Outcomes of an accelerated care pathway for pediatric blunt solid organ injuries in a public healthcare system.

PURPOSE: An accelerated clinical care pathway for solid organ abdominal injuries was implemented at a level one pediatric trauma center. The impact on resource utilization and demonstration of protocol safety was assessed. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively on patients admitted with blunt abdominal solid organ injuries from 2012 to 2015. Patients were subdivided into pre- and post-protocol groups. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and failure of non-operative treatment were the primary outcomes of interest. RESULTS: 138 patients with solid organ injury were studied: 73 pre- (2012-2014) and 65 post-protocol (2014-2015). There were no significant differences in age, gender, injury severity score (ISS), injury grade, or mechanism (p>0.05). LOS was shorter post-protocol (mean 5.6 vs. 3.4days; median 5 .0 vs. 3.0days; p=0.0002), resulting in average savings of $5966 per patient. Patients in the protocol group mobilized faster (p<0.0001) and experienced fewer blood draws (p=0.02). On multivariate analysis, protocol group (p<0.001) and ISS (p<0.001) were independently associated with LOS. There were no differences between groups in the need for operation, embolization, or transfusion. CONCLUSION: An accelerated care pathway is safe and effective in the management of pediatric solid organ injuries with early mobilization, less blood draws, and decreased LOS without significant morbidity and mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, cost effectiveness, level III.

Role of Laparoscopic Exploration Under Local Anesthesia in the Management of Hemodynamically Stable Patients with Penetrating Abdominal Injury.

BACKGROUND: In many trauma centers there is an ongoing controversy over the way of managing patients with penetrating abdominal injuries. This study was constructed to evaluate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy performed with local anesthesia for the management of penetrating abdominal injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty hemodynamically stable patients with a penetrating stab wound in the anterior abdominal wall were included in this study after consent was obtained. Laparoscopic explorations were done with the patient having local anesthesia. If there was bleeding or intestinal content in the peritoneal cavity or visible injury to any abdominal organ, the procedure was converted to open exploration. If the peritoneal cavities showed no fluid and there was no injury to the abdominal viscera, the patient was followed up for the next 72 hours. Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation values. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. Student's t test was used to assess the statistical significance of the difference between the two study groups' means. Fisher's exact test was used to examine the relationship between categorical variables. A significance level of P < .05 was used in all tests. All statistical procedures were carried out using SPSS version 20 for Windows software (IBM, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: From the total of 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic exploration, 13 patients (43.3%) needed open exploration: 11 cases had intrabdominal organ injuries that needed laparotomy, 1 case had intraperitoneal blood collection where the only source of blood was the anterior abdominal wall wound, and 1 case had acute abdominal pain after 48 hours of negative laparoscopic exploration, in which an intestinal tear was found upon re-exploration. For the other 17 (56.7%) cases, 3 cases had no peritoneal penetration, whereas 14 cases had peritoneal penetration without any internal organ injuries, and these patients were followed up and discharged after 2-3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy performed with the patient having local anesthesia is an accurate diagnostic tool in the management of patients with an equivocal penetrating stab wound in the abdominal wall and can reduce the number of patients with negative open exploration.

Posttraumatic lingual artery pseudoaneurysm treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection.

Pseudoaneurysms of the lingual artery are extremely rare and are commonly iatrogenic in nature or less frequently a result of blunt or penetrating trauma. Traditionally, these vascular abnormalities have been repaired with open or endovascular techniques. Although ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection has become a standard treatment for superficial pseudoaneurysms, there are no reports of this being used in the treatment of lingual artery pseudoaneurysms. We report the case of a 26-year-old man who suffered a penetrating head and neck injury after an improvised explosive device blast in Iraq who presented with persistent oropharyngeal swelling. Color-flow Doppler ultrasonography revealed the classic yin/yang sign of a pseudoaneurysm, and a computed tomography scan was obtained that revealed a right lingual artery pseudoaneurysm. With the lack of endovascular capabilities and the excessive risk of open surgery, thrombin was injected directly into the pseudoaneurysm under ultrasound guidance. A computed tomography scan and Doppler ultrasonography revealed complete resolution of the aneurysm. This article presents the first reported case in the English literature of a lingual artery aneurysm after penetrating trauma managed successfully with ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection.

Microbiological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility in surgical site infections following hollow viscus injury.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the microbiological profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and adequacy of the empiric antibiotic therapy in surgical site infections (SSI) following traumatic hollow viscus injury (HVI). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients admitted with an HVI from March 2003 to July 2009. SSI was defined as a wound infection or intra-abdominal collection confirmed by positive cultures and requiring percutaneous or surgical drainage. RESULTS: A total of 91 of 667 (13.6%) patients with an HVI developed an SSI confirmed by positive culture. Mean age was 33.0 +/- 14.1 years, mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 17.7 +/- 9.6, 91.2% were male, and 80.2% had sustained penetrating injuries. The SSI consisted of 65 intra-abdominal collections and 26 wound infections requiring intervention. The most commonly isolated species in the presence of a colonic injury was Escherichia coli (64.7%), Enterococcus spp. (41.2%), and Bacteroides (29.4%), and in the absence of a colonic perforation, Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacter cloacae (both 38.9%). Susceptibility rates of E. coli and E. cloacae, respectively, were 38% and 8% for ampicillin/sulbactam, 82% and 4% for cefazolin, 96% and 92% for cefoxitin, with both 92% to piperacillin/tazobactam, and 100% to ertapenem. The initial empirical antibiotic therapy adequately targeted the pathogens in 51.6% of patients who developed an SSI. CONCLUSION: The distribution of the microorganisms isolated from SSIs differed significantly according to whether or not a colonic injury was present. Empiric antibiotic treatment was inadequate in upwards of 50% of patients who developed an SSI. Further investigation is warranted to determine the optimal empiric antibiotic regimen for reducing the rate of postoperative SSI.

"Awake" laparoscopy for the evaluation of equivocal penetrating abdominal wounds.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic laparoscopy is useful for the assessment of equivocal penetrating abdominal wounds, and has become the modality of choice for the evaluation of such wounds at our institution. We hypothesised that, in appropriate patients, diagnostic "awake" laparoscopy (AL) could be performed under local anaesthesia in the emergency department (ED), allowing for expedited discharge and potential cost savings. METHODS: Selected haemodynamically stable patients with penetrating abdominal injury underwent AL. Suitability for AL was at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Identification of peritoneal penetration by AL led to exploratory laparotomy in the operating room. Patients with no evidence of peritoneal penetration were discharged from the ED (ALneg). These patients were matched to a cohort of 24 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy in the OR which was negative for peritoneal penetration (DLneg). Length of stay and hospital charges were compared. RESULTS: Over a 30-month period, 15 patients underwent AL without complication. No peritoneal penetration was found in 11 patients. The remaining four patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, of which two were positive for intra-abdominal injury. Mean time to discharge was 7h in the ALneg group versus 18 h in the DLneg group (p=0.0003). Cost savings on hospital charges averaged 2227 US dollars per patient in the ALneg group compared with the DLneg group. CONCLUSIONS: AL may be safely performed in the ED, allowing for expedited patient discharge. Cost savings are achieved by the avoidance of charges inherent to diagnostic laparoscopy performed in the operating room.

Is fecal diversion necessary for nondestructive penetrating extraperitoneal rectal injuries?

BACKGROUND: Current management of penetrating extraperitoneal rectal injury includes diversion of the fecal stream. The purpose of this study is to assess whether nondestructive penetrating extraperitoneal rectal injuries can be managed successfully without diversion of the fecal stream. METHODS: This study was performed at an urban Level I trauma center during a 28-month period from February 2003 through June 2005. All patients who suffered nondestructive penetrating extraperitoneal rectal injuries were managed with a diagnosis and treatment protocol that excluded fecal stream diversion. Patients were placed in one of two management arms based upon clinical suspicion for intraperitoneal injury. In the first arm, patients with suspicion for rectal injury and a positive clinical examination for intraperitoneal injuries were delivered to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy. Proctoscopy was performed before exploratory laparotomy. Extraperitoneal rectal injuries were left to heal by secondary intention. Intraperitoneal rectal injuries were repaired primarily. Patients did not receive fecal diversion or perineal drainage. In the second management arm, patients with a negative clinical examination for intraperitoneal injury and wounding agent trajectory suspicious for rectal injury underwent diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), cystography, and proctoscopy in the emergency room. Positive DPL or cystography warranted laparotomy as above. Patients with positive proctoscopy alone were admitted and placed on a clear liquid diet. Barium enema was performed 5 to 7 days postinjury for all rectal injuries with diets advanced accordingly.A matched historic control group of rectal injury patients who underwent fecal diversion was compared with the nondiversion protocol group. Patients from both groups were matched for penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI), age and mechanism of injury. RESULTS: There were 14 consecutive patients diagnosed with penetrating rectal injury placed in the nondiversion management protocol. Of these, 9 (64%) patients in the nondiversion group required laparotomy. The average age in the diversion historical control group was 30.5 years and 29.3 years in the nondiversion group. The average PATI in the diversion group was 15.3 and 16.1 in the nondiversion protocol group. The average length of stay for the diversion and nondiversion groups was 9.8 days (range, 7-15) and 7.2 days (range, 4-10), respectively. There were no complications associated with rectal injuries in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Nondestructive penetrating rectal injuries can be managed successfully without fecal diversion. Randomized prospective study will be necessary to assess this management method.

[Diaphragmatic injuries--classification, diagnosis and therapy]. / Zwerchfellverletzungen--Klassifikation, Diagnostik und Therapie.

Diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture is often missed after blunt thoracic and abdominal injuries. Rupture of the diaphragm is caused either by direct or indirect violence. The clinical manifestations are unpredictable and of infinite variety, and, especially in massively traumatized patients, masked by other injuries. Between 1987 and 1995, 17 patients were treated for traumatic injury of the diaphragm. Four of 17 patients sustained isolated diaphragmatic rupture; in 13 the rupture was combined with other injuries. Preoperatively the following diagnostic procedures were performed: ultrasonography in 12 patients, chest X-ray in 6, computed tomography of the abdomen in 2, water soluble enema into the stomach in 1, and computed tomography of the thorax in 1 patient. Therapy of diaphragmatic injury was performed in 15 patients within 2 days, in one within 1 year and in one 23 years after the accident. Two patients died due to accompanying injuries.

Traumatismos duodenales / Duodenal traumas

Aunque los traumatismos abdominales constituyen un importante motivo de consulta en servicios de urgencia, las lesiones duodenales son relativamente infrecuentes, constituyendo un verdadero desafío diagnóstico y terapéutico para médicos y cirujanos de urgencia. A pesar de las modernas técnicas de reanimación; de los cuidados intensivos de pacientes críticos y de prácticas quirúrgicas expertas, las lesiones duodenales se siguen asociando a elevada morbimortalidad. Se presenta una revisión actualizada del tema, tratando aspectos relevantes a su cuadro clínico, clasificación, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Finalmente se revisan brevemente algunos aspectos de la fístula duodenal, que constituye la complicación más temida de estos traumatismos

Traumatismo abdominal cerrado: revisión de 53 casos atendidos en el Hospital Central Militar / Closed abdominal trauma: a 53 case review seen at the Central Military Hospital

Se revisa el caso de 53 individuos con traumatismo abdominal cerrado atendidos en el Hospital Central Militar. Las principales causas de traumatismo abdominal cerrado fueron: accidentes automovilísticos (28 por ciento), agresiones (15 por ciento) y los accidentes por atropellamiento de un vehículo automotor (15 por ciento). La mayor parte de las contusiones del abdomen implican el abordaje amplio para descartar lesiones en órganos blandos, por lo que la laparotomía exploratoria está indicada en su manejo y posterior tratamiento. De esta revisión se concluye que el manejo de este tipo de lesiones en la sala de urgencias del Hospital Central Militar y su posterior evolución en las salas de cirugía es satisfactoria

Role of diagnostic techniques in the initial evaluation of stab wounds to the anterior abdomen, back, and flank.

Despite the widespread availability of firearms, stab wounds to the abdomen, back, and flank continue to account for a significant number of injuries. The proper sequencing of diagnostic modalities in this patient group is constantly undergoing change. We report our experience with these injuries and present a new algorithm for the use of currently available diagnostic procedures. In 1987, 162 patients were seen, 103 with anterior abdominal wounds and 59 with back and flank wounds. Patients with shock, peritonitis, and evisceration were resuscitated and explored. The remainder of the cohort underwent tap and lavage, and patients with a negative study were observed. Patients with back and flank wounds underwent contrast enhanced computerized tomographic enemas (CECTE). Seventeen patients underwent immediate exploration and 108 of the 162 patients were spared exploration. Fifty-four patients were explored with six negative laparotomies. Of the 126 taps and lavages, the false positive rate was zero, and only one patient had a false negative study. Of the 47 CECTE studies, only three were interpreted as an indication for angiography which proved negative, and all patients were safely observed. The overall mortality was 4.3%, including three patients without vital signs on admission and four who expired intraoperatively due to irreversible shock. We concluded that this algorithm can be safely applied to patients with these injuries with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity.

Blunt and penetrating diaphragmatic injuries with or without herniation of organs into the chest.

From 1970 to 1984, 189 patients with penetrating injury and 20 with blunt injury were treated at Grady Memorial Hospital. One hundred eight-five patients with penetrating injury (Group 1) and 9 with blunt injury (Group 2) required emergency laparotomy. In the remaining 15 patients (Group 3), the diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury was delayed from 18 hours to 15 years (mean, 8 months) after injury. The vast majority of the Group 1 and all Group 2 patients had injury to other organs, and the diagnosis of the diaphragmatic injury was made in almost all of them during the emergency laparotomy. The diagnosis in Group 3 patients was made by chest roentgenogram alone or with an upper gastrointestinal series or barium enema. All diaphragmatic injuries were repaired primarily except one which was repaired with Prolene mesh. Four of the Group 1 patients died, a mortality of 2.2%, and 2 of the Group 2 patients died, a mortality of 22.2%. All Group 3 patients recovered. This study suggests that diaphragmatic injury should be suspected in all patients with penetrating as well as blunt injury of the chest and abdomen and particularly of the epigastrium and lower chest. The presence of such an injury should be excluded before the termination of the exploratory procedure. Also, diaphragmatic injury should be suspected in patients with roentgenographic abnormalities of the diaphragm or lower lung field following trauma. The presence of diaphragmatic injury in such patients should be excluded with appropriate diagnostic studies to protect the patient from its late complications.