An International Survey of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Education and Credentialing Practices.

Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has grown rapidly over the past decades because of evolving indications, advances in circuit technology, and encouraging results from modern trials. Because ECMO is a complex and highly invasive therapy that requires a multidisciplinary team, optimal education, training, and credentialing remain a challenge. Objective: The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and application of ECMO education and ECMO practitioner credentialing at ECMO centers globally. In addition, we explored differences among education and credentialing practices in relation to various ECMO center characteristics. Methods: We conducted an observational study of ECMO centers worldwide using a survey querying participants in two major domains: ECMO education and ECMO practitioner credentialing. Of note, the questionnaire included ECMO program characteristics, such as type and size of hospital and ECMO experience and volume, to explore the association with the two domains. Results: A total of 241 (32%) of the 732 identified ECMO centers responded to the survey, representing 41 countries across the globe. ECMO education was offered at 221 (92%) of the 241 centers. ECMO education was offered at 105 (98.0%) high-ECMO volume centers compared with 136 (87.5%) low-ECMO volume centers (P = 0.005). Credentialing was established at 101 (42%) of the 241 centers. Credentialing processes existed at 52 (49.5%) high-ECMO volume centers compared with 51 (37.5%) low-ECMO volume centers (P = 0.08) and 101 (49.3%) Extracorporeal Life Support Organization centers compared with 1 (2.7%) non-Extracorporeal Life Support Organization center (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We found significant variability in whether ECMO educational curricula are offered at ECMO centers. We also found fewer than half of the ECMO centers surveyed had established credentialing programs for ECMO practitioners. Future studies that assess variability in outcomes among centers with and without standardized educational and credentialing practices are needed.

Deaths After Readmissions are Mostly Attributable to Failure-to-Rescue in EGS Patients.

INTRODUCTION: We have recently shown that readmission after EGS procedures carries a 4-fold higher mortality rate when compared to those not readmitted. Understanding factors associated with death after readmission is paramount to improving outcomes for EGS patients. We aimed to identify risk factors contributing to failure-to-rescue (FTR) during readmission after EGS. We hypothesized that most post-readmission deaths in EGS are attributable to FTR. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using the NSQIP database 2013-2019 was performed. Patients who underwent 1 of 9 urgent/emergent surgical procedures representing 80% of EGS burden of disease, who were readmitted within 30 days post-procedure were identified. The procedures were classified as low- and high-risk. Patient characteristics analyzed included age, sex, BMI, ASA score comorbidities, postoperative complications, frailty, and FTR. The population was assessed for risk factors associated with mortality and FTR by uni- and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 312,862 EGS cases, 16,306 required readmission. Of those, 10,748 (3.4%) developed a postoperative complication. Overall mortality after readmission was 2.4%, with 90.6% of deaths attributable to FTR. Frailty, high-risk procedures, pulmonary complications, AKI, sepsis, and the need for reoperation increased the risk of FTR. DISCUSSION: Death after a complication is common in EGS readmissions. The impact of FTR could be minimized with the implementation of measures to allow early identification and intervention or prevention of infectious, respiratory, and renal complications.

Procedure Risk vs Frailty in Outcomes for Elderly Emergency General Surgery Patients: Results of a National Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The direct association between procedure risk and outcomes in elderly emergency general surgery (EGS) patients has not been analyzed. Studies only highlight the importance of frailty. A comprehensive analysis of relevant risk factors and their association with outcomes in elderly EGS patients is lacking. We hypothesized that procedure risk has a stronger association with relevant outcomes in elderly EGS patients compared to frailty. STUDY DESIGN: Elderly patients (age > 65) undergoing emergency general surgery operative procedures were identified in the NSQIP) database (2018 to 2020) and stratified based on the presence of frailty calculated by the Modified 5 Item Frailty Index (mFI-5; mFI 0 Non-Frail, mFI 1-2 Frail, and mFI ≥3 Severely Frail) and based on procedure risk. Multivariable regression models and Receiving Operative Curve (ROC) analysis were used to determine risk factors associated with outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 59,633 elderly EGS patients were classified into non-frail (17,496; 29.3%), frail (39,588; 66.4%), and severely frail (2,549; 4.3%). There were 25,157 patients in the low-risk procedure group and 34,476 in the high-risk group.Frailty and procedure risk were associated with increased mortality, complications, failure to rescue, and readmissions. Differences in outcomes were greater when patients were stratified according to procedure risk compared to frailty stratification alone. Procedure risk had a stronger association with relevant outcomes in elderly EGS patients compared to frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing frailty in the elderly EGS patient population without adjusting for the type of procedure or procedure risk ultimately presents an incomplete representation of how frailty impacts patient-related outcomes.

Impact of Cardiac Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Acute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac pacemaker implantation may be indicated in patients with refractory bradycardia following a cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). However, evidence about the impact of this procedure on outcomes is lacking. We planned a study to assess whether the implantation of a pacemaker would decrease mortality and hospital resource utilization in patients with CSCI. METHODS: Adult patients with CSCI in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database between 2016 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into "pacemaker" and "non-pacemaker" groups, and their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 6774 cases were analyzed. The pacemaker group showed higher in-hospital rates of cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay than the non-pacemaker group. Nevertheless, pacemaker placement was associated with a significant decrease in mortality (4.2% vs 26.0%, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CSCI requiring a pacemaker placement had better survival than those treated without a pacemaker. Pacemaker implantation should be highly considered in patients who develop refractory bradycardia after CSCI.

Epidemiology and Clinical Outcomes of Fusobacterium Infections: A Six-Year Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Anaerobic bacteria like Fusobacterium can lead to severe and life-threatening infections. The inherent complexities in the isolation of these bacteria may result in diagnostic and therapeutic delays, thereby escalating both morbidity and mortality rates. We aimed to examine data from patients with infections due to Fusobacterium to gain insights into the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of patients with these infections. Methods and Results: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from a cohort of patients with cultures positive for Fusobacterium species at a tertiary care medical center in the United States. Between 2009 and 2015, we identified 96 patients with cultures positive for Fusobacterium. Patients could be categorized into three groups based on the site of primary infection. Patients with head and neck infections constituted 37% (n 36). Patients with infections of other soft tissue sites accounted for 38.5% (n 37). Patients with anaerobic bacteremia due to Fusobacterium formed 24% (n 23) of the cohort. Surgical intervention coupled with antibiotic therapy emerged as cornerstones of management for patients with head and neck or other soft tissue infections, who generally exhibited more favorable outcomes. Patients with bacteremia were older, more likely to have malignancy, and had a high mortality rate. When speciation was available, Fusobacterium necrophorum was the most frequently isolated species. Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis of epidemiology and clinical outcomes of Fusobacterium infections revealed three distinct cohorts. Patients with head, neck, or soft tissue infections had better outcomes than those with bacteremia. Our findings highlight the importance of employing management strategies based on infection site and underlying comorbidities in patients with Fusobacterium infections. Further research is needed to investigate the optimal therapeutic strategies and identify prognostic indicators to improve clinical outcomes for these complex infections.

Does frailty impact failure-to-rescue in geriatric trauma patients?

BACKGROUND: Failure-to-rescue (FTR), defined as death following a major complication, is a metric of trauma quality. The impact of patient frailty on FTR has not been fully investigated, especially in geriatric trauma patients. This study hypothesized that frailty increased the risk of FTR in geriatric patients with severe injury. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TQIP database between 2015 and 2019, including geriatric patients with trauma (age ≥65 years) and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15, who survived ≥48 hours postadmission. Frailty was assessed using the modified 5-item frailty index (mFI). Patients were categorized into frail (mFI ≥ 2) and nonfrail (mFI < 2) groups. Logistic regression analysis and a generalized additive model (GAM) were used to examine the association between FTR and patient frailty after controlling for age, sex, type of injury, trauma center level, ISS, and vital signs on admission. RESULTS: Among 52,312 geriatric trauma patients, 34.6% were frail (mean mFI: frail: 2.3 vs. nonfrail: 0.9, p < 0.001). Frail patients were older (age, 77 vs. 74 years, p < 0.001), had a lower ISS (19 vs. 21, p < 0.001), and had a higher incidence of FTR compared with nonfrail patients (8.7% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.006). Logistic regression analysis revealed that frailty was an independent predictor of FTR (odds ratio, 1.32; confidence interval, 1.23-1.44; p < 0.001). The GAM plots showed a linear increase in FTR incidence with increasing mFI after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that frailty independently contributes to an increased risk of FTR in geriatric trauma patients. The impact of patient frailty should be considered when using FTR to measure the quality of trauma care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Predictors of thrombosis during VV ECMO: an analysis of 9809 patients from the ELSO registry.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a life-saving therapy for critically ill patients, but it carries an increased risk of thrombosis due to blood interacting with non-physiological surfaces. While the relationship between clinical variables and thrombosis remains unclear, our study aimed to identify which factors are most predictive of thrombosis. The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry was queried to obtain a cohort of VV-ECMO patients aged 18 years and older from 2015 to 2019. Patients who were over 80-years-old, at the extremes of weight, who received less than 24 h of ECMO, multiple rounds of ECMO, or had missing data were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to assess predictors of thrombosis and mortality. A total of 9809 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 47.1 ± 15.1 years and an average ECMO run time of 305 ± 353 h. Thrombosis occurred in 19.9% of the cohort, with circuit thrombosis (8.6%) and membrane lung failure (6.1%) being the most common. Multivariate analysis showed that ECMO runs over 14 days (OR: 2.62, P < 0.001) and pregnancy-related complications (OR: 1.79, P = 0.004) were associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. Risk factors for circuit thrombosis included incremental unit increases in the pump flow rate at 24 h (OR: 1.07 [1.00-1.14], P = 0.044) and specific cannulation sites. Increased body weight (OR: 1.02 [1.00-1.04], P = 0.026) and increased duration on ECMO (OR: 3.82 [3.12-4.71], P < 0.001) were predictive of membrane lung failure. Additionally, patients with thrombosis were at increased likelihood of in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.52, P < 0.001). This study identified multiple thrombotic risk factors in VV-ECMO, suggesting that future studies investigating the impact of pregnancy associated complications and ECMO flow rate on hemostasis would be illuminating.

Balloon Rises Above: REBOA at Zone 1 May Be Superior to Resuscitative Thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: The use of Zone 1 REBOA for life-threatening trauma has increased dramatically. STUDY DESIGN: The Aortic Occlusion for Resuscitation in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery database was queried for blunt and penetrating trauma between 2013 and 2021. Outcomes were examined both for mechanisms of injury combined and separately and for combinations of abdominal injury with and without traumatic brain injury and chest injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score >2). RESULTS: A total of 531 patients underwent REBOA (408 with blunt injury and 123 with penetrating injury) and 1,603 (595 with blunt injury and 1,008 with penetrating injury) underwent resuscitative thoracotomy (RT). Mean age was 38.5 ± 16 years and mean injury severity score was 34.5 ± 21; 57.7% had chest AIS score of more than 2, 21.8% had head AIS score of more than 2, and 37.3% had abdominal AIS score of more than 2. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale was 4.9 + 4, and systolic blood pressure at aortic occlusion (AO) was 22 + 40 mmHg. No differences in outcomes in REBOA or RT patients were identified between institutions (p > 0.5). After inverse probability weighting, Glasgow Coma Scale, age, injury severity score, systolic blood pressure at AO, CPR at AO, and blood product transfusion, REBOA was superior to RT in both blunt (odds ratio [OR] 4.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 11.7) and penetrating (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.7 to 14) injuries, across all spectrums of injury (p < 0.01). Overall mortality was significantly higher for AO more than 90 minutes compared with less than 30 minutes in blunt (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 15) and penetrating (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 25) injuries. Duration of AO more than 60 minutes was significantly associated with mortality after penetrating abdominal injury (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 22) and abdomen and head (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.6 to 18). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital survival is higher for patients undergoing REBOA than RT for all injury patterns. Complete AO by REBOA or RT should be limited to less than 30 minutes. Neither hospital and procedure volume nor trauma verification level impacts outcomes for REBOA or RT.

Comparison of bleeding and thrombotic outcomes in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Heparin versus bivalirudin.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications with heparin versus bivalirudin use in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients placed on V-V ECMO with intravenous anticoagulation with either heparin or bivalirudin. Time to thrombotic event and major bleed were analyzed in addition to related outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 95 patients placed on V-V ECMO: 61 receiving heparin, 34 bivalirudin. The bivalirudin group had a higher rate of severe COVID-19, higher BMI, and longer ECMO duration. Despite this, bivalirudin was associated with reduced risk of thrombotic event (HR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.32, p < .001) and increased average lifespan of the circuit membrane lung (16 vs. 10 days, p = 0.004). While there was no difference in major bleeding, the bivalirudin group required fewer transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets per 100 ECMO days (means of 13 vs. 39, p = 0.004; 5 vs. 19, p = .014, respectively). Lastly, the bivalirudin group had improved survival to ECMO decannulation in univariate analysis (median OS 53 vs. 26 days, p = .015). CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world analysis of bivalirudin versus heparin, bivalirudin is a viable option for V-V ECMO and associated with lower risk of thrombotic complications and fewer transfusion requirements.

Expert consensus on training and accreditation for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation an international, multidisciplinary modified Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND: A multidisciplinary group of stakeholders were used to identify: (1) the core competencies of a training program required to perform in-hospital ECPR initiation (2) additional competencies required to perform pre-hospital ECPR initiation and; (3) the optimal training method and maintenance protocol for delivering an ECPR program. METHODS: A modified Delphi process was undertaken utilising two web based survey rounds and one virtual meeting. Experts rated the importance of different aspects of ECPR training, competency and governance on a 9-point Likert scale. A diverse, representative group was targeted. Consensus was achieved when greater than 70% respondents rated a domain as critical (> or = 7 on the 9 point Likert scale). RESULTS: 35 international ECPR experts from 9 countries formed the expert panel, with a median number of 14 years of ECMO practice (interquartile range 11-38). Participant response rates were 97% (survey round one), 63% (virtual meeting) and 100% (survey round two). After the second round of the survey, 47 consensus statements were formed outlining a core set of competencies required for ECPR provision. We identified key elements required to safely train and perform ECPR including skill pre-requisites, surrogate skill identification, the importance of competency-based assessment over volume of practice and competency requirements for successful ECPR practice and skill maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: We present a series of core competencies, training requirements and ongoing governance protocols to guide safe ECPR implementation. These findings can be used to develop training syllabus and guide minimum standards for competency as the growth of ECPR practitioners continues.

Use of Tranexamic Acid With Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta is Associated With Higher Distal Embolism Rates: Results From the American Association of Surgery for Trauma Aortic Occlusion and Resuscitation for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Tranexamic acid (TXA) use has been associated with thrombotic complications. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate outcomes associated with TXA use in the setting of high- (HP) and low-profile (LP) introducer sheaths for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). PARTICIPANTS: The Aortic Occlusion and Resuscitation for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (AORTA) database was queried for patients who underwent REBOA using a low-profile 7 French (LP) or high-profile, 11-14 French (HP) introducer sheaths between 2013 and 2022. Demographics, physiology, and outcomes were examined for patients who survived beyond the index operation. RESULTS: 574 patients underwent REBOA (503 LP, 71 HP); 77% were male, mean age was 44 ± 19 and mean injury severity score (ISS) was 35 ± 16. 212 patients received TXA (181 [36%] LP, 31 [43.7%] HP). There were no significant differences in admission vital signs, GCS, age, ISS, SBP at AO, CPR at AO, and duration of AO among LP and HP patients. Overall, mortality was significantly higher in the HP (67.6%) vs the LP group (54.9%; P = .043). Distal embolism was significantly higher in the HP group (20.4%) vs the LP group (3.9%; P < .001). Logistic regression demonstrated that TXA use was associated with a higher rate of distal embolism in both groups (OR = 2.92; P = .021). 2 LP patients (one who received TXA) required an amputation. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo REBOA are profoundly injured and physiologically devastated. Tranexamic acid was associated with a higher rate of distal embolism in those who received REBOA, regardless of access sheath size. For patients receiving TXA, REBOA placement should be accompanied by strict protocols for immediate diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic complications.

Expert consensus statement on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ECMO for COVID-19 severe ARDS: an international Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: The high-quality evidence on managing COVID-19 patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is insufficient. Furthermore, there is little consensus on allocating ECMO resources when scarce. The paucity of evidence and the need for guidance on controversial topics required an international expert consensus statement to understand the role of ECMO in COVID-19 better. Twenty-two international ECMO experts worldwide work together to interpret the most recent findings of the evolving published research, statement formulation, and voting to achieve consensus. OBJECTIVES: To guide the next generation of ECMO practitioners during future pandemics on tackling controversial topics pertaining to using ECMO for patients with COVID-19-related severe ARDS. METHODS: The scientific committee was assembled of five chairpersons with more than 5 years of ECMO experience and a critical care background. Their roles were modifying and restructuring the panel's questions and, assisting with statement formulation in addition to expert composition and literature review. Experts are identified based on their clinical experience with ECMO (minimum of 5 years) and previous academic activity on a global scale, with a focus on diversity in gender, geography, area of expertise, and level of seniority. We used the modified Delphi technique rounds and the nominal group technique (NGT) through three face-to-face meetings and the voting on the statement was conducted anonymously. The entire process was planned to be carried out in five phases: identifying the gap of knowledge, validation, statement formulation, voting, and drafting, respectively. RESULTS: In phase I, the scientific committee obtained 52 questions on controversial topics in ECMO for COVID-19, further reviewed for duplication and redundancy in phase II, resulting in nine domains with 32 questions with a validation rate exceeding 75% (Fig. 1). In phase III, 25 questions were used to formulate 14 statements, and six questions achieved no consensus on the statements. In phase IV, two voting rounds resulted in 14 statements that reached a consensus are included in four domains which are: patient selection, ECMO clinical management, operational and logistics management, and ethics. CONCLUSION: Three years after the onset of COVID-19, our understanding of the role of ECMO has evolved. However, it is incomplete. Tota14 statements achieved consensus; included in four domains discussing patient selection, clinical ECMO management, operational and logistic ECMO management and ethics to guide next-generation ECMO providers during future pandemic situations.

Optimal positive end-expiratory pressure reduces right ventricular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A retrospective single-center study.

While mechanical ventilation practices on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) are variable, most institutions utilize a lung rest strategy utilizing relatively low positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). The effect of PEEP titration using esophageal manometry during VV ECMO on pulmonary and cardiac function is unknown. This was a retrospective study of 69 patients initiated on VV ECMO between March 2020 through November 2021. Patients underwent standard PEEP (typically 10 cm H2O) or optimal PEEP (PEEP titrated to an end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure 0-3 cm H2O) throughout the ECMO run. The optimal PEEP strategy had higher levels of applied PEEP (17.9 vs. 10.8 cm H2O on day 2 of ECMO), decreased incidence of hemodynamically significant RV dysfunction (4.55% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.0001), and higher survival to decannulation (72.7% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.022). Survival to discharge did not reach statistical significance (61.4% vs. 44.0%, p = 0.211). In univariate logistic regression analysis, optimal PEEP was associated with less hemodynamically significant RV dysfunction with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01-0.27, p = 0.0008) and increased survival to decannulation with an OR of 3.39 (95% CI 1.23-9.79), p = 0.02), though other confounding factors may have contributed.

Evaluating Predictive Value of Surgical Resected Proximal Bone Margins in Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis With Clinical Outcomes at 1 Year.

Background: Osteomyelitis of the diabetic foot remains a significant complication that may result in the need for amputation. Proximal surgical margin histopathology after limb-sparing amputation could be used to guide antimicrobial duration and prognostic management but remains debatable. Here we evaluate if negative proximal bone margins predict outcomes of diabetic foot osteomyelitis at 1 year. Methods: A retrospective study assessed adults with diabetes undergoing limb-sparing foot amputations from September 2016 to September 2019. Patients required histopathology confirmation of osteomyelitis, proximal margin histopathology report, and documented electronic medical record follow-up through 12 months. The primary outcome evaluated if no further amputation at the same site was required in the following 12 months. Results: Of 92 patients, 57 (61.9%) had pathology-confirmed negative margins for osteomyelitis. Patients with negative margins required less frequent subsequent amputations at the same site within 12 months compared to positive margins (86.0% vs 65.7%; P = .003). Antibiotic duration was shorter in patients with negative margins (mean, 18 vs 30 days; P = .001). Negative-margin patients also noted lower rates of readmission at 12 months (26.3% vs 51.4%; P = .015) for site-specific complications. Staphylococcus aureus was more predominant in patients with positive versus negative margins (57.1% vs 29.8%; P = .017). Conclusions: Negative proximal bone margin by histopathology was associated with lower frequency of further amputations at the index surgical site within 12 months. This group also received shorter courses of antibiotic therapy. It was also associated with lower rates of readmission at 12 months for surgical-site complications. Proximal margin histopathology results potentially can be integrated to guide antimicrobial duration and decrease the frequency of further amputation at the original site.

Intimate Partner Violence and Pregnancy: Nationwide Analysis of Injury Patterns and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant cause of injury, and in pregnant patients (PIPV) poses a risk to both mother and fetus. Characteristics and outcomes for PIPV patients have not been well described. We hypothesize that PIPV patients have higher admission rates and mortality than non-IPV pregnant trauma (PT) patients and nonpregnant female IPV patients of childbearing age. We also hypothesize differences exist between PIPV and PT patient injury patterns, allowing for targeted IPV screening. STUDY DESIGN: The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database was queried from 2010 to 2014 to identify IPV in adult women patients by injury code E967.3. Patients were compared in 2 ways, PIPV vs PT and PIPV vs nonpregnant female IPV patients. Demographics, injury mechanisms, and National Trauma Data Standard injury diagnoses were surveyed. Primary outcomes were hospital admissions and mortality. Logistic regression was used to estimate risk factors of the outcomes of hospitalization and IPV victimization in pregnant injured patients. RESULTS: There were 556 PIPV patients, 73,970 PT patients, and 56,543 nonpregnant female IPV patients. When comparing PIPV to PT, more PIPV patients had Medicaid coverage or were self-pay. Suffocation, head injuries, face/neck/scalp contusions, multiple contusions, and abrasions/friction burns were more prevalent in PIPV patients. Mortality and hospital admissions were scarce among all cohorts. Predictors of IPV victimization among injured pregnant patients include multiple injuries, head injuries, face/neck/scalp contusions, abrasions/friction burns, contusions of multiple sites, and those with Medicaid or self-pay coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Among injured pregnant patients, those with multiple injuries, head injuries, contusions of the face/neck/scalp, abrasions/friction burns, and multiple contusions should undergo IPV screening. Admissions and mortality are low; therefore, prevention measures should be implemented in the emergency department to reduce repeat victimization.

Case volume and rate are associated with outcomes in geriatric trauma: A case for geriatric trauma centers?

BACKGROUND: Increased morbidity and mortality in geriatric trauma patients are usually due to decreased physiologic reserve and increased comorbidities. It is unclear whether geriatric trauma case volume and rates correlate with survival. We hypothesized that geriatric patients would have increased survival when treated in high-case volume and rate trauma centers. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database between 2015 and 2019. Geriatric trauma patients (≥65 years) with severe injury (Injury Severity Score ≥16) were included. Geriatric case volume (GCV) was defined as the mean annual number of treated geriatric trauma patients, while geriatric case rate (GCR) was the mean annual number of elderly trauma patients divided by all trauma patients in each center. Trauma centers were classified into low-, medium-, and high-volume and rate facilities based on GCV and GCR. The association of GCV and GCR with in-hospital mortality and complication rates was assessed using the generalized additive model (GAM) and multivariate generalized linear mixed model adjusted for patient characteristics (age, sex, Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, and Modified Frailty Index) as fixed-effect variables and hospital characteristics as random effect variables. RESULTS: A total of 164,818 geriatric trauma patients from 812 hospitals were included in the analysis. The GAM plots showed that the adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality decreased as GCV and the GCR increased. The generalized linear mixed model revealed that both high GCV and high GCR hospitals had lower mortality rates than low GCV and GCR hospitals (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], high GCV and high GCR centers; 0.82 [0.72-0.92] and 0.81 [0.73-0.90], respectively). CONCLUSION: Both high geriatric trauma volume and rates were associated with decreased mortality of geriatric trauma patients. Consolidation of care for elderly patients with severe injury in specialized high-volume centers may be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Starting and Sustaining an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is growing rapidly in all patient populations, especially adults for both acute lung or heart failure. ECMO is a complex, high risk, resource-intense, expensive modality that requires appropriate planning, training, and management for successful outcomes. This article provides an optimal approach and the basic framework for initiating a new ECMO program, which can be tailored to meet local needs. Setting up a new ECMO program and sustaining it requires institutional commitment, physician champions, multidisciplinary team involvement, ongoing training, and education of the ECMO team personnel and a robust quality assurance program to minimize complications and improve outcomes.