Secondary overtriage: the burden of unnecessary interfacility transfers in a rural trauma system.

IMPORTANCE: Unnecessary interfacility transfer of minimally injured patients to a level I trauma center (secondary overtriage) can cause inefficient use of resources and personnel within a regional trauma system. OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden of secondary overtriage in a rural trauma system with a single level I trauma center. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of institutional trauma registry data. SETTING: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, a rural level I trauma center. PATIENTS: A total of 7793 injured patients evaluated by the trauma service at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. EXPOSURE: Evaluation by the trauma service. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Patients transferred from another hospital to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center who did not require an operation, had an Injury Severity Score lower than 15, and were discharged alive within 48 hours of admission. RESULTS: Of the 7793 evaluated patients, 4796 (62%) were transferred from other facilities. When compared with scene calls (n = 2997), transferred patients had a similar median Injury Severity Score of 9, but 24% of transferred adult patients and 49% of transferred pediatric patients met our definition of secondary overtriage. The overtriaged patients were most likely to have injuries of the head and neck (56%), followed by skin and soft-tissue injuries (41%). Seventy-two unique institutions transferred trauma patients to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, but 36% of the overtriaged patients were from 5 institutions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The incidence of secondary overtriage in our rural trauma center is 26%, with head and neck injuries being the most common reason for transfer. Costs for transportation and additional evaluation for such a significant percentage of patients has important resource utilization implications. Effective regionalization of rural trauma care should include methods to limit secondary overtriage.

Optimal thoracic and lumbar spine imaging for trauma: are thoracic and lumbar spine reformats always indicated?

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic and lumbar (T/L) spine with reformats has become the imaging modality of choice for the identification of T/L spine fractures. The objective of this study was to directly compare chest/abdomen/pelvis CT (CAP CT) with CT with T/L reformats (T/L CT) for the identification of T/L spine fractures. METHODS: Patients who had both a CAP CT scan (5-mm imaging spacing) and T/L CT reconstruction (2.5-mm image spacing with sagittal and coronal reformats) were selected. A "fracture" group (N = 35) and a "no fracture" group (N = 57) were identified. The type and level of fracture were recorded. RESULTS: The CAP CT correctly identified all 35 patients with a thoracolumbar fracture (100% sensitivity; 95% confidence interval: 88-100%). A total of 80 separate fracture sites were present in the 35 patients. The CAP CT accurately identified 78 of those fractures (97.5% sensitivity; 95% confidence interval: 90.4-99.6%). The two fractures not identified on the CAP CT were both the transverse process fractures in patients with multiple fractures at different levels. CONCLUSION: Patients who have a CAP CT do not require reformats for clearance of the T/L spine.

Transcatheter embolization for delayed hemorrhage caused by blunt splenic trauma.

Although the exact benefit of adjunctive splenic artery embolization (SAE) in the nonoperative management (NOM) of patients with blunt splenic trauma has been debated, the role of transcatheter embolization in delayed splenic hemorrhage is rarely addressed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SAE in the management of patients who presented at least 3 days after initial splenic trauma with delayed hemorrhage. During a 24-month period 4 patients (all male; ages 19-49 years) presented with acute onset of pain 5-70 days after blunt trauma to the left upper quadrant. Two had known splenic injuries that had been managed nonoperatively. All had computed axial tomography evidence of active splenic hemorrhage or false aneurysm on representation. All underwent successful SAE. Follow-up ranged from 28 to 370 days. These cases and a review of the literature indicate that SAE is safe and effective for NOM failure caused by delayed manifestations of splenic arterial injury.

Acute pancreatitis and critical illness: a pancreatic tale of hypoperfusion and inflammation.

Since it was first widely recognized at the end of the 19th century, acute pancreatitis has proven a formidable clinical challenge, frequently resulting in management within critical care settings. Because the early assessment of severity is difficult, the recognition of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the implementation of critical care treatment precepts often are delayed. Although different management strategies for life-threatening features of SAP have been debated for decades, there has been little recent reduction in mortality rates, which can be as high as 30%. This article discusses severity designation at the time of diagnosis, reviews the pathophysiologic mechanisms so well characterized by the noxious combination of severe systemic inflammation and hypoperfusion, and provides a management algorithm that parallels current critical care strategies.

Hypoadrenalism following trauma: is sepsis always necessary?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Trauma patients can exhibit the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) without evidence of infection. SIRS from infection has been associated with hypoadrenalism. We hypothesized that hypoadrenalism can accompany SIRS from trauma without infection. To investigate this further, we performed a retrospective study of trauma patients admitted to the ICU at our rural academic level 1 trauma center from October 2003- June 2005, with measurement of blood cortisol in the first 7 days after injury (N=33). We determined the incidence of hypoadrenalism based on serum cortisol levels and performed a univariate analysis to delineate factors associated with hypoadrenalism. Significant Findings: Twelve of 33 (36.6 %) were diagnosed with hypoadrenalism on mean ICU day 2.8. SIRS was documented in 92% of hypoadrenal patients vs. 52% of patients without hypoadrenalism (p=0.021). No patient had evidence of invasive infection. Younger age and higher ISS were also associated with hypoadrenalism. There were no gender differences identified, although most patients in the study were male. There was a trend toward higher etomidate use in the hypoadrenal group, although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma patients who demonstrate SIRS early in their ICU course may exhibit hypoadrenalism without infection. Younger age and higher ISS also appear to be associated with this alteration. Further study is needed to determine the true incidence of this condition, and to better delineate which trauma patients are most susceptible.

Clerkship enhancement of interpersonal skills.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this research was to determine if students improve interpersonal skills as the third year progresses despite the lack of any specific curriculum or teaching methods. METHODS: Third-year students completed 1 of 3 16-week sequential clerkship blocks. Each student completed a clinical performance examination before and after clerkship consisting of a videotaped standardized patient interview and physical examination. Videotapes were randomly assigned to communication faculty for evaluation. RESULTS: Although the majority (73%) of students improved during their block, 17% showed no improvement, and 12% had deficient interpersonal skills after their clerkship. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of skill-directed curriculum, most medical students showed improved interpersonal skill performance after a 16-week clerkship. Developing an interpersonal curriculum for all third-year students may not be necessary. Because faculty are being asked to do more with less, we believe efforts focused on individual students during the third year will be more productive.

Factors affecting the professional image of physicians.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use an experimental design to determine the effect of selected aspects of dress on the professional image of physicians in an adult outpatient setting by those who use the health care services the most (55+), the least (18 to 22), and other physicians on whom we depend for referrals. METHODS: Ten slides of physicians representing a variety of ages; ethnic and religious affiliations were shown to 3 populations across the United States and Canada. Set 1 (N = 216) was shown to undergraduates and rated on 10 attributes of professional image. Two slides were altered and retested in a rotated order (Set 2). Set 1 was then tested with groups of elderly and surgeons (N = 277). RESULTS: Significant differences were found between Set 1 and Set 2 for the altered physician slides. There was high correlation of professionalism with the identified attributes for all 3 rater populations. The nonverbal attributes chosen for this study did accurately assess "professionalism." Gender of the rater or physician did not have any effect. Although the most "professional" surgeon was the oldest in the study, the second most "professional" was the youngest. CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that a surgeon's image is a mirror of competence, trust, expertise, and compassion. The variables described in this study may easily be implemented to reflect a more positive professional image with our peers and patients than simply adding a white coat. No one goes to see a surgeon to establish a casual relationship, and because it is difficult to counteract initial impressions, attention to these variables is important.

The effect of improving communication competency on the certifying examination of the American Board of Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Since 1991 the authors have offered a course that identifies content deficits, but only provides instruction directed at improving verbal and nonverbal behaviors. We report the outcome of this 10-year effort as success on the certifying examination of the American Board of Surgery between 1991 and 2001. METHODS: Sixteen 5-day courses were scheduled over 10 years. Participants included those who had not taken the oral examination or had failed at least once and invited senior faculty (n = 26). Sites were chosen to replicate the actual examination setting. RESULTS: There were 122 participants, with follow-up data available on 88. Success in the certifying examination after completing the course is 96 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of communication deficits and training to improve them is strongly associated with success. Clearly, this course is effective at identifying communication behaviors that are interfering with success on the certifying examination of the American Board of Surgery.

Peptic ulcer/stricture after gastric bypass: a comparison of technique and acid suppression variables.

BACKGROUND: Mason's original animal experiments on the gastric bypass (GBP) showed little acid production in the gastric pouch, a finding confirmed in humans. Despite this, GBP in humans is associated with an incidence of ulcer/stricture (U/S) at the gastrojejunostomy of 3 to 20%, with both acid secretion and staple-line dehiscence considered important risk factors or etiologies. Our series of GBP patients was reviewed to determine what technical or management factors, if any, were associated with U/S. METHODS: All patients undergoing first time GBP at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center by one surgeon from June 1991 until June 2000 were reviewed. The incidence of U/S as confirmed on upper endoscopy was determined by retrospective chart review. The technique of surgery, frequency of acid suppressive therapy at discharge, postoperative day of U/S diagnosis by endoscopy, length of follow-up with a member of the multidisciplinary bariatric team, and incidence of staple-line dehiscence were tabulated. RESULTS: 158 patients (72% female, mean BMI 53, mean age 42) underwent GBP. Two gastric stapling methods were used to create the gastric pouch: 4-rows (136 patients) and 8-rows (22 patients). No other technical feature was adjusted in the series. The two patient groups were similar in gender, age, and BMI. Acid suppressive therapy at the time of discharge was similar in each group with U/S (4-rows 64% and 8-rows 50%, p = 0.5). U/S developed in 12 (55%) of the 8-row group and in 14 (10%) of the 4-row group (p < 0.001). U/S typically occurred within the first 2 months postoperatively (mean 48 days, SD 40). No patients in our series developed a staple-line dehiscence. CONCLUSION: U/S occur in the first few months following GBP. Twice the number of gastric staple-lines is associated with over five times the incidence of U/S, whereas post-discharge acid suppressive therapy is not predictive of U/S. Thus, a technique performed to decrease the risk of staple-line breakdown was associated with a much higher incidence of U/S. Staple-line dehiscence is not the etiology of this condition. Therefore, U/S after GBP does not appear to be explained by acid injury. We speculate that local, tissue injury related factors may be more responsible, a speculation that invokes a novel pathophysiologic mechanism for U/S formation following gastrojejunostomy.