Imaging acute cholecystitis, one test is enough.

BACKGROUND: Patients with right upper quadrant pain are often imaged using multiple modalities with no established gold standard. A single imaging study should provide adequate information for diagnosis. METHODS: A multicenter study of patients with acute cholecystitis was queried for patients who underwent multiple imaging studies on admission. Parameters were compared across studies including wall thickness (WT), common bile duct diameter (CBDD), pericholecystic fluid and signs of inflammation. Cutoff for abnormal values were 3 mm for WT and 6 mm for CBDD. Parameters were compared using chi-square tests and Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS: Of 861 patients with acute cholecystitis, 759 had ultrasounds, 353 had CT and 74 had MRIs. There was excellent agreement for wall thickness (ICC = 0.733) and bile duct diameter (ICC = 0.848) between imaging studies. Differences between wall thickness and bile duct diameters were small with nearly all <1 mm. Large differences (>2 mm) were rare (<5%) for WT and CBDD. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging studies in acute cholecystitis generate equivalent results for typically measured parameters.

Prospective validation and application of the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index: Results of an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional observational trial.

BACKGROUND: The frailty index is a known predictor of adverse outcomes in geriatric patients. Trauma-Specific Frailty Index (TSFI) was created and validated at a single center to accurately identify frailty and reliably predict worse outcomes among geriatric trauma patients. This study aims to prospectively validate the TSFI in a multi-institutional cohort of geriatric trauma patients. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational, multi-institutional trial across 17 American College of Surgeons Levels I, II, and III trauma centers. All geriatric trauma patients (65 years and older) presenting during a 3-year period were included. Frailty status was measured within 24 hours of admission using the TSFI (15 variables), and patients were stratified into nonfrail (TSFI, ≤0.12), prefrail (TSFI, 0.13-0.25), and frail (TSFI, >0.25) groups. Outcome measures included index admission mortality, discharge to rehabilitation centers or skilled nursing facilities (rehab/SNFs), and 3-month postdischarge readmissions, fall recurrences, complications, and mortality among survivors of index admission. RESULTS: A total of 1,321 geriatric trauma patients were identified and enrolled for validation of TSFI (nonfrail, 435 [33%]; prefrail, 392 [30%]; frail, 494 [37%]). The mean ± SD age was 77 ± 8 years; the median (interquartile range) Injury Severity Score was 9 (5-13). Overall, 179 patients (14%) had a major complication, 554 (42%) were discharged to rehab/SNFs, and 63 (5%) died during the index admission. Compared with nonfrail patients, frail patients had significantly higher odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.93; p = 0.018), major complications (aOR, 3.55; p < 0.001), and discharge to rehab/SNFs (aOR, 1.98; p < 0.001). In addition, frailty was significantly associated with higher adjusted odds of mortality, major complications, readmissions, and fall recurrence at 3 months postdischarge ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: External applicability of the TSFI (15 variables) was evident at a multicenter cohort of 17 American College of Surgeons trauma centers in geriatric trauma patients. The TSFI emerged as an independent predictor of worse outcomes, both in the short-term and 3-month postdischarge. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

AAST multicenter prospective analysis of prehospital tourniquet use for extremity trauma.

BACKGROUND: Tourniquet use for extremity hemorrhage control has seen a recent increase in civilian usage. Previous retrospective studies demonstrated that tourniquets improve outcomes for major extremity trauma (MET). No prospective study has been conducted to date. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in MET patients with prehospital tourniquet use. We hypothesized that prehospital tourniquet use in MET decreases the incidence of patients arriving to the trauma center in shock. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively for adult patients with MET at 26 Level I and 3 Level II trauma centers from 2015 to 2020. Limbs with tourniquets applied in the prehospital setting were included in the tourniquet group and limbs without prehospital tourniquets were enrolled in the control group. RESULTS: A total of 1,392 injured limbs were enrolled with 1,130 tourniquets, including 962 prehospital tourniquets. The control group consisted of 262 limbs without prehospital tourniquets and 88 with tourniquets placed upon hospital arrival. Prehospital improvised tourniquets were placed in 42 patients. Tourniquets effectively controlled bleeding in 87.7% of limbs. Tourniquet and control groups were similarly matched for demographics, Injury Severity Score, and prehospital vital signs (p > 0.05). Despite higher limb injury severity, patients in the tourniquet group were less likely to arrive in shock compared with the control group (13.0% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.04). The incidence of limb complications was not significantly higher in the tourniquet group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study is the first prospective analysis of prehospital tourniquet use for civilian extremity trauma. Prehospital tourniquet application was associated with decreased incidence of arrival in shock without increasing limb complications. We found widespread tourniquet use, high effectiveness, and a low number of improvised tourniquets. This study provides further evidence that tourniquets are being widely and safely adopted to improve outcomes in civilians with MET. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Revision of the AAST grading scale for acute cholecystitis with comparison to physiologic measures of severity.

BACKGROUND: Grading systems for acute cholecystitis are essential to compare outcomes, improve quality, and advance research. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading system for acute cholecystitis was only moderately discriminant when predicting multiple outcomes and underperformed the Tokyo guidelines and Parkland grade. We hypothesized that through additional expert consensus, the predictive capacity of the AAST anatomic grading system could be improved. METHODS: A modified Delphi approach was used to revise the AAST grading system. Changes were made to improve distribution of patients across grades, and additional key clinical variables were introduced. The revised version was assessed using prospectively collected data from an AAST multicenter study. Patient distribution across grades was assessed, and the revised grading system was evaluated based on predictive capacity using area under receiver operating characteristic curves for conversion from laparoscopic to an open procedure, use of a surgical "bail-out" procedure, bile leak, major complications, and discharge home. A preoperative AAST grade was defined based on preoperative, clinical, and radiologic data, and the Parkland grade was also substituted for the operative component of the AAST grade. RESULTS: Using prospectively collected data on 861 patients with acute cholecystitis the revised version of the AAST grade has an improved distribution across all grades, both the overall grade and across each subscale. A higher AAST grade predicted each of the outcomes assessed (all p ≤ 0.01). The revised AAST grade outperformed the original AAST grade for predicting operative outcomes and discharge disposition. Despite this improvement, the AAST grade did not outperform the Parkland grade or the Emergency Surgery Score. CONCLUSION: The revised AAST grade and the preoperative AAST grade demonstrated improved discrimination; however, a purely anatomic grade based on chart review is unlikely to predict outcomes without addition of physiologic variables. Follow-up validation will be necessary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Test or Criteria, Level IV.

Multicenter validation of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading scale for acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) patient assessment committee has created grading systems for emergency general surgery diseases to assist with clinical decision making and risk adjustment during research. Single-institution studies have validated the cholecystitis grading system as associated with patient outcomes. Our aim was to validate the grading system in a multi-institutional fashion and compare it with the Parkland grade and Tokyo Guidelines for acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Patients presenting with acute cholecystitis to 1 of 8 institutions were enrolled. Discrete data to assign the AAST grade were collected. The Parkland grade was collected prospectively from the operative surgeon from four institutions. Parkland grade, Tokyo Guidelines, AAST grade, and the AAST preoperative grade (clinical and imaging subscales) were compared using linear and logistic regression to the need for surgical "bailout" (subtotal or fenestrated cholecystectomy, or cholecystostomy), conversion to open, surgical complications (bile leak, surgical site infection, bile duct injury), all complications, and operative time. RESULTS: Of 861 patients, 781 underwent cholecystectomy. Mean (SD) age was 51.1 (18.6), and 62.7% were female. There were six deaths. Median AAST grade was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2), and median Parkland grade was 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-4). Median AAST clinical and imaging grades were 2 (IQR, 2-2) and 1 (IQR, 0-1), respectively. Higher grades were associated with longer operative times, and worse outcomes although few were significant. The Parkland grade outperformed the AAST grade based on area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. CONCLUSION: The AAST cholecystitis grading schema has modest discriminatory power similar to the Tokyo Guidelines, but generally lower than the Parkland grade, and should be modified before widespread use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, level IV.

Stop flailing: The impact of bicortically displaced rib fractures on pulmonary outcomes in patients with chest trauma - an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND: Current evaluation of rib fractures focuses almost exclusively on flail chest with little attention on bicortically displaced fractures. Chest trauma that is severe enough to cause fractures leads to worse outcomes. An association between bicortically displaced rib fractures and pulmonary outcomes would potentially change patient care in the setting of trauma. We tested the hypothesis that bicortically displaced fractures were an important clinical marker for pulmonary outcomes in patients with nonflail rib fractures. METHODS: This nine-center American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional study analyzed adults with two or more rib fractures. Admission computerized tomography scans were independently reviewed. The location, degree of rib fractures, and pulmonary contusions were categorized. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and tracheostomy. Analyses were performed in nonflail patients and also while controlling for flail chest to determine if bicortically displaced fractures were independently associated with outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,110 patients, 103 (9.3%) developed pneumonia, 78 (7.0%) required tracheostomy, and 30 (2.7%) developed ARDS. Bicortically displaced fractures were present in 277 (25%) of patients and in 206 (20.3%) of patients without flail chest. After adjusting for patient demographics, injury, and admission physiology, negative pulmonary outcomes occurred over twice as frequently in those with bicortically displaced fractures without flail chest (n = 206) when compared with those without bicortically displaced fractures-pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.6), ARDS (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.0-6.8), and tracheostomy (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4-5.2). When adjusting for the presence of flail chest, bicortically displaced fractures remained an independent predictor of pneumonia, tracheostomy, and ARDS. CONCLUSION: Patients with bicortically displaced rib fractures are more likely to develop pneumonia, ARDS, and need for tracheostomy even when controlling for flail chest. Future studies should investigate the utility of flail chest management algorithms in patients with bicortically displaced fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic and epidemiological study, level III.

Reducing the pain: A cost-effectiveness analysis of transversus abdominis plane block using liposomal bupivacaine for outpatient laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine has been studied as an effective method of reducing the need for postoperative opioids and increasing same-day discharge rates. However, less is known about the cost-effectiveness of this strategy relative to opioids alone for hernia repair. We performed an economic evaluation of these strategies using a computer simulation model. METHODS: A decision tree was constructed to determine cost-effectiveness as measured by incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per quality-adjusted life-year. Base-case costs, quality-adjusted life-year values, and probabilities were derived from published studies and Medicare fee schedules. For input parameters for which we could not find values in the published literature, we used expert opinion. A 1-month time horizon was selected to focus on the immediate postoperative period. Finally, we performed 1-way, 2-way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane block was a dominant strategy yielding a $456.75 decrease in cost and an 0.1 increase in quality-adjusted life-years relative to opioids alone. In 1-way sensitivity analysis of cost incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, values were most sensitive to variations in the amount saved by same-day discharge and the cost of bupivacaine. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, transversus abdominis plane strategy was cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000/quality-adjusted life-year in 94.5% of iterations and at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life-year in 97.1% of iterations. CONCLUSION: The use of liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane block resulted in cost savings and improved quality-adjusted life-years in base-case analyses and was cost-effective at conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds in the majority of iterations in probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

Telephone Follow-Up for Emergency General Surgery Procedures: Safety and Implication for Health Resource Use.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether replacing clinic follow-up visits with telephone follow-up for low-risk core emergency general surgery (cEGS) procedures is safe. We measured the efficacy of telephone follow-up to determine if it could safely reduce the need for routine postoperative clinic visits in this population. STUDY DESIGN: Low-risk nonelective laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, umbilical hernia, and inguinal hernia repair patients received telephone follow-up for symptoms concerning for surgical complication within 10 days of discharge. Clinic appointments were made if critical thresholds were reached. Outcomes of interest included rates of completed telephone screens, clinic visits avoided, and missed complications at 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Of 402 patients screened, 62 (15.4%) were scheduled for a clinic visit due to threshold responses and 27 (6.7%) were scheduled per patient request, while 275 (68.4%) patients screened negative and did not attend a clinic visit. One hundred sixty-three (59.3%) of the negative screen cohort were contacted after 30 days. Nine (5.5%) patients in this cohort were diagnosed with low-grade complications; no high-grade (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) complications were missed by telephone screening. Twenty surgery-related complications were identified in the full patient population; early telephone screening successfully identified the single high-grade complication. CONCLUSIONS: Post-discharge telephone follow-up in cEGS patients reduced the need for clinic follow-up visits by 68%. Missed complications were infrequent and low grade; telephone screening identified the single high-grade complication. Telephone follow-up for low-risk EGS patients is safe and increases efficiency of postoperative resource use.

Characterization of Focal Brain Tissue Water Measurements in Human Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral edema is a major cause of morbidity in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Intraparenchymal thermal conductivity-based probes that measure local cerebral blood flow can measure percent brain tissue water (%BTW) content, but such measures have been insufficiently characterized in patients with TBI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed physiologic data from patients with severe TBI treated at our institution (2014-2016) who underwent cerebral blood flow monitoring. RESULTS: Sixteen patients underwent focal %BTW measurements at a 15-minute sampling rate. %BTW measurements showed characteristic temporal profiles, with a mean time to peak of 3.7 ± 1.7 days. The mean minimum and maximum %BTWs were 71.0 ± 3.9% and 82.7 ± 7.4%, respectively (overall mean %BTW, 77.0 ± 2.9%). Intracranial pressure (ICP) values of 22 mm Hg (the current treatment threshold for patients with trauma) corresponded to 75.8 ± 5.4 %BTW. Repeated measures correlation showed that %BTW is negatively correlated with serum sodium concentration (r = -0.3; P < 0.001) and weakly positively correlated with ICP (r = 0.08; P = 0.01) and regional cerebral blood flow (r = 0.06; P < 0.001). These effects were consistent in a multivariable model including time from injury. In the best model, time was modeled as a quadratic term because the %BTW followed a parabolic trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: %BTW may be a clinically useful, real-time measurement of cerebral edema in patients with TBI. It is closely associated with the serum sodium concentration and follows a characteristic temporal course with characteristic trajectory and stability over time.

The association of inpatient blood utilization and diagnosis-related group weight: implications for risk-adjusted benchmarking.

BACKGROUND: Risk-adjusted benchmarking could be useful to compare blood utilization between hospitals or individual groups, such as physicians, while accounting for differences in patient complexity. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of red blood cell (RBC) use and diagnosis-related group (DRG) weights across all inpatient hospital stays to determine the suitability of using DRGs for between-hospital risk-adjusted benchmarking. Specific hierarchical organizational units (surgical vs. nonsurgical patients, departments, and physicians) were also evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied blood use among all adult inpatients, and within organizational units, over 4 years (May 2014 to March 2018) at an academic center. Number of RBCs transfused, all patient refined (APR)-DRGs, and other variables were captured over entire hospital stays. We used multilevel generalized linear modeling (zero-inflated negative binomial) to study the relationship between RBC utilization and APR-DRG. RESULTS: A total of 97,955 hospital stays were evaluated and the median APR-DRG weight was 1.2. The association of RBCs transfused and APR-DRG weight was statistically significant at all hierarchical levels (incidence rate ratio = 1.22; p < 0.001). The impact of APR-DRG on blood use, measured by the incidence rate ratio, demonstrated an association at the all-patient and surgical levels, at several department and physician levels, but not at the medical patient level. The relationship between RBCs transfused and APR-DRG varied across organizational units. CONCLUSION: Number of RBCs transfused was associated with APR-DRG weight at multiple hierarchical levels and could be used for risk-adjusted benchmarking in those contexts. The relationship between RBC use and APR-DRG varied across organizational units.

Cholecystostomy: Are we using it correctly?

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous Cholecystostomy Tubes (PCT) have become an accepted and common modality of treating acute cholecystitis in patients that are not appropriate surgical candidates. As percutaneous gallbladder drainage has rapidly increased newer research suggests that the technique may be overused, and patients may be burdened with them for extended periods. We examined our experience with PCT placement to identify independent predictors of interval cholecystectomy versus destination PCT. METHODS: All patients with cholecystitis initially treated with PCT from 2014 to 2017 were stratified by whether they underwent subsequent interval cholecystectomy. Demographic data, initial laboratory values, Tokyo Grade, Charlson Comorbidity Index, ASA Class, complications related to PCT, complications related to cholecystectomy, and mortality data were retrospectively collected. Descriptive statistics, univariable, and multivariable Poisson regression were performed. RESULTS: 165 patients received an initial cholecystostomy tube to treat cholecystitis. 61 (37%) patients went on to have an interval cholecystectomy. There were 4 complications reported after cholecystectomy. A total of 46 (27.9%) deaths were reported, only one of which was in the cholecystectomy group. Age, Tokyo Grade, liver function tests, ASA Class, and Charlson Comorbidity Index were significantly different between the interval cholecystectomy and no-cholecystectomy groups. Univariable regression was performed and variables with p < 0.2 were included in the multivariable model. Multivariable Poisson regression showed that increasing Tokyo Grade (IRR 0.454, p = 0.042, 95% CI 0.194-0.969); and increasing Charlson Comorbidity Score (IRR 0.890, p = 0.026, 95% CI 0.803-0.986) were associated with no-cholecystectomy. Higher Albumin (IRR 1.580, p = 0.011, 95% CI 1.111-2.244) was associated with having an interval cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: Patients in the no-cholecystectomy group were older, had more comorbidities, higher Tokyo Grade, ASA Class, and initial liver function test values than those that had interval cholecystectomy. Since interval cholecystectomy was performed with a low rate of complications, we may be too conservative in performing cholecystectomy after drainage and condemning many patients to destination tubes.

Primary prevention of contact sports-related concussions in amateur athletes: a systematic review from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of the magnitude of contact sports-related concussions has risen exponentially in recent years. Our objective is to conduct a prospectively registered systematic review of the scientific evidence regarding interventions to prevent contact sports-related concussions. METHODS: Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology, we performed a systematic review of the literature to answer seven population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes (PICO) questions regarding concussion education, head protective equipment, rules prohibiting high-risk activity and neck strengthening exercise for prevention of contact sports-related concussion in pediatric and adult amateur athletes. A query of MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Embase was performed. Letters to the editor, case reports, book chapters, and review articles were excluded, and all articles reviewed were written in English. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and were applicable to our PICO questions. Conditional recommendations are made supporting preventive interventions concussion education and rules prohibiting high-risk activity for both pediatric and adult amateur athletes and neck strengthening exercise in adult amateur athletes. Strong recommendations are supported for head protective equipment in both pediatric and adult amateur athletes. Strong recommendations regarding newer football helmet technology in adult amateur athletes and rules governing the implementation of body-checking in youth ice hockey are supported. CONCLUSION: Despite increasing scientific attention to sports-related concussion, studies evaluating preventive interventions remain relatively sparse. This systematic review serves as a call to focus research on primary prevention strategies for sports-related concussion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: #42016043019.

An AAST-MITC analysis of pancreatic trauma: Staple or sew? Resect or drain?

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic trauma results in high morbidity and mortality, in part caused by the delay in diagnosis and subsequent organ dysfunction. Optimal operative management strategies remain unclear. We therefore sought to determine CT accuracy in diagnosing pancreatic injury and the morbidity and mortality associated with varying operative strategies. METHODS: We created a multicenter, pancreatic trauma registry from 18 Level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Adult, blunt or penetrating injured patients from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Sensitivity and specificity of CT scan identification of main pancreatic duct injury was calculated against operative findings. Independent predictors for mortality, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and pancreatic fistula and/or pseudocyst were identified through multivariate regression analysis. The association between outcomes and operative management was measured. RESULTS: We identified 704 pancreatic injury patients of whom 584 (83%) underwent a pancreas-related procedure. CT grade modestly correlated with OR grade (r 0.39) missing 10 ductal injuries (9 grade III, 1 grade IV) providing 78.7% sensitivity and 61.6% specificity. Independent predictors of mortality were age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), lactate, and number of packed red blood cells transfused. Independent predictors of ARDS were ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and pancreatic fistula (OR 5.2, 2.6-10.1). Among grade III injuries (n = 158, 22.4%), the risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst was reduced when the end of the pancreas was stapled (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.9) compared with sewn and was not affected by duct stitch placement. Drainage alone in grades IV (n = 25) and V (n = 24) injuries carried increased risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst (OR 8.3, 95% CI 2.2-32.9). CONCLUSION: CT is insufficiently sensitive to reliably identify pancreatic duct injury. Patients with grade III injuries should have their resection site stapled instead of sewn and a duct stitch is unnecessary. Further study is needed to determine if drainage alone should be employed in grades IV and V injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic/Diagnostic study, level III.

RESHAPES: Increasing AAST EGS grade is associated with anastomosis type.

INTRODUCTION: Threatened, perforated, and infarcted bowel is managed with conventional resection and anastomosis (hand sewn [HS] or stapled [ST]). The SHAPES analysis demonstrated equivalence between HS and ST techniques, yet surgeons appeared to prefer HS for the critically ill. We hypothesized that HS is more frequent in patients with higher disease severity as measured by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Emergency General Surgery (AAST EGS) grading system. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of the SHAPES database. Operative reports were submitted by volunteering SHAPES centers. Final AAST grade was compared with various outcomes including duration of stay, physiologic/laboratory data, anastomosis type, anastomosis failure (dehiscence, abscess, or fistula), and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 391 patients were reviewed, with a mean age (±SD) of 61.2 ± 16.8 years, 47% women. Disease severity distribution was as follows: grade I (n = 0, 0%), grade II (n = 106, 27%), grade III (n = 113, 29%), grade IV (n = 123, 31%), and grade V (n = 49, 13%). Increasing AAST grade was associated with acidosis and hypothermia. There was an association between higher AAST grade and likelihood of HS anastomosis. On regression, factors associated with mortality included development of anastomosis complication and vasopressor use but not increasing AAST EGS grade or anastomotic technique. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to use standardized anatomic injury grades for patients undergoing urgent/emergent bowel resection in EGS. Higher AAST severity scores are associated with key clinical outcomes in EGS diseases requiring bowel resection and anastomosis. Anastomotic-specific complications were not associated with higher AAST grade; however, mortality was influenced by anastomosis complication and vasopressor use. Future EGS studies should routinely include AAST grading as a method for reliable comparison of injury between groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, level III.

Circulation first - the time has come to question the sequencing of care in the ABCs of trauma; an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial.

Background: The traditional sequence of trauma care: Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC) has been practiced for many years. It became the standard of care despite the lack of scientific evidence. We hypothesized that patients in hypovolemic shock would have comparable outcomes with initiation of bleeding treatment (transfusion) prior to intubation (CAB), compared to those patients treated with the traditional ABC sequence. Methods: This study was sponsored by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trials committee. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients that presented to trauma centers with presumptive hypovolemic shock indicated by pre-hospital or emergency department hypotension and need for intubation from January 1, 2014 to July 1, 2016. Data collected included demographics, timing of intubation, vital signs before and after intubation, timing of the blood transfusion initiation related to intubation, and outcomes. Results: From 440 patients that met inclusion criteria, 245 (55.7%) received intravenous blood product resuscitation first (CAB), and 195 (44.3%) were intubated before any resuscitation was started (ABC). There was no difference in ISS, mechanism, or comorbidities. Those intubated prior to receiving transfusion had a lower GCS than those with transfusion initiation prior to intubation (ABC: 4, CAB:9, p = 0.005). Although mortality was high in both groups, there was no statistically significant difference (CAB 47% and ABC 50%). In multivariate analysis, initial SBP and initial GCS were the only independent predictors of death. Conclusion: The current study highlights that many trauma centers are already initiating circulation first prior to intubation when treating hypovolemic shock (CAB), even in patients with a low GCS. This practice was not associated with an increased mortality. Further prospective investigation is warranted. Trial registration: IRB approval number: HM20006627. Retrospective trial not registered.

Perioperative use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of anastomotic failure in emergency general surgery.

BACKGROUND: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used analgesic and anti-inflammatory adjuncts. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration may potentially increase the risk of postoperative gastrointestinal anastomotic failure (AF). We aim to determine if perioperative NSAID utilization influences gastrointestinal AF in emergency general surgery (EGS) patients undergoing gastrointestinal resection and anastomosis. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of a multi-institutional prospectively collected database was performed. Anastomotic failure was defined as the occurrence of a dehiscence/leak, fistula, or abscess. Patients using NSAIDs were compared with those without. Summary, univariate, and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-three patients met inclusion criteria with a mean (±SD) age of 60 ± 17.5 years, 53% men. Forty-six percent (n = 244) of the patients were using perioperative NSAIDs. Gastrointestinal AF rate between NSAID and no NSAID was 13.9% versus 10.7% (p = 0.26). No differences existed between groups with respect to perioperative steroid use (16.8% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.34) or mortality (7.39% vs. 6.92%, p = 0.84). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that perioperative corticosteroid (odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-4.81) use and the presence of a colocolonic or colorectal anastomoses were independently associated with AF. A subset analysis of the NSAIDs cohort demonstrated an increased AF rate in colocolonic or colorectal anastomosis compared with enteroenteric or enterocolonic anastomoses (30.0% vs. 13.0%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Perioperative NSAID utilization appears to be safe in EGS patients undergoing small-bowel resection and anastomosis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration should be used cautiously in EGS patients with colon or rectal anastomoses. Future randomized trials should validate the effects of perioperative NSAIDs use on AF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level III.

Surgical management of pancreatic necrosis: A practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic or peripancreatic tissue necrosis confers substantial morbidity and mortality. New modalities have created a wide variation in approaches and timing of interventions for necrotizing pancreatitis. As acute care surgery evolves, its practitioners are increasingly being called upon to manage these complex patients. METHODS: A systematic review of the MEDLINE database using PubMed was performed. English language articles regarding pancreatic necrosis from 1980 to 2014 were included. Letters to the editor, case reports, book chapters, and review articles were excluded. Topics of investigation included operative timing, the use of adjuvant therapy and the type of operative repair. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations methodology was applied to question development, outcome prioritization, evidence quality assessments, and recommendation creation. RESULTS: Eighty-eight studies were included and underwent full review. Increasing the time to surgical intervention had an improved outcome in each of the periods evaluated (72 hours, 12-14 days, 30 days) with a significant improvement in outcomes if surgery was delayed 30 days. The use of percutaneous and endoscopic procedures was shown to postpone surgery and potentially be definitive. The use of minimally invasive surgery for debridement and drainage has been shown to be safe and associated with reduced morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Acute Care Surgeons are uniquely trained to care for those with pancreatic necrosis due their training in critical care and complex surgery with ongoing shock. In adult patients with pancreatic necrosis, we recommend that pancreatic necrosectomy be delayed until at least day 12. During the first 30 days of symptoms with infected necrotic collections, we conditionally recommend surgical debridement only if the patients fail to improve after radiologic or endoscopic drainage. Finally, even with documented infected necrosis, we recommend that patients undergo a step-up approach to surgical intervention as the preferred surgical approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review/guideline, level III.

Neuro, trauma, or med/surg intensive care unit: Does it matter where multiple injuries patients with traumatic brain injury are admitted? Secondary analysis of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multi-Institutional Trials Committee decompressive craniectomy study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with nontraumatic acute intracranial pathology benefit from neurointensivist care. Similarly, trauma patients with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI) fare better when treated by a dedicated trauma team. No study has yet evaluated the role of specialized neurocritical (NICU) and trauma intensive care units (TICU) in the management of TBI patients, and it remains unclear which TBI patients are best served in NICU, TICU, or general (Med/Surg) ICU. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multi-Institutional Trials Committee (AAST-MITC) decompressive craniectomy study. Twelve Level 1 trauma centers provided clinical data and head computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 or less and CT evidence of TBI. Non-ICU admissions were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to measure the association between ICU type and survival and calculate the probability of death for increasing Injury Severity Score (ISS). Multiple injuries patients (ISS > 15) with TBI and isolated TBI patients (other Abbreviated Injury Scale score < 3) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: There were 3641 patients with CT evidence of TBI with 2951 admitted to an ICU. Before adjustment, patient demographics, injury severity, and survival differed significantly by unit type. After adjustment, unit type, age, and ISS remained independent predictors of death. Unit type modified the effect of ISS on mortality. TBI multiple injuries patients admitted to a TICU had improved survival across increasing ISS. Survival for isolated TBI patients was similar between TICU and NICU. Med/surg ICU carried the greatest probability of death. CONCLUSION: Multiple injuries patients with TBI have lower mortality risk when admitted to a trauma ICU. This survival benefit increases with increasing injury severity. Isolated TBI patients have similar mortality risk when admitted to a neuro ICU compared with a trauma ICU. Med/surg ICU admission carries the highest mortality risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV.

Stapled versus hand-sewn: A prospective emergency surgery study. An American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional study.

BACKGROUND: Data from the trauma patient population suggests handsewn (HS) anastomoses are superior to stapled (ST). A recent retrospective study in emergency general surgery (EGS) patients had similar findings. The aim of the current study was to evaluate HS and ST anastomoses in EGS patients undergoing urgent/emergent operations. METHODS: The study was sponsored by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multi-Institutional Studies Committee. Patients undergoing urgent/emergent bowel resection for EGS pathology were prospectively enrolled from July 22, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Patients were grouped by HS/ST anastomoses, and variables were collected. The primary outcome was anastomotic failure. Similar to other studies, anastomotic failure was evaluated at the anastomosis level. Multivariable logistic regression was performed controlling for age and risk factors for anastomotic failure. RESULTS: Fifteen institutions enrolled a total of 595 patients with 649 anastomoses (253 HS and 396 ST). Mean age was 61 years, 51% were men, 7% overall mortality. Age and sex were the same between groups. The overall anastomotic failure rate was 12.5%. The HS group had higher lactate, lower albumin, and were more likely to be on vasopressors. Hospital and intensive care unit days, as well as mortality, were greater in the HS group. Anastomotic failure rates and operative time were equivalent for HS and ST. On multivariate regression, the presence of contamination at initial resection (odds ratio, 1.965; 95% confidence interval, 1.183-3.264) and the patient being managed with open abdomen (odds ratio, 2.529; 95% confidence interval, 1.492-4.286) were independently associated with anastomotic failure, while the type of anastomosis was not. CONCLUSION: EGS patients requiring bowel resection and anastomosis are at high risk for anastomotic failure. The current study illustrates an apparent bias among acute care surgeons to perform HS techniques in higher-risk patients. Despite the individualized application of technique for differing patient populations, the risk of anastomotic failure was equivalent when comparing HS and ST anastomoses. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level II.