Inadvertent parathyroidectomy: incidence, risk factors, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid glands are ≤5 mm, often subcapsular or intrathyroidal, and obscured by lymph nodes, making preservation a challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of inadvertent parathyroidectomy (IP) and whether it contributes to hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all thyroidectomies by a single surgeon from January 2010 to August 2014 was completed to determine the rate of IP and permanent hypoparathyroidism. Medical records were assessed for demographics, extent of thyroidectomy, central compartment neck dissection, thyroid gland weight, parathyroid autotransplantation, reoperation, pathology, postoperative calcium levels, and number of parathyroid glands removed. RESULTS: A total of 386 patients underwent thyroidectomy. Mean age was 52 y, and 327 (85%) patients were women. There were 25 (7%) patients who underwent reoperation, 40 (10%) who underwent central compartment neck dissection, and 128 (33%) who underwent parathyroid autotransplantation. IP occurred in 78 (20%) patients. Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 7 (2.7%) of 258 patients after total or completion thyroidectomy, four (6.7%) with IP compared with three (1.5%) without IP (P = 0.033). Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (odds ratio = 2.768, P = 0.040), central compartment neck dissection (odds ratio = 9.584, P = 0.001), and thyroid gland weight (odds ratio = 0.994, P = 0.022) were independent factors associated with IP. CONCLUSIONS: IP, which occurred in 20% of patients undergoing thyroidectomy, is a potentially remediable factor associated with a higher rate of hypoparathyroidism. Central compartment neck dissection is an independent risk factor for IP.

Impact of lower level trauma center proliferation on patient outcomes.

Background: In attempt to increase trauma system coverage, our state added 21 level 3 (L3TC) and level 4 trauma centers (L4TC) to the existing 7 level 1 trauma centers from 2008 to 2012. This study examined the impact of adding these lower-level trauma centers (LLTC) on patient outcomes. Methods: Patients in the state trauma registry age ≥ 15 from 2007 to 2012 were queried for demographic, injury, and outcome variables. These were compared between 2007 (PRE) and 2008-2012 (POST) cohorts. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess independent predictors of mortality. Subgroup analyses were performed for Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥15, age ≥ 65, and trauma mechanisms. Results: 143,919 adults were evaluated. POST had significantly more female, geriatric, and blunt traumas (all p < 0.001). ISS was similar. Interfacility transfers increased by 10.2 %. Overall mortality decreased by 0.6 % (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being in POST was not associated with survival (OR: 1.07, CI: 0.96-1.18, p = 0.227). Subgroup analyses showed small reductions in mortality, except for geriatric patients. After adjusting for covariates, POST was not associated with survival in any subgroup, and trended toward being a predictor for death in penetrating traumas (OR: 1.23; 1.00-1.53, p = 0.059). Conclusions: Unregulated proliferation of LLTCs was associated with increased interfacility transfers without significant increase in trauma patients treated. LLTC proliferation was not an independent protector against mortality in the overall cohort and may worsen mortality for penetrating trauma patients. Rather than simply increasing the number of LLTCs within a region, perhaps more planned approaches are needed. Key message: This is, to our knowledge, the first work to study the effect of rapid lower level trauma center proliferation on patient outcomes. The findings of our analysis have implications for strategic planning of future trauma systems.

Level I Trauma Centers: More Is Not Necessarily Better.

The optimal number of level I trauma centers (L1TCs) in a region has not been elucidated. To begin addressing this, we compared mortalities for patients treated in counties or regions with 1 L1TC to those with >1 L1TC across Ohio. Ohio Trauma Registry data from 2010 to 2012 were analyzed. Patients with age ≥15 from counties/regions with L1TC were included. Region was defined as a L1TC containing county and its neighboring counties. Two analyses were performed. In the county analysis, counties containing 1 L1TC were compared with counties with multiple L1TCs. This comparison is repeated on a regional level for the regional analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed. 38,661 and 55,064 patients were in the county and regional analysis, respectively. Patients treated in counties or regions with multiple L1TCs were significantly younger (P < 0.001). Despite this, the mortality was similar for the two groups in the county analysis and significantly higher for regions with multiple L1TCs (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that having multiple L1TC coverage in a region was an independent predictor for death (odds ratios: 1.17; 1.07-1.28; P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that mortality in counties and regions with multiple L1TCs was not lower in any subgroups but was higher in patients with age ≥65 and patients with blunt injuries (P < 0.05). Having multiple L1TCs in a county was associated with increased mortality in certain patient subgroups. Having multiple L1TCs in a region was an independent predictor for death. These results should be considered carefully when designing future regionalized trauma networks. More L1TCs is not necessarily better.

Statewide Analysis Shows Collaborative Regional Trauma Network Reduces Regional Mortality.

A Regional Trauma Network (RTN), composed of one level I and several lower-level trauma centers (TCs) across multiple hospital systems, was established in 2010. This collaborative network used a unified triage protocol and a single transfer center. The impact of this RTN was assessed by evaluating regional mortality changes before and after RTN establishment. Patients in the state trauma registry aged 15 and older from 2006 to 2012 were analyzed; 2006 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012 were designated as pre-RTN and RTN periods, respectively. The region was defined as a county containing L1TC and its adjacent counties. Any counties bordering multiple L1TC-containing counties were excluded from analysis. Mortality was compared for all regions before and after RTN implementation. The following subgroups were also included a priori for the comparison: Injury Severity Score ≥15, age ≥65, and trauma mechanisms. 121,448 patients were analyzed; 66,977 and 54,471 patients were in the pre-RTN and RTN groups, respectively. Mean age was 58; 90 per cent had blunt injuries. The overall mortality was 4.9 per cent. Mortality comparisons over time for all regions are presented. The RTN region was the only region in the state that had mortality reduction in all patient subgroups. After adjusting for age, Injury Severity Score, level of TC that performed treatment, and trauma mechanism, RTN implementation was an independent predictor of survival (odds ratio: 0.876; 95% CI: 0.771-0.995, P = 0.04, c-statistic: 0.84). These findings suggest that regional collaboration and network-wide, uniform triage practices should be key components in the development of regionalized trauma networks.

Utility of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in predicting bacteremia in critically ill burn patients.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether qSOFA ≥2 and an increase in SOFA (ΔSOFA) ≥2 can help predict bacteremia in a critically ill burn population. METHODS: Patients age ≥15 and TBSA ≥15% admitted between 2009 and 2015 were included. All blood cultures were recorded, and positive and negative blood culture days were defined based on the culture results. SOFA and qSOFA scores were compared between positive and negative blood culture days. RESULTS: There were 50 patients in our study with a mean age of 47yrs and mean TBSA burn of 37%. Bacteremic patients had larger TBSA and full thickness burns, higher revised Baux score, and longer hospital LOS, without a difference in mortality, compared to non-bacteremic patients. There was no difference in qSOFA and SOFA scores between positive and negative blood culture days. A ΔSOFA ≥5 was highly specific for positive blood culture days. CONCLUSIONS: SOFA and qSOFA have limited ability to predict bacteremia in critically ill burn patients.

Despite Trauma Center Closures, Trauma System Regionalization Reduces Mortality and Time to Definitive Care in Severely Injured Patients.

The Northern Ohio Trauma System (NOTS), consisting of multiple hospital systems, was established in 2010 to improve trauma outcomes. This study assessed its impact on mortality and time to definitive care, focusing especially on the severely injured patients. NOTS trauma registry was queried for all trauma activations from 2008 to 2013. The years between 2008-2009 and 2011-2013 were designated as pre- and post-NOTS, respectively. Data from 2010 was excluded as a transitional year. Two trauma centers (TCs) closed in 2010. Predetermined patient subgroups were analyzed. A total of 27,843 patients were examined. Mean age was 46 and 64 per cent were male. Median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was five, and 87 per cent sustained blunt injuries. Of these, 10,641 patients were pre-NOTS and 17,202 were post-NOTS. Comparing the two groups, mortality decreased from 5 to 4 per cent post-NOTS (P < 0.001); median time to definitive care increased by 12 minutes post-NOTS. Multivariate logistic regression showed that NOTS implementation was an independent predictor for survival (P = 0.008), whereas time to definitive care was not. Subgroup analyses demonstrated mortality reductions post-NOTS for all subgroups except patients with penetrating injuries, where mortality remained the same despite an increase in ISS. Patients with ISS ≥15 had a 23 per cent relative reduction in mortality, and their median time to definitive care decreased by 12 minutes. Implementation of a collaborative, regional trauma system was associated with mortality reduction and shortened time to definitive care in the severely injured patients. These findings highlight the importance of collaboration in the future development of regional trauma systems.

Trauma system regionalization improves mortality in patients requiring trauma laparotomy.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the impact of a regional trauma network (RTN) on patient survival, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and hospital length of stay in patients who required trauma laparotomy. METHODS: Patients who required trauma laparotomy from January 2008 to December 2013 were analyzed. Patients admitted during 2008-2009 and 2011-2013 were designated as pre-RTN and RTN groups, respectively. The primary outcome was mortality. RESULTS: A total of 569 patients were analyzed, 231 patients were pre-RTN, and 338 were in the RTN group. Overall, mean age was 35.7 ± 17.1 and median Injury Severity Score was 16 (25th-75th percentile: 9-26). The two groups were similar with regard to age, Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Scale abdomen, sex, and mechanism. Overall, there was a 35% relative reduction in mortality from the pre-RTN to RTN group (p = 0.035), and 30% more patients were triaged to a Level 1 trauma center in the RTN group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression showed that being in the RTN group was an independent predictor for survival (p = 0.026) with odds ratio of 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.93). Patients with penetrating trauma had a nonsignificant decrease in mortality and a reduction of 1 day of ICU stay (p = 0.001). Patients with blunt trauma had a significant reduction in mortality from 38% in the pre-RTN group to 23% in the RTN group (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study focused on the unique patient population that required trauma laparotomies. It showed that trauma system regionalization led to a significant increase in the number of patients triaged to a Level 1 trauma center and reduction of ICU length of stay. More importantly, it demonstrated the benefit of regionalization by showing a significant reduction of hospital mortality in this critically injured patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV.

Leaving the Skin Incision Open May Not Be as Beneficial as We Have Been Taught.

BACKGROUND: Currently, various methods of skin closures are used in contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds without solid, evidence-based guidance. This study investigates whether closure methods affect surgical site infection (SSI) and other incisional complications. We hypothesize that open management of the skin would have the lowest complications, including SSI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients age ≥18 who underwent trauma laparotomy (TL) or damage control laparotomy (DCL) from 2008-2013 and had class III/IV wounds were included. Demographic, injury, treatment, and outcome variables were compared based on skin closure methods: Primary closure, intermittently stapled with wicks, or open management. Subgroup analyses for TL, DCL, and high-risk patients with stomach, colon, or rectal injuries were performed. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analyses were performed to identify risk factors for superficial/deep SSI and surgical incision complications. RESULTS: A total of 348 patients were included. The median age was 47 years; 14% were female; 21% had blunt injuries. Overall SSI was highest for open incisions (p < 0.05), but there was no difference in superficial/deep SSI. Primary closures healed a median of 20 days, compared with 68 and 71 days for the intermittently stapled and open groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Primary closure in TL and high-risk patients also had the lowest SSI rates (all p < 0.05), but there were no differences in superficial/deep SSI in any subgroup. In TL patients, diabetes mellitus and colon injuries were independently associated with the development of superficial/deep SSI and surgical incision complications; however, skin closure method was not. CONCLUSION: In class III and IV wounds, primary closure was associated with the lowest SSI, shortest length of stay and healing time. Method of skin closure, however, did not have an independent effect on the development of superficial/deep SSI or surgical incision complications. These suggest that primary skin closure in contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds may be performed more safely than commonly perceived.

Performance of a regional trauma network: A state-wide analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Northern Ohio Trauma System (NOTS), established in 2010, is a collaborative regional trauma system composed of one level I and several lower-level trauma centers (TCs) across multiple hospital systems. Mortalities between counties in NOTS and other Ohio counties were compared to assess NOTS performance. METHODS: State trauma registry was analyzed for patients 15 years or older from 2006 to 2012. Mortality change over time was assessed by comparing all counties before and after NOTS establishment. Two analyses were done in the post-NOTS period: (1) a county analysis, comparing Cuyahoga County, the county containing NOTS level I TC (L1TC), with other counties containing L1TCs and (2) a regional analysis, comparing Cuyahoga and its adjacent counties (i.e., the NOTS region) with other L1TC containing regions. The following subgroups were included a priori: Injury Severity Score 15 or greater, age 65 years or older, and trauma mechanism. RESULTS: A total of 178,143 patients were analyzed. Cuyahoga was the only county that had a decrease in mortality for both the overall group and all subgroups over time (all p < 0.05). Both the county and regional analyses showed that the overall NOTS patients were 1 to 4 years older (p < 0.05), had similar or higher Injury Severity Score (p < 0.05), and were treated more often at lower-level TCs (p < 0.001). County analysis demonstrated that Cuyahoga County had approximately 1% lower mortality in geriatrics patients compared with non-NOTS counties. Regional analysis showed lower mortality in the NOTS region for the overall patient group, as well as geriatric and blunt injuries subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Cuyahoga was the only county in Ohio that had significant mortality reduction for all patient groups over time. Trauma system regionalization was associated with greater utilization of lower-level TCs and lower patient mortality. These findings suggest that a collaborative regional trauma system may be more important than the number of L1TC in an area. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management study, level IV.

Traumatic vascular injuries: who are repairing them and what are the outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Traumatic vascular injuries are infrequent but can be devastating. This study characterized their incidence and the need for vascular surgeons in their repair. Outcomes for patients repaired by vascular and trauma surgeons were compared. METHODS: Patients age ≥14, needing operations for acute traumatic vascular injuries from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 were included. RESULTS: Of the 27,224 adult trauma patients, 1.4% had vascular injuries needing operations. Trauma surgeons treated 40% of them. The need for repair by vascular surgeons varied based on mechanism, transfer status, injury location, time of injury, trauma staff practice, and experience (P < .05). Patients repaired by vascular surgeons had more transfusions, longer arrival-to-operation time, surgery duration, hospital stay but lower mortality (P < .05). This mortality difference dissipated after excluding early deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 3% of trauma patients had vascular injuries. Trauma surgeons treated a significant portion of them; using less resources and achieving similar outcomes in select patients when compared with vascular surgeons.

Benefit of TeamSTEPPS Rounding Improvement Project on Infection-Related Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) was developed to improve teamwork and patient safety. It was shown to benefit patient care in complex clinical settings including intensive care units (ICUs). Our two trauma/surgical ICUs received TeamSTEPPS training, but only Unit 1 participated in a TeamSTEPPS Rounding Improvement Project (TRIP). Our goal was to assess any unintended benefit to infection-related monitoring and prevention from TRIP. We hypothesized that TRIP implementation in ICUs would be associated with increased monitoring, resulting in improved antibiotic and invasive catheter/tube stewardship. METHODS: From September through November 2014, observers prospectively collected data on rounds in both units. Unit personnel were blinded to the data collection process. Monitoring parameters obtained for each patient encounter included review of invasive catheter/tube presence and review of antibiotic indication and course. For patients who received antibiotic and had invasive catheter/tube, we conducted a retrospective review for treatment parameters such as antibiotic duration and adherence to treatment plan, inappropriate antibiotics duration, and invasive catheter/tube duration. RESULTS: A total of 416 patient encounters were observed. The use of invasive catheter/tube was reviewed on rounds substantially more in Unit 1 than Unit 2 (83% vs. 51%, p < 0.005). In the 135 encounters with patients on antibiotic, review of antibiotic indication, stop date, day into course, and all three components occurred substantially more in Unit 1. On the basis of the 65 different antibiotic courses encompassed by the 135 encounters, antibiotic duration, adherence to antibiotic treatment plan, and inappropriate antibiotic days were not substantially different between the units. From the same 135 encounters, 125 encounters also had invasive catheter/tube placement. Substantially more discussion of catheter/tube presence occurred in Unit 1, but the duration of its presence was not substantially different. CONCLUSION: The TeamSTEPPS Rounding Improvement Project was associated with an unintended, increased discussion and monitoring of antibiotic and invasive catheter/tube usage. However, this did not translate into substantial immediate treatment differences.