Age-related disparities in older adults in trauma.

As the population of older adults (≥65 years of age) continues to grow, the incidence of traumatic injuries in this demographic is also increasing nationwide. It has been well established that older adults experience worse outcomes, that is, an increased morbidity and mortality, when compared to younger adults. Moreover, survivors often experience accelerated cognitive and functional decline, loss of independence, and recurring injuries and hospitalizations. This manuscript examines the multifaceted challenges and disparities faced by older adults in trauma care. Factors such as age-related physiological changes, racial disparities, access to health care, and structural ageism that contribute to poor outcomes in geriatric patients who experience trauma. This is exacerbated by the sparsity of geriatric-specific practice management guidelines, thier poor implementation, and the critical under-representation of older adults in trauma research. However, significant efforts are being made to improve the care of older adults, including geriatric patients who experience trauma, through age-friendly systems, and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive and effective care. These endeavors hold promise for a future where trauma care for older adults is comprehensive and equitable.

Cost Differences Between Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals for Older Adults Requiring Emergency General Surgery Procedures in the State of Maryland.

BACKGROUND: Older adults (OAs; ≥ 65 years) comprise a growing population in the United States and are anticipated to require an increasing number of emergency general surgery procedures (EGSPs). The aims of this study were to identify the frequency of EGSPs and compare cost of care in OAs managed at teaching hospitals (THs) vs nonteaching hospitals (NTHs). METHODS: A retrospective review of data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database from 2009 to 2018 for OAs undergoing EGSPs was undertaken. Data collected included demographics, all patient-refined (APR)-severity of illness (SOI), APR-risk of mortality (ROM), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), EGSPs (partial colectomy (PC), small bowel resection, cholecystectomy, operative management of peptic ulcers, lysis of adhesions, appendectomy, and laparotomy, categorized hospital charges, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. RESULTS: Of the 55,401 OAs undergoing EGSPs in this study, 28,575 (51.6%) were treated at THs and 26,826 (48.4%) at NTHs. OAs at THs presented with greater APR-ROM (major 25.6% vs 24.9%, extreme 22.6% vs 22.0%, P=.01), and CCI (3.1±3 vs 2.7±2.8, P<.001) compared to NTHs. Lysis of adhesions, cholecystectomy, and PC comprised the overall most common EGSPs. Older adults at THs incurred comparatively higher median hospital charges for every EGSP due to increased room charges and LOS. Mortality was higher at THs (6.13% vs 5.33%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: While acuity of illness appears similar, cost of undergoing EGSPs for OAs is higher in THs vs NTHs due to increased LOS. Future work is warranted to determine and mitigate factors that increase LOS at THs.

Emergency General Surgery Procedures and Cost of Care for Older Adults in the State of Maryland.

BACKGROUND: Older adults (OAs) ≥ 65 years of age, representing the fastest growing segment in the United States, are anticipated to require a greater percentage of emergency general surgery procedures (EGSPs) with an associated increase in health care costs. The aims of this study were to identify the frequency of EGSP and charges incurred by OA compared to their younger counterparts in the state of Maryland. METHODS: A retrospective review of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission from 2009 to 2018 was undertaken. Patients undergoing urgent or emergent ESGP were divided into 2 groups (18-64 years and ≥65 years). Data collected included demographics, APR-severity of illness (SOI), APR-risk of mortality (ROM), the EGSP (partial colectomy [PC], small bowel resection [SBR], cholecystectomy, operative management of peptic ulcer disease, lysis of adhesions, appendectomy, and laparotomy), length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges. P-values (P < .05) were significant. RESULTS: Of the 181,283 patients included in the study, 55,401 (38.1%) were ≥65 years of age. Older adults presented with greater APR-SOI (major 37.7% vs 21.3%, extreme 5.2% vs 9.3%), greater APR-ROM (major 25.3% vs 8.7%, extreme 22.3% vs 5.3%), underwent PC (24.5% vs 10.9%) and SBR (12.8% vs 7.0%) more frequently, and incurred significantly higher median hospital charges for every EGSP, consistently between 2009 and 2018 due to increased LOS and complications when compared to those ≤65 years of age. CONCLUSION: These findings stress the need for validated frailty indices and quality improvement initiatives focused on the care of OAs in emergency general surgery to maximize outcomes and optimize cost.

Mortality Risk Assessment in COVID-19 Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: A life-threatening complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refractory to conventional management. Venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (VV-ECMO) is used to support patients with ARDS in whom conventional management fails. Scoring systems to predict mortality in VV-ECMO remain unvalidated in COVID-19 ARDS. This report describes a large single-center experience with VV-ECMO in COVID-19 and assesses the utility of standard risk calculators. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospective database of all patients with COVID-19 who underwent VV-ECMO cannulation between March 15 and June 27, 2020 at a single academic center was performed. Demographic, clinical, and ECMO characteristics were collected. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; survivor and nonsurvivor cohorts were compared by using univariate and bivariate analyses. RESULTS: Forty patients who had COVID-19 and underwent ECMO were identified. Of the 33 patients (82.5%) in whom ECMO had been discontinued at the time of analysis, 18 patients (54.5%) survived to hospital discharge, and 15 (45.5%) died during ECMO. Nonsurvivors presented with a statistically significant higher Prediction of Survival on ECMO Therapy (PRESET)-Score (mean ± SD, 8.33 ± 0.8 vs 6.17 ± 1.8; P = .001). The PRESET score demonstrated accurate mortality prediction. All patients with a PRESET-Score of 6 or lowers survived, and a score of 7 or higher was associated with a dramatic increase in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that favorable outcomes are possible in patients with COVID-19 who undergo ECMO at high-volume centers. This study demonstrated an association between the PRESET-Score and survival in patients with COVID-19 who underwent VV-ECMO. Standard risk calculators may aid in appropriate selection of patients with COVID-19 ARDS for ECMO.

A pilot single-institution predictive model to guide rib fracture management in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Rib fractures (RFx) remain the most prevalent injury in an elderly population that will increase from 40 to 81 million for the next 30 years. We sought to create an accurate cost-effective algorithm to triage elderly patients with RFx that accounted for both frailty and trauma burden. METHODS: Retrospective analysis evaluated 400 patients older than 55 years with RFx admitted to a level 1 trauma center from 2007 to 2012. Comorbidities included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, tobacco use, obesity, and nutrition and functional status. Trauma burden included RFx, tube thoracostomy, pulmonary contusions, and spine and extremity fractures. Patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores lower than 13, thoracoabdominal surgery, or deaths from other causes were excluded. Comparative analysis used bivariate and logistic regression. Variables contributing to intubation (INT) and pneumonia (PNA) were then used to create a scoring system to predict the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: Six variables increased the risk for INT or PNA: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, low albumin, assisted status, tube thoracostomy, Injury Severity Score, and RFx (p < 0.05). These six variables and congestive heart failure (odds ratio, 1.9; p = 0.06) were used to create a predictive model with the following scores assigned respectively: 1.4, 1.1, 1, 0.9, 0.1(n), 0.1(n), and 0.6. A score lower than 3.7 had a sensitivity and specificity of 78.5% and 78.9%. The negative predictive value was 94.5% for INT or PNA, suggesting a low risk for ICU requirement. Ninety-two ICU admissions had a score lower than 3.7. Forty had no other indication for ICU admission aside from RFx. These patients had an average ICU length of stay of 1.7 days, resulting in an increased cost of $2,200 per patient. CONCLUSION: A scoring system combining frailty and trauma burden may provide more accurate and cost-effective triage of the elderly trauma patient with RFx. Further prospective studies are required to verify our scoring system. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.

Goal directed fluid resuscitation decreases time for lactate clearance and facilitates early fascial closure in damage control surgery.

BACKGROUND: Damage-control surgery frequently results in open abdomen. The objective of this study was to determine whether resuscitation with goal-directed fluid therapy (GDT) using "dynamic" hemodynamic indices via modern pulse contour analysis devices such as the FloTrac Vigileo monitor leads to lower fluid requirements, subsequent quicker abdominal closure, and overall improved outcomes in these patients. METHODS: Patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit with open abdomen were retrospectively reviewed. Those resuscitated with Vigileo-guided GDT were matched to those resuscitated by static clinical parameters. RESULTS: Total fluid intake and vasopressor requirements were similar in both groups. GDT with the Vigileo allowed earlier lactate clearance and reduced the number of days until abdominal wall closure by an average of .99 days. CONCLUSIONS: Vigileo-mediated GDT did not affect fluid volume or vasopressor use in open abdomen patients, but facilitated more effective resuscitation and decreased the number of days to fascial closure, leading to shorter hospital stays. Vigileo-mediated GDT, therefore, may improve overall outcomes in open abdomen patients.