Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Trauma Patients: Do We Need to Open and See if We Can See Without Opening?

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) has been advocated to reduce the incidence of nontherapeutic laparotomies (NL) among stable trauma patients. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of hemodynamically stable trauma patients undergoing DL versus NL. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database over 4 y (2017-2020). Hemodynamically stable (systolic blood pressure >90 & heart rate < 120) adult (≥18 y) trauma patients undergoing DL or NL were included. Patients were stratified into DL and NL and substratified based on the mechanism of injury (blunt versus penetrating) and compared. RESULTS: Over 4 y, 3801 patients were identified, of which, 997 (26.2%) underwent DL. Overall, 25.6% sustained blunt injuries. The mean (SD) age was 39 (16) and 79.5% were male. The median injury severity score and abdominal abbreviated injury scale were 4 [4-9] and 1 [1-2], with no difference among study groups (P ≥ 0.05). The overall mortality and major complication rates were 2.8% and 13.2%, respectively. After controlling for potential confounding factors, DL was independently associated with lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.10, 95% CI [0.04-0.29], P < 0.001) and major complications (adjusted odds ratio: 0.38, 95% CI [0.29-0.50], P < 0.001) and shorter hospital length of stay (ß: -1.22, 95% CI [-1.78 to -0.67], P < 0.001). The trends toward improved outcomes in the DL group remained the same in the subanalysis of patients with penetrating and blunt injuries. CONCLUSIONS: With advances in minimally invasive surgery, unnecessary exploratory laparotomy can be avoided in many trauma patients. Our study shows that hemodynamically stable patients undergoing DL had superior outcomes compared to those with NL.

The optimal management of blunt aortic injury in the young.

BACKGROUND: Blunt aortic injury (BAI) is relatively uncommon in the pediatric population. The goal of this study was to examine the management of BAI in both children and adolescents, using a large national dataset. METHODS: Patients (1-19 years of age) with BAI were identified from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database over 14-years. Patients were stratified by age group (children [ages 1-9] and adolescents [ages 10-19]) and compared. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of mortality in adolescents with BAI. RESULTS: Adolescents undergoing TEVAR had similar morbidity (16.8 vs 12.6 â€‹%, p â€‹= â€‹0.057) and significantly reduced mortality (2.1 vs 14.4 â€‹%, p â€‹< â€‹0.0001) compared to those adolescents managed non-operatively. MLR identified use of TEVAR as the only modifiable risk factor significantly associated with reduced mortality (OR 0.138; 95%CI 0.059-0.324, p â€‹< â€‹0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: BAI leads to significant morbidity and mortality for both children and adolescents. For pediatric patients with BAI, children may be safely managed non-operatively, while an endovascular repair may improve outcomes for adolescents.

Failure to Rescue in Geriatric Ground-Level Falls: The Role of Frailty on Not-So-Minor Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: The measure of mortality following a major complication (failure to rescue [FTR]) provides a quantifiable assessment of the level of care provided by trauma centers. However, there is a lack of data on the effects of patient-related factors on FTR incidence. The aim of this study was to identify the role of frailty on FTR incidence among geriatric trauma patients with ground-level falls (GLFs). METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2017-2020). All geriatric (aged ≥ 65 ys) trauma patients with GLFs admitted to a level I trauma center were included. Transferred patients, those with severe head injuries (head abbreviated injury scale ≥ 3), and those who died within 24 h of admission or whose length of stay was ≤1 d were excluded. FTR was defined as death following a major complication (cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unplanned intubation, acute renal failure, cerebrovascular accident, ventilator-associated pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism). Patients were stratified into frail (F) and nonfrail (NF) based on the 11-Factor Modified Frailty Index. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify the independent effect of frailty on the incidence of FTR. RESULTS: Over 4 ys, 34,100 geriatric patients with GLFs were identified, of whom 9140 (26.8%) were F. The mean (standard deviation) age was 78 (7) years and 65% were female. The median injury severity score was 9 (5-10) with no difference among F and NF groups (P = 0.266). Overall, F patients were more likely to develop major complications (F: 3.6% versus NF: 2%, P < 0.001) and experience FTR (F: 1.8%% versus NF: 0.6%, P < 0.001). Moreover, among patients with major complications, F patients were more likely to die (F: 47% versus NF: 27%, P < 0.001). On multivariable regression analysis, frailty was identified as an independent predictor of major complications (adjusted odds ratio: 1.98, 95% confidence interval [1.70-2.29], P < 0.001) and FTR (adjusted odds ratio: 2.26, 95% confidence interval [1.68-3.05], P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among geriatric trauma patients with GLFs, frailty increases the risk-adjusted odds of FTR by more than two times. One in every two F patients with a major complication does not survive to discharge. Future efforts should concentrate on improving patient-related and hospital-related factors to decrease the risk of FTR among these vulnerable populations.

Outcomes of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Transferred to Trauma Centers.

Importance: Wide variations exist in traumatic brain injury (TBI) management strategies and transfer guidelines across the country. Objective: To assess the outcomes of patients with TBI transferred to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) level I (LI) or level II (LII) trauma centers (TCs) on a nationwide scale. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this secondary analysis of the ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2017 to 2020), adult patients with isolated TBI (nonhead abbreviated injury scale = 0) with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) who were transferred to LI/LII TCs we re included. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes were rates of head computed tomography scans, neurosurgical interventions (cerebral monitors, craniotomy/craniectomy), hospital length of stay, and mortality. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical mixed-model regression analyses were performed. Results: Of 117 651 patients with TBI with ICH managed at LI/LII TCs 53 108; (45.1%; 95% CI, 44.8%-45.4%) transferred from other centers were identified. The mean (SD) age was 61 (22) years and 30 692 were male (58%). The median (IQR) Glasgow Coma Scale score on arrival was 15 (14-15); 5272 patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less on arrival at the receiving trauma center (10%). A total of 30 973 patients underwent head CT scans (58%) and 2144 underwent repeat head CT scans at the receiving TC (4%). There were 2124 patients who received cerebral monitors (4%), 6862 underwent craniotomy/craniectomy (13%), and 7487 received mechanical ventilation (14%). The median (IQR) hospital length of stay was 2 (1-5) days and the mortality rate was 6.5%. There were 9005 patients (17%) who were discharged within 24 hours and 19 421 (37%) who were discharged within 48 hours of admission without undergoing any neurosurgical intervention. Wide variations between and within trauma centers in terms of outcomes were observed in mixed-model analysis. Conclusions: In this study, nearly half of the patients with TBI managed at LI/LII TCs were transferred from lower-level hospitals. Over one-third of these transferred patients were discharged within 48 hours without any interventions. These findings indicate the need for systemwide guidelines to improve health care resource use and guide triage of patients with TBI.

Role of endovascular management on outcomes in patients with traumatic inferior vena cava injuries.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the association between the injury mechanism and repair type with outcomes in patients with traumatic inferior vena cava injuries. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the ACS-TQIP database (2017-2020), including patients with traumatic IVC injuries. Patients were stratified by injury mechanism and type of repair and compared. RESULTS: Out of 1334 patients, 5 â€‹% underwent endovascular repair while 95 â€‹% had an open procedure. Overall, 74.7 â€‹% sustained a penetrating injury. On multivariable regression analysis, the type of repair was not associated with mortality and morbidity for patients with penetrating injuries. However, among patients with blunt injuries, endovascular repair was associated with lower odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR:0.35, p â€‹= â€‹0.020) and non-venous thromboembolism (VTE) morbidity (aOR:0.41, p â€‹= â€‹0.015), and higher odds of VTE complications (aOR:6.74, p â€‹< â€‹0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the type of repair did not impact morbidity and mortality in patients with penetrating injuries, endovascular repair was identified as the only modifiable predictor of reduced non-VTE morbidity and mortality in patients with blunt injuries.

The Harsh Reality: Outcomes of Patients With Operatively Managed Lung Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Most traumatic lung injuries are managed non-operatively. There is a paucity of recent data on the outcomes of operatively managed lung injuries. The aim of our study is to determine the survival rates of operatively managed traumatic lung injury patients on a nationwide scale. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the ACS-TQIP 2017-2020. We included all adult trauma patients with lung injuries that underwent operative management. Patients were stratified based on type of surgery into 3 groups (wedge resection, lobectomy, pneumonectomy). The outcome was mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: We identified a total of 170,377 patients with lung injuries, out of which 2159 (1.3%) patients underwent operative management (Wedge resection [61%], Lobectomy [31%], Pneumonectomy [8%]). Among operatively managed patients, the mean (SD) age was 37 (16) years, and 86% were male. Overall, 65% sustained penetrating injuries, with a median [IQR] ISS of 25 [16 - 33], and median [IQR] lung injury AIS severity of 4 [3 - 4]. About 7% of the patients suffered hilar injuries. The mean (SD) SBP on arrival was 108 (43) and the median [IQR] time to surgery was 177 [52 - 5351] minutes. The median hospital LOS was 10 [1 - 19] days, and overall mortality rate was 30%. On univariate analysis, patients undergoing pneumonectomy had the highest mortality (54%), followed by lobectomy (33%), and wedge resection (25%). On multivariable regression analysis, hilar injuries (aOR 1.9, 95%CI = 1.06 - 2.80, P = 0.029), increasing age (aOR 1.02, 95%CI = 1.01 - 1.03, P = 0.001), concomitant head (aOR 1.34, 95%CI = 1.22 - 1.47, P < 0.001) and abdominal injuries (aOR 1.42, 95%CI = 1.31 - 1.54, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 1 in 3 patients with lung injuries who were managed operatively did not survive their index admission. These findings highlight that operatively managed lung injuries still carry a high risk of mortality and should be reserved for selected patients. The decision for surgery in patients with concomitant head or abdominal injuries must be taken on a case-to-case basis.

The Synergy Factor: Trauma and Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma and cancer are the leading causes of death in the US. There is a paucity of data describing the impact of cancer on trauma patients. We aimed to determine the influence of cancer on outcomes of trauma patients. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program 2019-2021, we included all adult trauma patients (≥18 y) and excluded patients with severe head injuries and nonmelanomatous skin cancers. Patients were stratified into cancer (C), and no cancer (No-C). Propensity score matching (1:3) was performed. Outcomes were complications and mortality. RESULTS: A matched cohort of 3236 patients (C, 809; No-C, 2427) was analyzed. The mean age was 70 y, 50.5% were males, and the median injury severity score was 8 (4-10). There were no differences in terms of receiving thromboprophylaxis (C 51%: No-C 50%, P = 0.516). Compared to No-C group, the C group had higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (C 1.1% versus No-C 0.3%, P = 0.004), but there was no difference in terms of overall complications. Patients in the C group had higher mortality (C 7.5% versus No-C 2.7%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Trauma patients with cancer have nearly 4 times higher odds of deep vein thrombosis and 3 times higher odds of mortality. Developing pathways specific to cancer patients might be necessary to improve the outcomes of trauma patients with cancer.

Endovascular Versus Open Repair in Adolescent Patients With Difficult-to-Access Vascular Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Management of subclavian artery injuries (SAI) and iliac artery injuries (IAI) in adolescent trauma patients poses a considerable challenge due to their complex anatomical locations. The aim of our study was to determine the association between the injury mechanism and type of repair with the outcomes of patients with traumatic SAI and IAI. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database2017-2020, adolescent (<18 y) patients with SAI and IAI undergoing either endovascular or open repair were included. Patients were stratified by mechanism (blunt versus penetrating) and type of repair (endovascular [E] versus open [O]) and compared. Outcomes measured were mortality and major complications. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Over 4 y, 170 pediatric patients were identified, of which 73 (43%) sustained an SAI and 97 (57%) had IAI. The mean age was 15 and 79% were male. Overall, 39% were managed endovascularly. Both groups had comparable median injury severity score (E: 23 versus O: 25, P = 0.278). For patients with blunt injury (n = 60), the type of repair was neither associated with major complications (E: 39% versus O: 33%, P = 0.694) nor mortality (E: 2.6% versus O: 4.8%, P = 0.651). For patients with penetrating injuries (n = 110), the endovascular repair had significantly lower morbidity (19% versus 41%, P = 0.034) and mortality (3.7% versus 21%, P = 0.041). On multivariable logistic regression, endovascular repair was identified as the only modifiable risk factor associated with reduced mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.201, 95% confidence interval [0.14-0.76], P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Difficult-to-access vascular injuries result in significant morbidity and mortality. Endovascular repair was found to be the only modifiable factor associated with decreased mortality of patients with penetrating injury, whereas the type of repair was not associated with mortality in those with blunt injury.

Development and Validation of Futility of Resuscitation Measure in Older Adult Trauma Patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to develop and validate Futility of Resuscitation Measure (FoRM) for predicting the futility of resuscitation among older adult trauma patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2017-2018) (derivation cohort) and American College of Surgeons level I trauma center database (2017-2022) (validation cohort). We included all severely injured (injury severity score >15) older adult (aged ≥60 y) trauma patients. Patients were stratified into decades of age. Injury characteristics (severe traumatic brain injury [Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8], traumatic brain injury midline shift), physiologic parameters (lowest in-hospital systolic blood pressure [≤1 h], prehospital cardiac arrest), and interventions employed (4-h packed red blood cell transfusions, emergency department resuscitative thoracotomy, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta, emergency laparotomy [≤2 h], early vasopressor requirement [≤6 h], and craniectomy) were identified. Regression coefficient-based weighted scoring system was developed using the Schneeweiss method and subsequently validated using institutional database. RESULTS: A total of 5562 patients in derivation cohort and 873 in validation cohort were identified. Mortality was 31% in the derivation cohort and FoRM had excellent discriminative power to predict mortality (area under the receiver operator characteristic = 0.860; 95% confidence interval [0.847-0.872], P < 0.001). Patients with a FoRM score of >16 had a less than 10% chance of survival, while those with a FoRM score of >20 had a less than 5% chance of survival. In validation cohort, mortality rate was 17% and FoRM had good discriminative power (area under the receiver operator characteristic = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [0.71-0.80], P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FoRM can reliably identify the risk of futile resuscitation among older adult patients admitted to our level I trauma center.

From Procedure to Prognosis: The Association Between Obesity and Outcomes of Iliac Artery Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: The management of injuries to the iliac artery presents a challenging clinical scenario due to the impeded anatomical access. Obesity is a common comorbid condition known to affect the outcomes of trauma patients; however, there is a paucity of data on the association of obesity with the treatment and outcomes of iliac artery injuries. The aim of this study was to assess the association between body mass index (BMI) on the management and outcomes of patients with iliac artery injuries. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2017-2020). All adult (aged ≥18 y) trauma patients with iliac artery injuries who underwent open or endovascular repair were included. Patients were divided based on BMI (normal: BMI <25 kg/m2, overweight: BMI ≥25-30 kg/m2, obese: BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and compared. Outcomes included rates of open and endovascular repair, in-hospital mortality, and complications. Multivariable regression analysis was performed for these outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 380 patients were identified who underwent repair (Open: 61%, Endovascular: 39%) for iliac artery injuries. The mean (standard deviation) age was 41 (19) y and 74% were male. There was no difference in the rates of open or endovascular repair among the BMI categories (P = 0.332). The median (interquartile range) injury severity score was 22 (9-29) with no difference among the BMI categories (P = 0.244). On univariate analysis, the rates of mortality and major complications were higher among obese patients compared to overweight and normal BMI groups (P < 0.05) (Table). On multivariable regression analysis, increasing BMI was not a predictor of open or endovascular repair of the iliac arteries; however, increasing BMI was independently associated with higher odds of major complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.02-1.16], P = 0.007), acute kidney injury (aOR: 1.13, 95% CI [1.02-1.24], P = 0.015), acute respiratory distress syndrome (aOR: 1.18, 95% CI [1.01-1.38], P = 0.031), and mortality (aOR: 1.30, 95% CI [1.06-1.59], P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Although BMI was not identified as a predictor of the type of repair for iliac artery injuries, increasing BMI was significantly associated with mortality, complications, and acute kidney injury in patients who undergo repair of the iliac arteries. Future research is warranted to identify the optimal management approach for obese patients to improve the outcomes.

When Every Minute Counts: REBOA Before Surgery Is Independently Associated With a 15-Minute Delay in Time to Definitive Hemorrhage Control.

INTRODUCTION: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a temporizing hemorrhage control intervention, but its inevitable effect on time to operating room (OR) has not been assessed. The aim of our study is to assess the impact of undergoing REBOA before surgery (RBS) on time to definitive hemorrhage control surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of 2017-2021 ACS-TQIP database, all adult (≥18 years) patients who underwent emergency hemorrhage control laparotomy (≤4 hours of admission) and received early blood products (≤4 hours) were included, and patients with severe head injury (Head-abbreviated injury score > 2) were excluded. Patients were stratified into those who did (RBS) vs those who did not undergo REBOA before surgery (No-RBS). Primary outcome was time to laparotomy. Secondary outcomes were complications and mortality. Multivariable linear and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent associations between RBS and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 32,683 patients who underwent emergency laparotomy were identified (RBS: 342; No-RBS: 32,341). The mean age was 39 (16) years, 78% were male, mean SBP was 107 (34) mmHg, and the median injury severity score was 21 [14-29]. The median time to emergency hemorrhage control surgery was 50 [32-85] minutes. Overall complication rate was 16% and mortality was 19%. On univariate analysis, RBS group had longer time to surgery (RBS 56 [41-89] vs No-RBS 50 [32-85] minutes, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, RBS was independently associated with a longer time to hemorrhage control surgery (ß + 14.5 [95%CI 7.8-21.3], P < 0.001), higher odds of complications (aOR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.27-2.34, P < 0.001), and mortality (aOR = 3.42, 95%CI = 2.57-4.55, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: REBOA is independently associated with longer time to OR for hemorrhaging trauma patients with an average delay of 15 minutes. Further research evaluating center-specific REBOA volume and utilization practices, and other pertinent system factors, may help improve both time to REBOA as well as time to definitive hemorrhage control across US trauma centers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III. STUDY TYPE: Epidemiologic.

Obesity is a predictor of abdominal computed tomography imaging in pediatric trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) has helped to reduce the morbidity due to missed injuries. However, CT imaging is associated with radiation exposure and thus has limited indications in pediatric patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the association between obesity and abdominal CT imaging in pediatric trauma patients. METHODS: We performed a 4-year retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement 2017-2020. We identified all pediatric trauma patients aged between 7 and 17 years presenting with isolated abdominal trauma (nonabdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score, 0). We excluded patients undergoing hemorrhage control surgeries and those with missing information in height and weight. Patients were stratified by body mass index into four groups (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese [body mass index, ≥30 kg/m2]). Outcomes were predictors of undergoing CT imaging of the abdomen. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: We identified a total of 10,204 pediatric trauma patients. The mean age was 13 years, 68% were male, and 77% were White. The median abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score in all the four groups was 2. On univariate analysis, underweight patients had lowest rates (25%), whereas obese patients had highest rates of CT imaging (38%) (p < 0.001). On multivariable regression analysis, increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.10; p < 0.001), male sex (aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.26; p = 0.009), White race (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76-0.92; p < 0.011), penetrating injury (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32; p = 0.017), obesity (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07-1.57; p = 0.008), and management at American College of Surgeons level II (aOR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.44-1.85; p < 0.001) and level III or lower centers (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26; p = 0.002) were identified as independent predictors of receiving CT imaging. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with increased odds of undergoing CT imaging in pediatric trauma patients independent of injury characteristics. Future efforts to define the appropriate indications for CT imaging in pediatric trauma patients are warranted to reduce the adverse effects of CT radiation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

The implications of poor nutritional status on outcomes of geriatric trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is shown to be associated with worse outcomes among surgical patients, yet its postdischarge outcomes in trauma patients are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate both index admission and postdischarge outcomes of geriatric trauma patients who are at risk of poor nutritional status. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the prospective observational American Association of Surgery for Trauma Frailty Multi-institutional Trial. Geriatric (≥65 years) patients presenting to 1 of the 17 Level I/II/III trauma centers (2019-2021) were included and stratified using the simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (albumin [g/dL] + body mass index [kg/m2]/10) into severe (simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index <5), moderate (5.5> simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥5), mild level of nutritional risk (6> simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥5.5), and good nutritional status (simplified Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index ≥6) and compared. RESULTS: Of the 1,321 patients enrolled, 22% were at risk of poor nutritional status (mild: 13%, moderate: 7%, severe: 3%). The mean age was 77 ± 8 years, and the median [interquartile range] Injury Severity Score was 9 [5-13]. Patients at risk of poor nutritional status had greater rates of sepsis, pneumonia, discharge to the skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center, index-admission mortality, and 3-month mortality (P < .05). On multivariable analyses, being at risk of severe level of nutritional risk was independently associated with sepsis (adjusted odds ratio 6.21, 95% confidence interval 1.68-22.90, P = .006), pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio 4.40, 95% confidence interval 1.21-16.1, P = .025), index-admission mortality (adjusted odds ratio 3.16, 95% confidence interval 1.03-9.68, P = .044), and 3-month mortality (adjusted odds ratio 8.89, 95% confidence interval 2.01-39.43, P = .004) compared with good nutrition state. CONCLUSION: Nearly one quarter of geriatric trauma patients were at risk of poor nutritional status, which was identified as an independent predictor of worse index admission and 3-month postdischarge outcomes. These findings underscore the need for nutritional screening at admission.

Early Vasopressor Requirement Among Hypotensive Trauma Patients: Does It Cause More Harm Than Good?

BACKGROUND: Optimal utilization of vasopressors during early post-injury resuscitation remains unclear. Our study aims to describe the relationship between the timing of vasopressor administration and outcomes among hypotensive trauma patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the 2017-2018 ACS-TQIP database. We included adult (≥18 years) trauma patients presenting with hypotension (lowest SBP <90 mmHg) who received vasopressors within 6 hours of admission. We excluded patients who had a severe head injury (Head-AIS >3) and those with spinal cord injury (Spine-AIS >3). Patients were stratified based on the time to receive vasopressors. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify the independent association between timing of vasopressor initiation and outcomes. RESULTS: 1049 patients were identified. Mean age was 55 ± 20 years, and 70% of patients were male. The median ISS was 16 [9-24], 80% had a blunt injury, and the mean SBP was 61 ± 24 mmHg. The median time to first vasopressor administration was 319 [68-352] minutes. Overall, 24-hour and in-hospital mortality rates were 19% and 33%, respectively. Every one-hour delay in vasopressor administration beyond the first hour was independently associated with decreased odds of 24-hour mortality (aOR: 0.65, P < 0.001), in-hospital mortality (aOR: 0.65, P < 0.001), major complications (aOR: 0.77, P = 0.003), and increased odds of longer ICU LOS (ß + 2.53, P = 0.012). There were no associations between the timing of early vasopressor administration and 24-hour PRBC transfusion requirements (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Earlier vasopressor requirement among hypotensive trauma patients was independently associated with increased mortality and major complications. Further research on the utility and optimal timing of vasopressors during the post-injury resuscitative period is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III therapeutic/care management.

Final Lifelines: The Implications and Outcomes of Thoracic Damage Control Surgeries.

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of data on the outcomes of thoracic damage control surgery (TDCS). This study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing TDCS. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2017-2021). All trauma patients who underwent emergency thoracotomy and packing with temporary closure were included. Patients were stratified based on the age groups (pediatric [<18 y], adults [18-64 y], and older adults [≥65 y]). Our primary outcome measures included 6-h, 24-h, and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were major complications. RESULTS: We identified 14,192 thoracotomies, out of which 213 underwent TDCS (pediatric [n = 17], adults [n = 175], and older adults [n = 21]). The mean (SD) age was 37 (18), and 86% were male. The mean shock index was 1.1 (0.4) on presentation with a median [IQR] Glasgow Coma Scale of 4 [3-14], and 22.1% had a prehospital cardiac arrest. The study population was profoundly injured with a median injury severity scoreand chest-abbreviated injury scale of 26 [17-38] and 4 [3-5], respectively, with lung (76.5%) being the most injured intrathoracic organs. Overall, the rates of 6-h, 24-h, and in-hospital mortality were 22.5%, 33%, and 53%, respectively, and 51% developed major complications. There was no significant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality (P = 0.800) and major complications (0.416) among pediatrics, adults, and older adults. CONCLUSIONS: One in three patients undergoing TDCS die within the first 24 h, and more than half of them develop major complications and die in the hospital, with no difference among pediatric, adults, and older adults. Future efforts should be directed to improve the survival of these severely injured, metabolically depleted, challenging patients.

Clinical decompensation after trauma laparotomy: It's probably not a pulmonary embolus.

Introduction Computed Tomography (CT) to rule out pulmonary embolus (PE) is often ordered during post-trauma laparotomy clinical decompensation (CD) involving fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and/or leukocytosis. We hypothesize this diagnostic modality is low-yield in the postoperative period when surgery-related sequelae are more probable. Methods This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent trauma laparotomy and had subsequent CT for CD from March 19, 2019 to June 30, 2022. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed. The primary outcome was saddle and lobar PE incidence. Results 1032 adult patients underwent trauma laparotomy with 434 undergoing CT for CD: 137 CT abdomen and pelvis only, 30 CTPE, 265 both. The majority (80.2 %) was male, age 33[interquartile range (IQR) 24-45], suffered penetrating mechanism (57 %), and had ISS 23[IQR16-30]. Injuries at laparotomy included 47 % solid organ, 62 % GI tract, 7 % biliary, 11 % vascular, and 42 % other. 176 (41 %) required damage control laparotomy. Median time to CT post-laparotomy was 174 h [111-235] with saddle and lobar PE in 3 (1 %), peripheral PE 18 (5 %), and abdominal abscess, leak, fluid, or pseudoaneurysm in 222 (51 %). Clinical management was altered (40 %) by antibiotics, therapeutic anticoagulation, drainage, aspiration, filter, thrombectomy, or surgical operation. Patients for whom CT findings changed management were more likely to have had GI tract surgery (69% vs 57 %, p = 0.021), higher white blood cell (WBC) (16.4 [13.1-20.5] vs 15.1 [9.9-19.5], p = 0.002), more hours between CT and laparotomy (184 [141-245] vs 162 [89-230], p = 0.002), and lower mortality (2% vs 8 %, p = 0.008). In-hospital mortality was 5 %; none were PE-related. Predictors of clinical intervention required based on CT imaging were GI tract injury (AOR: 1.65, p = 0.0182), and elevated WBC (AOR: 1.038, p = 0.010 Conclusion Saddle and lobar PE incidence post-trauma laparotomy is low. SIRS-type symptoms prompting postoperative CT commonly have no procedural or antibiotic requirement. Postoperative decompensation is more likely related post-operative complications, and less likely a PE.

Less Is More: Dissecting Trauma Centers by Procedural Volume.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the relationship between procedural volume and annual trauma volume (ATV) of ACS Level I trauma centers (TC). BACKGROUND: Although ATV is a hard criterion for TC verification, importance of procedural interventions as a potential quality indicator is understudied. METHODS: Patients managed at ACS level I TCs were identified from ACS-TQIP 2017-2021. TCs were identified using facility keys and stratified into quartiles based on ATV into low, low-medium, medium-high, and high volume. TCs were also stratified into tertiles [low (LV), medium (MV), high (HV)] based on procedural volume by assessing annual number of laparotomies, thoracotomies, craniotomies/craniectomies, angioembolizations, vascular repairs, and long bone fixations performed at each center. The Cohen κ statistic was used to assess concordance between ATV and procedural volume. RESULTS: A total of 182 Level I TCs were identified: 76 low, 47 low-medium, 35 high-medium, and 24 high volume. Long bone fixation, laparotomy, and craniotomy/craniectomy were the most performed procedures with a median of 65, 59, and 46 cases/center/year, respectively. Overall, 31% of HV laparotomy centers, 31% of HV thoracotomy centers, 22% of HV craniotomy/craniectomy centers, 22% of HV vascular repair centers, 32% of HV long bone fixation centers, and 33% of HV angioembolization centers contributed to the overall number of low-medium and low-volume TCs. The Cohen κ statistic demonstrated poor concordance between ATV and procedural volumes for all procedures (overall procedural volume-κ=0.378, laparotomy-κ=0.270, thoracotomy-κ=0.202, craniotomy/craniectomy-κ=0.394, vascular repair-κ=0.298, long bone fixation-κ=0.277, angioembolization-κ=0.286). CONCLUSIONS: ATV does not reflect the procedural interventions performed. Combination of procedural and ATV may provide a more accurate picture of the clinical experience at any given TC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN WHOLE BLOOD TO RED BLOOD CELLS RATIO AND OUTCOMES OF HEMORRHAGING CIVILIAN TRAUMA PATIENTS.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: To evaluate the dose-dependent effect of whole blood (WB) on the outcomes of civilian trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. Methods: We performed a 2-year (2020-2021) retrospective analysis of the ACS-TQIP dataset. Adult (≥18) trauma patients with a shock index (SI) >1 who received at least 5 units of PRBC and one unit of WB within the first 4 h of admission were included. Primary outcomes were 6-h, 24-h, and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were major complications and hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. Results: A total of 830 trauma patients with a mean (SD) age of 38 (16) were identified. The median [IQR] 4-h WB and PRBC requirements were 2 [2-4] U and 10 [7-15] U, respectively, with a median WB:RBC ratio of 0.2 [0.1-0.3]. Every 0.1 increase in WB:RBC ratio was associated with decreased odds of 24-h mortality (aOR: 0.916, P = 0.035) and in-hospital mortality (aOR: 0.878, P < 0.001). Youden's index identified 0.25 (1 U of WB for every 4 U of PRBC) as the optimal WB:PRBC ratio to reduce 24-h mortality. High ratio (≥0.25) group had lower adjusted odds of 24-h mortality (aOR: 0.678, P = 0.021) and in-hospital mortality (aOR: 0.618, P < 0.001) compared to the low ratio group. Conclusions: A higher WB:PRBC ratio was associated with improved early and late mortality in trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. Given the availability of WB in trauma centers across the United States, at least one unit of WB for every 4 units of packed red blood cells may be administered to improve the survival of hemorrhaging civilian trauma patients.

Drugs, Delirium, and Trauma: Substance Use and Incidence of Delirium After Traumatic Brain Injury.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data on the effect of preinjury substance (alcohol, drugs) abuse on the risk of delirium in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to assess the incidence of delirium among patients with blunt TBI in association with different substances. METHODS: We analyzed the 2020 American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program. We included all adult (≥18 y) patients with blunt TBI who had a recorded substance (drugs and alcohol) screening. Our primary outcome was the incidence of delirium. RESULTS: A total of 72,901 blunt TBI patients were identified. The mean (standard deviation) age was 56 (20) years and 68.0% were males. The median (interquartile range) injury severity score was 17 (10-25). Among the study population, 23.1% tested positive for drugs (Stimulants: 3.0%; Depressants: 2.9%, hallucinogens: 5.1%, Cannabinoids: 13.4%, TCAs: 0.1%), and 22.8% tested positive for Alcohol. Overall, 1856 (2.5%) experienced delirium. On univariate analysis, patients who developed delirium were more likely to have positive drug screening results. On multivariable regression analyses, positive screen tests for isolated stimulants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.340, P = 0.018), tricyclic antidepressants (aOR: 3.107, P = 0.019), and cannabinoids (aOR: 1.326, P ≤ 0.001) were independently associated with higher odds of developing delirium. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-fourth of adult patients with blunt TBI had an initial positive substance screening test. Patients with positive results for isolated stimulants, tricyclic antidepressants, and cannabinoids were at a higher risk of developing delirium, whereas this association was not evident with other drugs and alcohol-positive tests. These findings emphasize the need for early drug screening in TBI patients and close monitoring of patients with positive screening tests.

Impact of Concomitant Traumatic Pancreatic and Colon Injuries on Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Colon and pancreatic injuries have both long been independently associated with intraabdominal infectious complications in trauma patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of concomitant pancreatic injury on outcomes in patients with traumatic colon injuries. METHODS: Consecutive patients over a 3-year period who underwent operative management of colon injuries were identified. Patient characteristics, severity of injury and shock, presence and grade of pancreatic injury, and intraoperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions were recorded. Outcomes including intraabdominal abscess formation and suture line failure were collected and compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed to determine the impact of concomitant pancreatic injury on intraabdominal abscess formation. RESULTS: 243 patients with traumatic colon injuries were identified. 17 of these also had pancreatic injuries. Patients with combined colon and pancreatic injuries were clinically similar to those with isolated colon injuries with respect to age, gender, penetrating mechanism of injury, admission lactate, ISS, suture line failure, and admission systolic blood pressure. Both intraabdominal abscess rates (88.2% vs 29.6%, P < .001) and intraoperative PRBC transfusions (8 vs 1 units, P = .004) were higher in the combined pancreatic and colon injury group. Multivariable logistic regression identified both intraoperative PRBC transfusions (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.15; P < .001) and concomitant pancreatic injury (odds ratio, 14.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.92-96.87; P < .001) as independent predictors of intraabdominal abscess formation. DISCUSSION: Both intraoperative PRBC transfusions and presence of concomitant pancreatic injury are independent predictors of intraabdominal abscess formation in patients with traumatic colon injuries.