Derivation and Validation of Generalized Sepsis-induced Acute Respiratory Failure Phenotypes Among Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Septic patients who develop acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring mechanical ventilation represent a heterogenous subgroup of critically ill patients with widely variable clinical characteristics. Identifying distinct phenotypes of these patients may reveal insights about the broader heterogeneity in the clinical course of sepsis. We aimed to derive novel phenotypes of sepsis-induced ARF using observational clinical data and investigate their generalizability across multi-ICU specialties, considering multi-organ dynamics. Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective study of ICU patients with sepsis who required mechanical ventilation for ≥24 hours. Data from two different high-volume academic hospital systems were used as a derivation set with N=3,225 medical ICU (MICU) patients and a validation set with N=848 MICU patients. For the multi-ICU validation, we utilized retrospective data from two surgical ICUs at the same hospitals (N=1,577). Clinical data from 24 hours preceding intubation was used to derive distinct phenotypes using an explainable machine learning-based clustering model interpreted by clinical experts. Results: Four distinct ARF phenotypes were identified: A (severe multi-organ dysfunction (MOD) with a high likelihood of kidney injury and heart failure), B (severe hypoxemic respiratory failure [median P/F=123]), C (mild hypoxia [median P/F=240]), and D (severe MOD with a high likelihood of hepatic injury, coagulopathy, and lactic acidosis). Patients in each phenotype showed differences in clinical course and mortality rates despite similarities in demographics and admission co-morbidities. The phenotypes were reproduced in external validation utilizing an external MICU from second hospital and SICUs from both centers. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant difference in 28-day mortality across the phenotypes (p<0.01) and consistent across both centers. The phenotypes demonstrated differences in treatment effects associated with high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) strategy. Conclusion: The phenotypes demonstrated unique patterns of organ injury and differences in clinical outcomes, which may help inform future research and clinical trial design for tailored management strategies.

Accuracy of Trauma Surgeons Prospective Estimation of the Injury Severity Score: A Pilot Study.

Injury Severity Score (ISS) has limited utility as a prospective predictor of trauma outcomes as it is currently scored by abstractors post-discharge. This study aimed to determine accuracy of ISS estimation at time of admission. Attending trauma surgeons assessed the Abbreviated Injury Scale of each body region for patients admitted during their call, from which estimated ISS (eISS) was calculated. The eISS was considered concordant to abstracted ISS (aISS) if both were in the same category: mild (<9), moderate (9-15), severe (16-25), or critical (>25). Ten surgeons completed 132 surveys. Overall ISS concordance was 52.2%; 87.5%, 30.8%, 34.8%, and 61.7% for patients with mild, moderate, severe, and critical aISS, respectively; unweighted k = .36, weighted k = .69. This preliminarily supports attending trauma surgeons' ability to predict severity of injury in real time, which has important clinical and research implications.

Improving Statewide Post-Operative Sepsis Performance Measurement Using Hospital Risk Adjustment Within a Surgical Collaborative.

Background: The Georgia Quality Improvement Program (GQIP) surgical collaborative participating hospitals have shown consistently poor performance in the post-operative sepsis category of National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data as compared with national benchmarks. We aimed to compare crude versus risk-adjusted post-operative sepsis rankings to determine high and low performers amongst GQIP hospitals. Patients and Methods: The cohort included intra-abdominal general surgery patients across 10 collaborative hospitals from 2015 to 2020. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) sepsis definition was used among all hospitals for case abstraction and NSQIP data were utilized to train and validate a multivariable risk-adjustment model with post-operative sepsis as the outcome. This model was used to rank GQIP hospitals by risk-adjusted post-operative sepsis rates. Rankings between crude and risk-adjusted post-operative sepsis rankings were compared ordinally and for changes in tertile. Results: The study included 20,314 patients with 595 cases of post-operative sepsis. Crude 30-day post-operative sepsis risk among hospitals ranged from 0.81 to 5.11. When applying the risk-adjustment model which included: age, American Society of Anesthesiology class, case complexity, pre-operative pneumonia/urinary tract infection/surgical site infection, admission status, and wound class, nine of 10 hospitals were re-ranked and four hospitals changed performance tertiles. Conclusions: Inter-collaborative risk-adjusted post-operative sepsis rankings are important to present. These metrics benchmark collaborating hospitals, which facilitates best practice exchange from high to low performers.

ClotCatcher: a novel natural language model to accurately adjudicate venous thromboembolism from radiology reports.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate identification of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is critical to develop replicable epidemiological studies and rigorous predictions models. Traditionally, VTE studies have relied on international classification of diseases (ICD) codes which are inaccurate - leading to misclassification bias. Here, we developed ClotCatcher, a novel deep learning model that uses natural language processing to detect VTE from radiology reports. METHODS: Radiology reports to detect VTE were obtained from patients admitted to Emory University Hospital (EUH) and Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH). Data augmentation was performed using the Google PEGASUS paraphraser. This data was then used to fine-tune ClotCatcher, a novel deep learning model. ClotCatcher was validated on both the EUH dataset alone and GMH dataset alone. RESULTS: The dataset contained 1358 studies from EUH and 915 studies from GMH (n = 2273). The dataset contained 1506 ultrasound studies with 528 (35.1%) studies positive for VTE, and 767 CT studies with 91 (11.9%) positive for VTE. When validated on the EUH dataset, ClotCatcher performed best (AUC = 0.980) when trained on both EUH and GMH dataset without paraphrasing. When validated on the GMH dataset, ClotCatcher performed best (AUC = 0.995) when trained on both EUH and GMH dataset with paraphrasing. CONCLUSION: ClotCatcher, a novel deep learning model with data augmentation rapidly and accurately adjudicated the presence of VTE from radiology reports. Applying ClotCatcher to large databases would allow for rapid and accurate adjudication of incident VTE. This would reduce misclassification bias and form the foundation for future studies to estimate individual risk for patient to develop incident VTE.

A random forest model using flow cytometry data identifies pulmonary infection after thoracic injury.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic injury can cause impairment of lung function leading to respiratory complications such as pneumonia (PNA). There is increasing evidence that central memory T cells of the adaptive immune system play a key role in pulmonary immunity. We sought to explore whether assessment of cell phenotypes using flow cytometry (FCM) could be used to identify pulmonary infection after thoracic trauma. METHODS: We prospectively studied trauma patients with thoracic injuries who survived >48 hours at a Level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2020. Clinical and FCM data from serum samples collected within 24 hours of admission were considered as potential variables. Random forest and logistic regression models were developed to estimate the risk of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated PNA. Variables were selected using backwards elimination, and models were internally validated with leave-one-out. RESULTS: Seventy patients with thoracic injuries were included (median age, 35 years [interquartile range (IQR), 25.25-51 years]; 62.9% [44 of 70] male, 61.4% [42 of 70] blunt trauma). The most common injuries included rib fractures (52 of 70 [74.3%]) and pulmonary contusions (26 of 70 [37%]). The incidence of PNA was 14 of 70 (20%). Median Injury Severity Score was similar for patients with and without PNA (30.5 [IQR, 22.6-39.3] vs. 26.5 [IQR, 21.6-33.3]). The final random forest model selected three variables (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, highest pulse rate in first 24 hours, and frequency of CD4 + central memory cells) that identified PNA with an area under the curve of 0.93, sensitivity of 0.91, and specificity of 0.88. A logistic regression with the same features had an area under the curve of 0.86, sensitivity of 0.76, and specificity of 0.85. CONCLUSION: Clinical and FCM data have diagnostic utility in the early identification of patients at risk of nosocomial PNA following thoracic injury. Signs of physiologic stress and lower frequency of central memory cells appear to be associated with higher rates of PNA after thoracic trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test/Criteria; Level IV.

Multidimensional machine learning models predicting outcomes after trauma.

BACKGROUND: An emerging body of literature supports the role of individualized prognostic tools to guide the management of patients after trauma. The aim of this study was to develop advanced modeling tools from multidimensional data sources, including immunological analytes and clinical and administrative data, to predict outcomes in trauma patients. METHODS: This was a prospective study of trauma patients at Level 1 centers from 2015 to 2019. Clinical, flow cytometry, and serum cytokine data were collected within 48 hours of admission. Sparse logistic regression models were developed, jointly selecting predictors and estimating the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute kidney injury, complicated disposition (death, rehabilitation, or nursing facility), and return to the operating room. Model parameters (regularization controlling model sparsity) and performance estimation were obtained via nested leave-one-out cross-validation. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients were included. The incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute kidney injury, complicated disposition, and return to the operating room were 17.7%, 28.8%, 22.5%, and 12.3%, respectively. Regarding extensive resource use, 30.7% of patients had prolonged intensive care unit stay, 73.2% had prolonged length of stay, and 23.5% had need for prolonged ventilatory support. The models were developed and cross-validated for ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute kidney injury, complicated dispositions, and return to the operating room, yielding predictive areas under the curve from 0.70 to 0.91. Each model derived its optimal predictive value by combining clinical, administrative, and immunological analyte data. CONCLUSION: Clinical, immunological, and administrative data can be combined to predict post-traumatic outcomes and resource use. Multidimensional machine learning modeling can identify trauma patients with complicated clinical trajectories and high resource needs.

Second Victim Syndrome in Trauma Practitioners and Other Ancillary Staff.

In health care, second victims are traumatized clinicians involved in unanticipated or untoward patient events. Programs that address second victim syndrome are sparse and its diagnosis often goes unrecognized. Consistently, literature has identified gaps in support resources, leading to compromised patient care and provider health. This project evaluates the need for second victim resources in trauma care providers at a tertiary public level 1 trauma hospital by electronically implementing a validated second victim survey over 5 weeks. Our results illustrate that second victim syndrome is prevalent among 57.1% of trauma care providers, of which 22.9% agree that second victim syndrome results in some form of undesirable work intentions.

Cellular microRNAs correlate with clinical parameters in multiple injury patients.

INTRODUCTION: The pathophysiology of the inflammatory response after major trauma is complex, and the magnitude correlates with severity of tissue injury and outcomes. Study of infection-mediated immune pathways has demonstrated that cellular microRNAs may modulate the inflammatory response. The authors hypothesize that the expression of microRNAs would correlate to complicated recoveries in polytrauma patients (PtPs). METHODS: Polytrauma patients enrolled in the prospective observational Tissue and Data Acquisition Protocol with Injury Severity Score of >15 were selected for this study. Polytrauma patients were divided into complicated recoveries and uncomplicated recovery groups. Polytrauma patients' blood samples were obtained at the time of admission (T0). Established biomarkers of systemic inflammation, including cytokines and chemokines, were measured using multiplexed Luminex-based methods, and novel microRNAs were measured in plasma samples using multiplex RNA hybridization. RESULTS: Polytrauma patients (n = 180) had high Injury Severity Score (26 [20-34]) and complicated recovery rate of 33%. MicroRNAs were lower in PtPs at T0 compared with healthy controls, and bivariate analysis demonstrated that variations of microRNAs correlated with age, race, comorbidities, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary complications, complicated recovery, and mortality. Positive correlations were noted between microRNAs and interleukin 10, vascular endothelial growth factor, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores. Multivariable Lasso regression analysis of predictors of complicated recovery based on microRNAs, cytokines, and chemokines revealed that miR-21-3p and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were predictive of complicated recovery with an area under the curve of 0.78. CONCLUSION: Systemic microRNAs were associated with poor outcomes in PtPs, and results are consistent with previously described trends in critically ill patients. These early biomarkers of inflammation might provide predictive utility in early complicated recovery diagnosis and prognosis. Because of their potential to regulate immune responses, microRNAs may provide therapeutic targets for immunomodulation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Tests/Criteria; Level II.

Superior Mesenteric Artery and Vein Injuries: Operative Strategies and Outcomes.

Traumatic injuries to the mesenteric vessels are rare and often lethal. Visceral vessels, such as the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vein (SMV), supply blood to the small and large bowel by a rich system of collaterals. Because fewer than 100 such injuries have been described in the literature, they pose challenges in both diagnosis and management and can unfortunately result in high mortality rates. Prompt diagnosis, surgical intervention, and resuscitation can lead to improved outcomes. Here, we review the literature surrounding traumatic injuries of the SMA/SMV and discuss management strategies.

Viral Micro-RNAs Are Detected in the Early Systemic Response to Injury and Are Associated With Outcomes in Polytrauma Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate early activation of latent viruses in polytrauma patients and consider prognostic value of viral micro-RNAs in these patients. DESIGN: This was a subset analysis from a prospectively collected multicenter trauma database. Blood samples were obtained upon admission to the trauma bay (T0), and trauma metrics and recovery data were collected. SETTING: Two civilian Level 1 Trauma Centers and one Military Treatment Facility. PATIENTS: Adult polytrauma patients with Injury Severity Scores greater than or equal to 16 and available T0 plasma samples were included in this study. Patients with ICU admission greater than 14 days, mechanical ventilation greater than 7 days, or mortality within 28 days were considered to have a complicated recovery. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Polytrauma patients (n = 180) were identified, and complicated recovery was noted in 33%. Plasma samples from T0 underwent reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis for Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus micro-RNAs (miR-K12_10b and miRK-12-12) and Epstein-Barr virus-associated micro-RNA (miR-BHRF-1), as well as Luminex multiplex array analysis for established mediators of inflammation. Ninety-eight percent of polytrauma patients were found to have detectable Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus micro-RNAs at T0, whereas healthy controls demonstrated 0% and 100% detection rate for Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed associations between viral micro-RNAs and polytrauma patients' age, race, and postinjury complications. Multivariate least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis of clinical variables and systemic biomarkers at T0 revealed that interleukin-10 was the strongest predictor of all viral micro-RNAs. Multivariate least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis of systemic biomarkers as predictors of complicated recovery at T0 demonstrated that miR-BHRF-1, miR-K12-12, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and hepatocyte growth factor were independent predictors of complicated recovery with a model complicated recovery prediction area under the curve of 0.81. CONCLUSIONS: Viral micro-RNAs were detected within hours of injury and correlated with poor outcomes in polytrauma patients. Our findings suggest that transcription of viral micro-RNAs occurs early in the response to trauma and may be associated with the biological processes involved in polytrauma-induced complicated recovery.

Predicting the need for massive transfusion: Prospective validation of a smartphone-based clinical decision support tool.

BACKGROUND: Improper or delayed activation of a massive transfusion protocol may have consequences to individuals and institutions. We designed a complex predictive algorithm that was packaged within a smartphone application. We hypothesized it would accurately assess the need for massive transfusion protocol activation and assist clinicians in that decision. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients at an urban, level I trauma center. The application recorded the surgeon's initial opinion for activation and then prompted inputs for the model. The application provided a prediction and recorded the surgeon's final decision on activation. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-one patients were enrolled (83% male; 59% penetrating; median Injury Severity Score 9; mean base deficit -4.11). Of 36 massive transfusion protocol activations, 26 had an app prediction of "high" or "moderate" probability. Of these, 4 (15%) patients received <10 u blood as a result of early hemorrhage control. Two hundred and eighty-five patients did not have massive transfusion protocol activated by the surgeon with 27 (9%) patients having "moderate" or "high" likelihood predicted by the application. Twenty-four of these did not require massive transfusion, and all patients had acidosis that unrelated to hemorrhagic shock. For 13 (50%) of the patients with "high" probability, the surgeon correctly altered their initial decision based on this information. The algorithm demonstrated an adjusted accuracy of 0.96 (95% confidence interval [0.93-0.98); P ≤ .001]), sensitivity = 0.99, specificity 0.72, positive predictive value 0.96, negative predictive value 0.99, and area under the receiver operating curve = 0.86. CONCLUSION: A smartphone-based clinical decision tools can aid surgeons in the decision to active massive transfusion protocol in real time, although it does not completely replace clinician judgment.

An integrative model using flow cytometry identifies nosocomial infection after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometry (FCM) is a rapid diagnostic tool for monitoring immune cell function. We sought to determine if assessment of cell phenotypes using standardized FCM could be used to identify nosocomial infection after trauma. METHODS: Prospective study of trauma patients at a Level I center from 2014 to 2018. Clinical and FCM data were collected within 24 hours of admission. Random forest (RF) models were developed to estimate the risk of severe sepsis (SS), organ space infection (OSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Variables were selected using backward elimination and models were validated with leave-one-out. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-eight patients were included (median age, 30 years [23-44 years]; median Injury Severity Score, 20 (14-29); 76% (105/138) Black; 60% (83/138) gunshots). The incidence of SS was 8.7% (12/138), OSI 16.7% (23/138), and VAP 18% (25/138). The final RF SS model resulted in five variables (RBCs transfused in first 24 hours; absolute counts of CD56- CD16+ lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, and CD56 bright natural killer [NK] cells; percentage of CD16+ CD56+ NK cells) that identified SS with an AUC of 0.89, sensitivity of 0.98, and specificity of 0.78. The final RF OSI model resulted in four variables (RBC in first 24 hours, shock index, absolute CD16+ CD56+ NK cell counts, percentage of CD56 bright NK cells) that identified OSI with an AUC of 0.76, sensitivity of 0.68, and specificity of 0.82. The RF VAP model resulted in six variables (Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment score: Injury Severity Score; CD4- CD8- T cell counts; percentages of CD16- CD56- NK cells, CD16- CD56+ NK cells, and CD19+ B lymphocytes) that identified VAP with AUC of 0.86, sensitivity of 0.86, and specificity of 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: Combined clinical and FCM data can assist with early identification of posttraumatic infections. The presence of NK cells supports the innate immune response that occurs during acute inflammation. Further research is needed to determine the functional role of these innate cell phenotypes and their value in predictive models immediately after injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, level III.

Massive Transfusion Protocol Predictive Modeling in the Modern Electronic Medical Record.

Objectives: Integrate a predictive model for massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activation and delivery in the electronic medical record (EMR) using prospectively gathered data; externally validate the model and assess the accuracy and precision of the model over time. Background: The Emory model for predicting MTP using only four input variables was chosen to be integrated into our hospital's EMR to provide a real time clinical decision support tool. The continuous variable output allows for periodic re-calibration of the model to optimize sensitivity and specificity. Methods: Prospectively collected data from level 1 and 2 trauma activations were used to input heart rate, systolic blood pressure, base excess (BE) and mechanism of injury into the EMR-integrated model for predicting MTP activation and delivery. MTP delivery was defined as: 6 units of packed red blood cells/6 hours (MTP1) or 10 units in 24 hours (MTP2). The probability of MTP was reported in the EMR. ROC and PR curves were constructed at 6, 12, and 20 months to assess the adequacy of the model. Results: Data from 1162 patients were included. Areas under ROC for MTP activation, MTP1 and MTP2 delivery at 6, 12, and 20 months were 0.800, 0.821, and 0.831; 0.796, 0.861, and 0.879; and 0.809, 0.875, and 0.905 (all P < 0.001). The areas under the PR curves also improved, reaching values at 20 months of 0.371, 0.339, and 0.355 for MTP activation, MTP1 delivery, and MTP2 delivery. Conclusions: A predictive model for MTP activation and delivery was integrated into our EMR using prospectively collected data to externally validate the model. The model's performance improved over time. The ability to choose the cut-points of the ROC and PR curves due to the continuous variable output of probability of MTP allows one to optimize sensitivity or specificity.

The role of diagnostic laparoscopy for trauma at a high-volume level one center.

BACKGROUND: The role of minimally invasive surgery in trauma has continued to evolve over the past 20 years. Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) has become increasingly utilized for the diagnosis and management of both blunt and penetrating injuries. OBJECTIVE: While the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy has been established for penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma, it remains a controversial tool for other injury patterns due to the concern for complications and missed injuries. We sought to examine the role of laparoscopy for the initial management of traumatic injuries at our urban Level 1 trauma center. METHODS: All trauma patients who underwent DL for blunt or penetrating trauma between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, indications for DL, injuries identified, rate of conversion to open surgery, and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 316 patients were included in the cohort. The mean age was 34.9 years old (± 13.7), mean GCS 14 (± 3), and median ISS 10 (4-18). A total of 110/316 patients (35%) sustained blunt injury and 206/316 patients (65%) sustained penetrating injury. Indications for DL included evaluation for peritoneal violation (152/316, 48%), free fluid without evidence of solid organ injury (52/316, 16%), evaluation of bowel injury (42/316, 13%), and evaluation for diaphragmatic injury (35/316, 11%). Of all DLs, 178/316 (56%) were negative for injury requiring intervention, which was 58% of blunt cases and 55% of penetrating cases. There were no missed injuries noted. Average hospital length of stay was significantly shorter for patients that underwent DL vs conversion to open exploration (2.2 days vs. 4.5 days, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this single institution, retrospective study, the high volume of cases appears to show that DL is a reliable tool for detecting injury and avoiding potential negative or non-therapeutic laparotomies. However, when injuries were present, the high rate of conversion to open exploration suggests that its utility for therapeutic intervention warrants further study.

Intra-abdominal Inferior Vena Cava Injuries: Operative Strategies and Outcomes.

Visceral vascular injuries are relatively uncommon even in busy urban trauma centers. The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the most frequently injured visceral vein and can be a complex operative challenge. Despite advances in early volume resuscitation, improved transport times, prompt operative intervention, and hemorrhage control, mortality rates have remained largely unchanged. This article conducts an in-depth review of the literature surrounding IVC injuries and a detailed discussion of operative strategies and management as survivability is ultimately dependent on the grade of injury, location, and the presence of hemorrhagic shock.

Clinical risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers of post-traumatic acute kidney injury in combat patients.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic acute kidney injury has occurred in every major military conflict since its initial description during World War II. To ensure the proper treatment of combat casualties, early detection is critical. This study therefore aimed to investigate combat-related post-traumatic acute kidney injury in recent military conflicts, used machine learning algorithms to identify clinical and biomarker variables associated with the development of post-traumatic acute kidney injury, and evaluated the effects of post-traumatic acute kidney injury on wound healing and nosocomial infection. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective clinical cohort review of 73 critically injured US military service members who sustained major combat-related extremity wounds and had collected injury characteristics, assayed serum and tissue biopsy samples for the expression of protein and messenger ribonucleic acid biomarkers. Bivariate analyses and random forest recursive feature elimination classification algorithms were used to identify associated injury characteristics and biomarker variables. RESULTS: The incidence of post-traumatic acute kidney injury was 20.5%. Of that, 86% recovered baseline renal function and only 2 (15%) of the acute kidney injury group required renal replacement therapy. Random forest recursive feature elimination algorithms were able to estimate post-traumatic acute kidney injury with the area under the curve of 0.93, sensitivity of 0.91, and specificity of 0.91. Post-traumatic acute kidney injury was associated with injury severity score, serum epidermal growth factor, and tissue activin A type receptor 1, matrix metallopeptidase 10, and X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 expression. Patients with post-traumatic acute kidney injury exhibited poor wound healing and increased incidence of nosocomial infections. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of acute kidney injury in combat casualties may be estimated using injury characteristics and serum and tissue biomarkers. External validations of these models are necessary to generalize for all trauma patients.

Mass Casualty Shootings and Emergency Preparedness: A Multidisciplinary Approach for an Unpredictable Event.

Mass casualty events (MCE) are an infrequent occurrence to most daily healthcare systems however these incidents are the causation for new hospital preparedness and the development of coordinated emergency services. The broad support and operational plans outside the hospital include emergency medical services, local law enforcement, government agencies, and city officials. Modern-day hospital disaster preparedness goals include scheduled training for healthcare personnel to ensure effective and accurate triage for a high-volume of injured patients. This MDT collaboration strengthens the emergency response to optimize the delivery of life-saving care during MCEs. This review identifies the clinical importance of the interdisciplinary team interactions and the lessons learned from past MCE experiences, strengthening healthcare system readiness for such critical incidents.

Random forest modeling can predict infectious complications following trauma laparotomy.

BACKGROUND: Identifying clinical and biomarker profiles of trauma patients may facilitate the creation of models that predict postoperative complications. We sought to determine the utility of modeling for predicting severe sepsis (SS) and organ space infections (OSI) following laparotomy for abdominal trauma. METHODS: Clinical and molecular biomarker data were collected prospectively from patients undergoing exploratory laparotomy for abdominal trauma at a Level I trauma center between 2014 and 2017. Machine learning algorithms were used to develop models predicting SS and OSI. Random forest (RF) was performed, and features were selected using backward elimination. The SS model was trained on 117 records and validated using the leave-one-out method on the remaining 15 records. The OSI model was trained on 113 records and validated on the remaining 19. Models were assessed using areas under the curve. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two patients were included (median age, 30 years [23-42 years], 68.9% penetrating injury, median Injury Severity Score of 18 [10-27]). Of these, 10.6% (14 of 132) developed SS and 13.6% (18 of 132) developed OSI. The final RF model resulted in five variables for SS (Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index, serum epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and eotaxin) and four variables for OSI (Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index, serum epidermal growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-8). The RF models predicted SS and OSI with areas under the curve of 0.798 and 0.774, respectively. CONCLUSION: Random forests with RFE can help identify clinical and biomarker profiles predictive of SS and OSI after trauma laparotomy. Once validated, these models could be used as clinical decision support tools for earlier detection and treatment of infectious complications following injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, level III.