology infrastructure are potential barriers to address in the pre-implementation phase of introducing an EHR to a lower-middle-income country surgical service. Addressing these potential barriers with all stakeholders prior to implementation will be a critical next step in this effort.

Improving trauma care in low- and middle-income countries by implementing a standardized trauma protocol.

BACKGROUND: Standardized trauma protocols (STPs) have reduced morbidity and mortality in mature trauma systems. Most hospitals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not yet implemented such protocols, often due to financial and logistic limitations. We report preliminary findings from a trauma quality improvement (QI) initiative, using and evaluating the impact of a low-cost STP in an LMIC university hospital. METHODS: We developed an STP based on generally accepted best practices and damage control resuscitation. It was designed for the resources available at the test institution. The Neiva University Hospital (NUH) is a tertiary care hospital and level I trauma center in Neiva, Colombia. As in most LMIC hospitals, there was no trauma information data system at NUH. Therefore, we adapted an administrative electronic database to capture clinically relevant information of adult patients who were hospitalized or died in the emergency department (ED) between August 2010 and June 2012 with an International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) diagnoses indicating trauma (S00-Y98). Interventions that were recommended in the STP were compared in these two groups. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality were also examined. RESULTS: A total of 4,324 patients were included, of whom, 2,457 patients were in the pre-protocol period and 1,867 were in the post-protocol period. The use of several interventions increased: blood product transfusions in the ED (1.0 vs. 2.7%; p < 0.001), use of hypertonic fluids in hypotensive patients (3.2 vs. 8.9 %; p < 0.001), placement of Foley catheters (11.1 vs. 13.8%; p = 0.007), arterial blood gas draws (16.6 vs. 26.4%; p < 0.001), tetanus vaccinations (19.3 vs. 26.0%; p < 0.001), placement of multiple large bore peripheral catheters (29.5 vs. 34.7%; p < 0.001), prophylactic antibiotics (34.9 vs. 38.0%; p = 0.035), and the use of analgesics (64.5 vs. 68.0%; p = 0.016). Other interventions also trended upwards. Length of stay (LOS) decreased for both surgical and non-surgical patients (surgical 13.4 vs. 11.8 days; p = 0.017; non-surgical 4.4 vs. 3.8 days; p = 0.059). All-cause mortality of trauma patients decreased (3.9 vs. 2.9%; p = 0.088). CONCLUSIONS: The institution of an STP at a university hospital in an LMIC has increased the use of vital interventions while decreasing overall LOS for all-cause trauma patients.

Delayed hemothorax following blunt thoracic trauma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Late hemothorax is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. The longest reported time interval between the traumatic event and the development of hemothorax is 44 days. CASE PRESENTATION: An elderly patient with right-sided rib fractures from chest trauma, managed initially with closed thoracostomy, presented with a delayed hemothorax that occurred 60 days after initial management, necessitating conservative and then surgical intervention due to the patient's frail condition and associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the clinical challenge and significance of delayed hemothorax in chest trauma, highlighting the need for vigilance and potential surgical correction in complex presentations, especially in the elderly.

Innovation in surgical trauma care education: assessment of a Panamerican Trauma Society online surgical skills course hosted by the Spanish Surgical Association.

PURPOSE: Incorporating surgical skills education in trauma care is essential for young surgeons and surgical trainees. This study describes an innovative e-learning course for teaching trauma care surgical skills in an international cooperative setting. Furthermore, it aims to offer valuable insights on enhancing e-learning practices. METHODS: The Panamerican Trauma Society and the Spanish Surgical Association have joined forces to launch an online course focusing on advanced trauma care surgical skills. This report provides an in-depth examination of the project and scrutinizes participant feedback through a post-course survey. The survey thoroughly evaluates their satisfaction level, the usefulness of the course content, and their view on its clinical relevance. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-two surgeons from 16 countries completed an online course. Three hundred seventy-nine of them responded to the post-course survey. The mean age was 36, with 64% females and 36% males. The course consisted of 9.9 h of academic content, including 5 h of video lectures and 4.9 h of live discussions. Ninety-seven percent of the participants were practicing general and acute care surgeons, and only 2% were exclusively dedicated to trauma surgery. Sixty-one percent of participants highly valued real-time interaction with faculty, and 95% believed their trauma surgical skills would improve. Additionally, 93% of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the e-learning experience. CONCLUSIONS: The use of video-based instructional materials has revolutionized surgical education. With online courses in trauma surgery, surgeons can now improve their skills and better prepare themselves to handle severe trauma cases. This innovative approach to surgical education has proven to be very effective and can potentially enhance patients' quality of care.

Innovative blood transfusion strategies to address global blood deserts: a consensus statement from the Blood Delivery via Emerging Strategies for Emergency Remote Transfusion (Blood DESERT) Coalition.

In rural settings worldwide, many people live in effective blood deserts without access to any blood transfusion. The traditional system of blood banking is logistically complex and expensive for many resource-restricted settings and demands innovative and multidisciplinary solutions. 17 international experts in medicine, industry, and policy participated in an exploratory process with a 2-day hybrid seminar centred on three promising innovative strategies for blood transfusions in blood deserts: civilian walking blood banks, intraoperative autotransfusion, and drone-based blood delivery. Participant working groups conducted literature reviews and interviews to develop three white papers focused on the current state and knowledge gaps of each innovation. Seminar discussion focused on defining blood deserts and developing innovation-specific implementation agendas with key research and policy priorities for future work. Moving forward, advocates should prioritise the identification of blood deserts and address the context-specific challenges for these innovations to alleviate the ongoing crisis in blood deserts.

Academic Global Surgery: Creating Opportunities, Equity, and Diversity.

A workforce trained in the development and delivery of equitable surgical care is critical in reducing the global burden of surgical disease. Academic global surgery aims to address the present inequities through collaborative partnerships that foster research, education, advocacy and training to support and increase the surgical capacity in settings with limited resources. Barriers include a deficiency of resources, personnel, equipment, and funding, a lack of communication, and geographical challenges. Multi-level partnerships remain fundamental; these types of partnerships include a wide range of trainees, professionals, institutions, and nations, yet care must be taken to avoid falling into the trap of surgical "voluntourism" and undermining the expertise and practice of long-standing frontline providers. Academic global surgery has the benefit of developing a community of surgeons who possess the tools needed to collaborate on individual, institutional, and international levels to address inequities in surgery that are spread variously across the globe. However, challenges for surgeons pursuing a career in global surgery include balancing clinical responsibilities while integrating global surgery as a career during training. This is due in part to the lack of mentorship, research time, grant funding, support to attend conferences, and a limitation of resources, all of which are significantly more pronounced for surgeons from low-resource countries.

Hypertonic saline infusion does not improve the chance of primary fascial closure after damage control laparotomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies showed higher rates of abdominal wall closure with the use of hypertonic saline in trauma patients with abdominal injuries. However, no randomized controlled trials have been performed on this matter. This double-blind randomized clinical trial assessed the effect of 3% hypertonic saline (HS) solution on primary fascial closure and the timing of abdominal wall closure among patients who underwent damage control laparotomy for bleeding control. METHODS: Double-blind randomized clinical trial. Patients with abdominal injuries requiring damage control laparotomy (DCL) were randomly allocated to receive a 72-h infusion (rate: 50 mL/h) of 3% HS or 0.9 N isotonic saline (NS) after the index DCL. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with abdominal wall closure in the first seven days after the index DCL. RESULTS: The study was suspended in the first interim analysis because of futility. A total of 52 patients were included. Of these, 27 and 25 were randomly allocated to NS and HS, respectively. There were no significant differences in the rates of abdominal wall closure between groups (HS: 19 [79.2%] vs. NS: 17 [70.8%]; p = 0.71). In contrast, significantly higher hypernatremia rates were observed in the HS group (HS: 11 [44%] vs. NS: 1 [3.7%]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This double-blind randomized clinical trial showed no benefit of HS solution in primary fascial closure rates. Patients randomized to HS had higher sodium concentrations after the first day and were more likely to present hypernatremia. We do not recommend using HS in patients undergoing damage control laparotomy. Trial registration The trial protocol was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02542241).

Alterations in tissue oxygen saturation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy in trauma patients after initial resuscitation are associated with occult shock.

PURPOSE: Persistent occult hypoperfusion after initial resuscitation is strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality after severe trauma. The objective of this study was to analyze regional tissue oxygenation, along with other global markers, as potential detectors of occult shock in otherwise hemodynamically stable trauma patients. METHODS: Trauma patients undergoing active resuscitation were evaluated 8 h after hospital admission with the measurement of several global and local hemodynamic/metabolic parameters. Apparently hemodynamically stable (AHD) patients, defined as having SBP ≥ 90 mmHg, HR < 100 bpm and no vasopressor support, were followed for 48 h, and finally classified according to the need for further treatment for persistent bleeding (defined as requiring additional red blood cell transfusion), initiation of vasopressors and/or bleeding control with surgery and/or angioembolization. Patients were labeled as "Occult shock" (OS) if they required any intervention or "Truly hemodynamically stable" (THD) if they did not. Regional tissue oxygenation (rSO2) was measured non-invasively by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the forearm. A vascular occlusion test was performed, allowing a 3-min deoxygenation period and a reoxygenation period following occlusion release. Minimal rSO2 (rSO2min), Delta-down (rSO2-rSO2min), maximal rSO2 following cuff-release (rSO2max), and Delta-up (rSO2max-rSO2min) were computed. The NIRS response to the occlusion test was also measured in a control group of healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Sixty-six consecutive trauma patients were included. After 8 h, 17 patients were classified as AHD, of whom five were finally considered to have OS and 12 THD. No hemodynamic, metabolic or coagulopathic differences were observed between the two groups, while NIRS-derived parameters showed statistically significant differences in Delta-down, rSO2min, and Delta-up. CONCLUSIONS: After 8 h of care, NIRS evaluation with an occlusion test is helpful for identifying occult shock in apparently hemodynamically stable patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, descriptive observational study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT02772653.

Physiologic responses to severe hemorrhagic shock and the genesis of cardiovascular collapse: can irreversibility be anticipated?

BACKGROUND: The causes of cardiovascular collapse (CC) during hemorrhagic shock (HS) are unknown. We hypothesized that vascular tone loss characterizes CC, and that arterial pulse pressure/stroke volume index ratio or vascular tone index (VTI) would identify CC. METHODS: Fourteen Yorkshire-Durock pigs were bled to 30 mmHg mean arterial pressure and held there by repetitive bleeding until rendered unable to compensate (CC) or for 90 min (NoCC). They were then resuscitated in equal parts to shed volume and observed for 2 h. CC was defined as a MAP < 30 mmHg for 10 min or <20 mmHg for 10 s. Study variables were recorded at baseline (B0), 30, 60, 90 min after bleeding and at resuscitation (R0), 30, and 60 min afterward. RESULTS: Swine were bled to 32% ± 9% of total blood volume. Epinephrine (Epi) and VTI were low and did not change in NoCC after bleeding compared with CC swine, in which both increased (0.97 ± 0.22 to 2.57 ± 1.42 mcg/dL, and 173 ± 181 to 939 ± 474 mmHg/mL, respectively), despite no differences in bled volume. Lactate increase rate (LIR) increased with hemorrhage and was higher at R0 for CC, but did not vary in NoCC. VTI identified CC from NoCC and survivors from non-survivors before CC. A large increase in LIR was coincident with VTI decrement before CC occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Vasodilatation immediately prior to CC in severe HS occurs at the same time as an increase in LIR, suggesting loss of tone as the mechanism causing CC, and energy failure as its probable cause.

The 1-2-3 approach to abdominal packing.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal packing (AP) in damage-control laparotomy (DCL) is a lifesaving technique that controls coagulopathic hemorrhage in severely injured trauma patients. However, the impact of the duration of AP on the incidence of re-bleeding and on intra-abdominal infections in penetrating abdominal trauma is not clear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the complications related to the duration of AP and to determine the optimal time for AP removal. METHODS: Prospectively collected/retrospectively analyzed data at an urban level I trauma center from January 2003 to December 2010 were used as the basis for this study. Inclusion criteria were adults (≥18 years old) with penetrating abdominal trauma, who had survived both the initial DCL procedure and their first re-laparotomy. All initial DCL patients included in the study underwent abdominal packing for coagulopathic hemorrhage control. The outcome measures of this study were re-bleeding after packing removal, intra-abdominal infection, and 30-day cumulative mortality. We considered time after packing as an independent variable. This was defined as the total amount of time (in days) that the packs were left in the patient's abdomen. Patients were grouped according to the duration in days of their AP in <1, 1-2, 2-3, and >3 days. RESULTS: Of 503 patients with penetrating abdominal trauma, 121 underwent DCL and AP. The mean age was 30.1± 11.5 years, and the male to female ratio was 9:1. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score was 17.6±7.2. The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) score was 24.9±9.1. The right upper quadrant was packed in 39 (32.2%) patients, retroperitoneum in 70 (57.8%), pelvis in 13 (10.7%), and left upper quadrant in 9 (7.4%). Fifty-one patients (42.1%) had associated colon injuries and 58 (47.9%) had small bowel injuries. Twenty-six patients (21.5%) had AP<1 day, 42 patients (34.7%) had AP between 1 and 2 days, 35 patients (28.9%) had AP between 2 and 3 days, and 18 patients (14.8%) had AP>3 days. The re-bleeding rate in patients packed for 1-2 days compared to those packed for <1 day was a third lower, 14.3%, (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 8.06, 20.5) versus 38.5% (95% CI: 25.4, 51.5). Conversely, an increasing trend toward intra-abdominal infection occurred as time after packing increased. The infection rate tripled from 16.7% (95% CI: 6.6, 26.7) to 44.4% (95% CI: 31.03, 57.7) when comparing 1-2 days versus >3 days. Overall mortality was 16.5%. Of these deaths, 8.26% were attributable to re-bleeding, and 13.2% to intra-abdominal infection. Deaths secondary to re-bleeding seemed to decrease with time of AP, whereas intra-abdominal infection deaths increased with time of AP (Chi square for trend p value=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that AP used in the setting of DCL for coagulopathic hemorrhage control should not be removed prior to the first postoperative day because of the increased risk of re-bleeding. The ideal length of AP is 2-3 days, and AP left in longer than 3 days is associated with a significantly increased risk of infectious complications.