Efficacy of Commercial Chest Seal Adherence and Tension Pneumothorax Prevention: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating thoracic injuries account for an essential subset of battlefield and civilian injuries that result in death. Current recommendations are to use commercially available nonocclusive chest seals. We review current evidence for which chest seal(s) is likely to be the most effective in treating open pneumothoraces. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRIMSA 2009 standard systematic review methodology, except where noted. The databases Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and gray sources were searched for all English-language, full-manuscript, experimental, quantitative studies of humans and animals concerning seal adherence or their efficacy at preventing tension pneumothoraces published between 1990 and 2020. A numerical analysis was used to provide the consensus recommendation. RESULTS: Of 683 eligible identified articles [PubMed 528 (77.3%), Scopus 87 (12.7%), CINAHL 67 (9.8%), one (0.1%) unpublished], six (0.9%) articles were included. Synthesis of all studies' results suggests a consensus recommendation for the Hyfin Vent Chest Seal and Russell Chest Seal. These two were the most effective chest seals, as previously investigated in a quantifiable, experimental study. CONCLUSION: While chest seals are recommended in civilian and military prehospital medicine to improve patient survival, current evidence concerning the individual device's efficacy is limited. Further scientific, quantitative research is needed to clarify which commercially available chest seals are most effective and provide patients with penetrating chest trauma the best possible method for preventing or mitigating tension pneumothoraces.

The US military experience with THAM.

BACKGROUND: Acidosis, a part of the lethal trauma triad, occurs frequently after major combat trauma. Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM) has been used to effectively treat acidosis in injured casualties. No research has been conducted assessing the safety of THAM in the military combat setting. We sought to describe the US military experience with THAM administration to battlefield injury subjects. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive cohort study reviewing the trauma data from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry. US military personnel with an injury severity score greater than 15, between September 2001 and December 2014, were analyzed. Our primary outcome was the 30-day all-cause mortality among cohort treated with THAM versus those who were not. Differences between the cohort were examined using a student t-test (continuous variables), Wilcoxon Rank Sum test (ordinal variables), and chi-squared test (nominal variables). RESULTS: 4558 subjects met the inclusion criteria. 69 received THAM and 4489 did not. Casualties receiving THAM had higher mean ISS scores (33 vs. 27, p < 0.001), and required significantly higher amounts of packed red blood cells (RBCs, 37 vs. 10, p < 0.001). THAM cohort had longer ventilator and intensive care unit (ICU) days with an overall lower survival to hospital discharge. On univariable analysis, THAM was associated with lower odds of survival (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.11-0.31) but on multivariable analysis, when controlling for confounders, THAM use was not associated with a worse odds of survival (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.21-3.24). CONCLUSIONS: Within our combat trauma population, we were unable to detect worse 30 day mortality associated with THAM administration. Prospective investigations are needed to validate its use in critically injured combat casualties.

Preinjury statin use and thromboembolic events in trauma: a 10-year retrospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injury is well known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), occurring in up to 58% of trauma patients. Statin medications have significant anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to reduce the risk of VTE. We hypothesized that trauma patients who received statin medication before injury would have a lower incidence of VTE after injury. METHODS: A 10-y retrospective review identified all patients admitted to our trauma service with an injury severity score >9 and an intensive care unit stay of >3 d. This population was categorized as either "statin recipient" (SR) or "statin naïve," with subsequent categorical division by occurrence of VTE. Our primary outcome measure was the occurrence of documented VTE in both statin naïve and SR subjects. RESULTS: A total of 2519 trauma patients were included with 97 (3.8%) developing VTE. Pretrauma statin use in males remained as an independent predictor of VTE (odds ratio = 2.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.25-4.04, P < 0.01). The median time to VTE onset was 3 d longer in SRs (10.0 d; confidence interval = 7.3-12.7, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pretrauma statin use does not appear to have a protective benefit of VTE prevention in trauma patients, as we have shown pretrauma SR male trauma patients to have a twofold increased incidence of VTE. However, when considering the 3 d longer median time to VTE onset found in SRs, we consider the protective benefit of statin use reported in the current literature as likely attributable to this observed delayed onset.

Association between seatbelt sign and internal injuries in the contemporary airbag era: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Literature predating routine availability of airbags reported an association between seatbelt signs and internal injuries. We measured this association among patients involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) with airbag deployment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by chart review of all MVC patients presenting to our Emergency Department (ED) during 1 January 2008-30 September 2015. We included all adult MVC patients in the driver or front passenger seats with both shoulder and lap seatbelts and airbag deployment. Two trained chart abstractors recorded data regarding restraints and airbag deployment. We obtained all other data via electronic medical record abstraction including demographics, injuries, and survival. We compared the prevalence of cervicothoracic and intra-abdominopelvic injuries between patients with a documented seatbelt sign versus no seatbelt sign using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of 1379 MVC patients, 350 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 138 (39.4%) had a seatbelt sign. The prevalence of cervicothoracic injury was higher among subjects with a documented seatbelt sign (54.3% versus 42.9%, p=0.036) Seatbelt sign predicted cervicothoracic injury with a positive likelihood ratio of 1.3 (95% CI 1.0-1.7) and negative likelihood ratio of 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-1.0). The odds ratio of cervicothoracic injury among patients with a seatbelt sign versus no seatbelt sign was 1.58 (95% confidence interval 1.02-2.46) in the logistic regression model. There was no association between seatbelt sign and intra-abdominopelvic injury (p=0.418). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of airbag deployment, there is an association between seatbelt sign and cervicothoracic injury but not intra-abdominopelvic injury.

Combat Casualties and Severe Shock: Risk Factors for Death at Role 3 Military Facilities.

BACKGROUND: Although significant research has been conducted on combat casualties receiving blood products, there is limited data for the subpopulation presenting in shock. The purpose of this study was to evaluate combat casualties arriving to a role 3 facility with an initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤ 90 in order to identify clinical characteristics and associations between presentation, transfusion therapy, and mortality outcomes. METHODS: The Department of Defense Trauma Registry was queried from 2001 to 2010 for trauma-related casualties who arrived at a role 3 combat surgical facility with a SBP ≤ 90. Transfers from role 2 facilities were excluded. Data captured included demographics, admission vital signs, laboratory values, blood products, and mortality. Relationships between admission physiology, blood product utilization, and mortality were developed. Independent associations between variables were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 1,703 patients were identified who met our inclusion criteria and composite mortality was 23%. Mortality in those receiving a balanced transfusion ratio was 18% versus 27% (p < 0.0001). Hypotensive casualties who survived were significantly more likely to have a higher presenting Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), temperature, SBP, shock index, and pH. In addition, this group was also more likely to have a lower international normalized ratio, pCO2, and base deficit (p < 0.001). Age, heart rate, and pulse pressure were not significantly different between groups. Independent predictors of mortality included Injury Severity Score, presentation GCS, and initial pH value (p < 0.0001). In contrast, independent predictors of survival included those with above-knee amputation and a balanced transfusion (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Combat casualties hypotensive on arrival to surgical facilities have a significant expected mortality. Those receiving balanced transfusions demonstrated improved survival. Of the five independent risk factors, pH, GCS, and the presence of above-knee amputation are typically available during initial evaluation. These factors may be helpful in determining resource allocation and mortality risk, especially in triage or mass casualty settings.

Diagnostic accuracy of a novel software technology for detecting pneumothorax in a porcine model.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to measure the diagnostic accuracy of a novel software technology to detect pneumothorax on Brightness (B) mode and Motion (M) mode ultrasonography. METHODS: Ultrasonography fellowship-trained emergency physicians performed thoracic ultrasonography at baseline and after surgically creating a pneumothorax in eight intubated, spontaneously breathing porcine subjects. Prior to pneumothorax induction, we captured sagittal M-mode still images and B-mode videos of each intercostal space with a linear array transducer at 4cm of depth. After collection of baseline images, we placed a chest tube, injected air into the pleural space in 250mL increments, and repeated the ultrasonography for pneumothorax volumes of 250mL, 500mL, 750mL, and 1000mL. We confirmed pneumothorax with intrapleural digital manometry and ultrasound by expert sonographers. We exported collected images for interpretation by the software. We treated each individual scan as a single test for interpretation by the software. RESULTS: Excluding indeterminate results, we collected 338M-mode images for which the software demonstrated a sensitivity of 98% (95% confidence interval [CI] 92-99%), specificity of 95% (95% CI 86-99), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 21.6 (95% CI 7.1-65), and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.02 (95% CI 0.008-0.046). Among 364 B-mode videos, the software demonstrated a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI 81-90%), specificity of 85% (81-91%), LR+ of 5.7 (95% CI 3.2-10.2), and LR- of 0.17 (95% CI 0.12-0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This novel technology has potential as a useful adjunct to diagnose pneumothorax on thoracic ultrasonography.

Incidence, risk factors, and mortality associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in combat casualty care.

BACKGROUND: The overall incidence and mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in civilian trauma settings have decreased over the past four decades; however, the epidemiology and impact of ARDS on modern combat casualty care are unknown. We sought to determine the incidence, risk factors, resource utilization, and mortality associated with ARDS in current combat casualty care. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of mechanically ventilated US combat casualties within the Department of Defense Trauma Registry (formerly the Joint Theater Trauma Registry) during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom (October 2001 to August 2008) for ARDS development, resource utilization, and mortality. RESULTS: Of 18,329 US Department of Defense Trauma Registry encounters, 4,679 (25.5%) required mechanical ventilation; ARDS was identified in 156 encounters (3.3%). On multivariate logistic regression, ARDS was independently associated with female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-5.71; p = 0.02), higher military-specific Injury Severity Score (Mil ISS) (OR, 4.18; 95% CI, 2.61-6.71; p < 0.001 for Mil ISS ≥25 vs. <15), hypotension (admission systolic blood pressure <90 vs. ≥90 mm Hg; OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.07-2.88; p = 0.03), and tachycardia (admission heart rate ≥90 vs. <90 beats per minute; OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.06-2.22; p = 0.02). Explosion injury was not associated with increased risk of ARDS. Critical care resource utilization was significantly higher in ARDS patients as was all-cause hospital mortality (ARDS vs. no ARDS, 12.8% vs. 5.9%; p = 0.002). After adjustment for age, sex, injury severity, injury mechanism, Mil ISS, hypotension, tachycardia, and admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, ARDS remained an independent risk factor for death (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.12-3.52; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of modern combat casualties, ARDS risk factors included female sex, higher injury severity, hypotension, and tachycardia, but not explosion injury. Patients with ARDS also required more medical resources and were at greater risk of death compared with patients without ARDS. Thus, ARDS remains a significant complication in current combat casualty care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.

The Effect of Hematocrit on Platelet Adhesion: Experiments and Simulations.

The volume fraction of red blood cells (RBCs) in a capillary affects the degree to which platelets are promoted to marginate to near a vessel wall and form blood clots. In this work we investigate the relationship between RBC hematocrit and platelet adhesion activity. We perform experiments flowing blood samples through a microfluidic channel coated with type 1 collagen and observe the rate at which platelets adhere to the wall. We compare these results with three-dimensional boundary integral simulations of a suspension of RBCs and platelets in a periodic channel where platelets can adhere to the wall. In both cases, we find that the rate of platelet adhesion varies greatly with the RBC hematocrit. We observe that the relative decrease in platelet activity as hematocrit falls shows a similar profile for simulation and experiment.

U.S. Military Experience From 2001 to 2010 With Extremity Fasciotomy in War Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: After trauma, compartment syndrome of the extremities is a common, disabling, and-if managed suboptimally-lethal problem. Its treatment by surgical fasciotomy continues to be useful but controversial. The purpose of this survey is to measure survival and fasciotomy in a large trauma system to characterize trends and to determine if fasciotomy is associated with improved survival. METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed data from a military trauma registry for U.S. casualties from 2001 to 2010. Casualties had extremity injury or extremity fasciotomy. We associated survival and fasciotomy. RESULTS: Of 17,166 casualties in the total study, 19% (3,313) had fasciotomy and 2.8% (481) had compartment syndrome. Annual fasciotomy rates started at 0% (2001) and rose to 26% (2010). For all casualties, the survival rate initially was high (100%) but decreased steadily until its nadir (96.4%) in 2005. Thereafter, it increased to make a V-shaped trend with reversal occurring after fielding two interventions within the trauma system specifically for casualties at risk for fasciotomy-tourniquet use and a fasciotomy education program. CONCLUSIONS: Over a decade of war, the survival rate of extremity injured casualties was associated with two trauma system interventions-tourniquet usage and a fasciotomy education program. The current example of measuring implementation of initiatives may be useful as a model for future attempted improvements in health care.

Short-Term Outcomes and Complications of Damage Control and Definitive Laparotomy in Deployed Combat Environments: 2002 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) in an austere environment is an evolving surgical modality. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of all patients surviving 24 hours who underwent a laparotomy from 2002 to 2011 in Iraq and Afghanistan was performed. DCL was defined as a patient undergoing laparotomy at two distinct North American Treaty Organization (NATO) Role 2 or 3 medical treatment facilities (MTFs); a NATO Roles 2 and 3 MTFs, and/or having the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification procedure code 54.12, for reopening of recent laparotomy site. Definitive laparotomy (DL) was defined as patients undergoing one operative procedure at one NATO Role 2 or 3 MTF. Demographic data including injury severity scores, hematological transfusion, mortality, intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal operative interventions, and complications were compared. RESULTS: DCL composed of 26.5% (n = 331) of all 1,248 laparotomies performed between March 2002 and September 2011. Total intra-abdominal, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and thromboembolic complications for DCL versus DL were 8.5% and 5.6% (p = 0.07), 2.1% and 0.8% (p = 0.06), and 1.5% and 0.7% (p = 0.17), respectively. Theater discharge mortality from DCL and DL were 1.5% (n = 5), and 1.4% (n = 13) (p = 0.90), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, excluding deaths with the first 24 hours, DCL and DL had comparable mortality and complication rates at NATO Roles 2 and 3 MTFs.

Computerized Diagnostic Assistant for the Automatic Detection of Pneumothorax on Ultrasound: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Bedside thoracic ultrasound (US) can rapidly diagnose pneumothorax (PTX) with improved accuracy over the physical examination and without the need for chest radiography (CXR); however, US is highly operator dependent. A computerized diagnostic assistant was developed by the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research to detect PTX on standard thoracic US images. This computer algorithm is designed to automatically detect sonographic signs of PTX by systematically analyzing B-mode US video clips for pleural sliding and M-mode still images for the seashore sign. This was a pilot study to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the PTX detection computer algorithm when compared to an expert panel of US trained physicians. METHODS: This was a retrospective study using archived thoracic US obtained on adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) between 5/23/2011 and 8/6/2014. Emergency medicine residents, fellows, attending physicians, physician assistants, and medical students performed the US examinations and stored the images in the picture archive and communications system (PACS). The PACS was queried for all ED bedside US examinations with reported positive PTX during the study period along with a random sample of negatives. The computer algorithm then interpreted the images, and we compared the results to an independent, blinded expert panel of three physicians, each with experience reviewing over 10,000 US examinations. RESULTS: Query of the PACS system revealed 146 bedside thoracic US examinations for analysis. Thirteen examinations were indeterminate and were excluded. There were 79 true negatives, 33 true positives, 9 false negatives, and 12 false positives. The test characteristics of the algorithm when compared to the expert panel were sensitivity 79% (95 % CI [63-89]) and specificity 87% (95% CI [77-93]). For the 20 images scored as highest quality by the expert panel, the algorithm demonstrated 100% sensitivity (95% CI [56-100]) and 92% specificity (95% CI [62-100]). CONCLUSION: This novel computer algorithm has potential to aid clinicians with the identification of the sonographic signs of PTX in the absence of expert physician sonographers. Further refinement and training of the algorithm is still needed, along with prospective validation, before it can be utilized in clinical practice.

Potentially preventable prehospital deaths from motor vehicle collisions.

BACKGROUND: In 2011, about 30,000 people died in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in the United States. We sought to evaluate the causes of prehospital deaths related to MVCs and to assess whether these deaths were potentially preventable. METHODS: Miami-Dade Medical Examiner records for 2011 were reviewed for all prehospital deaths of occupants of 4-wheeled motor vehicle collisions. Injuries were categorized by affected organ and anatomic location of the body. Cases were reviewed by a panel of 2 trauma surgeons to determine cause of death and whether the death was potentially preventable. Time to death and hospital arrival times were determined using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2002 to 2012, which allowed comparison of our local data to national prevalence estimates. RESULTS: Local data revealed that 39% of the 98 deaths reviewed were potentially preventable (PPD). Significantly more patients with PPD had neurotrauma as a cause of death compared to those with a nonpreventable death (NPD) (44.7% vs. 25.0%, P =.049). NPDs were significantly more likely to have combined neurotrauma and hemorrhage as cause of death compared to PPDs (45.0% vs. 10.5%, P <.001). NPDs were significantly more likely to have injuries to the chest, pelvis, or spine. NPDs also had significantly more injuries to the following organ systems: lung, cardiac, and vascular chest (all P <.05). In the nationally representative FARS data from 2002 to 2012, 30% of deaths occurred on scene and another 32% occurred within 1 h of injury. When comparing the 2011 FARS data for Miami-Dade to the remainder of the United States in that year, percentage of deaths when reported on scene (25 vs. 23%, respectively) and within 1 h of injury (35 vs. 32%, respectively) were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Nationally, FARS data demonstrated that two thirds of all MVC deaths occurred within 1 h of injury. Over a third of prehospital MVC deaths were potentially preventable in our local sample. By examining injury patterns in PPDs, targeted intervention may be initiated.

The Combat Medic Aid Bag: 2025. CoTCCC Top 10 Recommended Battlefield Trauma Care Research, Development, and Evaluation Priorities for 2015.

While the list presented here is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the research areas of interest in battlefield trauma care, much less a list of research needs across the entire continuum of combat casualty care, it does provide the collective judgment of the CoTCCC about the highest priorities for RDT&E that relate to battlefield trauma care. Two additional observations should be made regarding that point: (1) As the landmark Eastridge et al. 2012 study convincingly documented, most combat fatalities occur in the prehospital phase of care, so research efforts that enable Combat medics, corpsmen, and PJs to care for their casualties more effectively will convey the highest probability of further reducing the case fatality rate and preventable deaths among US Combat casualties; and (2) inasmuch as the mission of the CoTCCC is to update the TCCC Guidelines as needed, this group has excellent visibility of the most important current research questions in battlefield trauma care.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the 2008 Postsplenectomy Vaccination Joint Theater Trauma System Clinical Practice Guideline.

OBJECTIVES: Postsplenectomy vaccination (PSV) in an austere environment to minimize overwhelming postsplenectomy infection is challenging. We evaluated the clinical impact of a March 2008 clinical practice guideline (CPG) dictating immediate PSV at North American Treaty Organization Role 3 medical treatment facilities and subsequent complications. METHODS: Utilizing U.S. military medical databases, we characterized all U.S. patients with a splenic injury from November 2002 to January 2012 by their surgical management: laparotomy with splenectomy (LWS), laparotomy without splenectomy, or nonoperative management. Relevant data including demographics, vaccinations, and documented bacterial and fungal isolates were obtained. RESULTS: LWS comprised 63.6% of the 409 patients with a splenic injury from 2002 to 2012. The implementation of the PSV CPG improved overall vaccination compliance from 48.9% pre-PSV CPG to 86.9% post-PSV CPG (p < 0.01). It was found that 1.3% (2/159) of completely vaccinated LWS patients compared with 0% (0/101) of the incompletely vaccinated LWS patients had Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in 391.0 and 251.4 follow-up years, respectively (p = 0.52). No Neisseria meningitidis or Haemophilus influenzae isolates were identified. CONCLUSIONS: PSV CPG implementation improved theater vaccination without increasing the incidence of encapsulated organisms.

Early in-theater management of combat-related traumatic brain injury: A prospective, observational study to identify opportunities for performance improvement.

BACKGROUND: Combat-related moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (CRTBI) is a significant cause of wartime morbidity and mortality. As of August 2014, moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries sustained by members of the Department of Defense worldwide since 2000 totaled 32,996 cases. Previously published epidemiologic reviews describe CRTBI management at a "strategic" level, but they lack "tactical" patient-specific data required for performance improvement. In addition, scarce data exist regarding prehospital CRTBI care. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of consecutive CRTBI casualties presenting to US Role 3 medical facilities. Admission variables including demographics, initial clinical findings, and laboratory results were collected. Head computed tomographic scan findings were noted. Interventions in the first 72 postinjury hours were recorded. Early in-theater mortality was noted, but longer-term outcomes were not. RESULTS: Casualties were predominately injured by explosive blasts (78.6%). Penetrating injuries occurred in 42.9%. On arrival, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was less than 8 for 47.7%. Hypothermia (temperature < 95.0°F) was present in 4.5%, and hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg) in 21.1%. Hypoxia (O2 saturation < 90%) was observed in 52.5%. Both hypercarbia (Paco2 > 45 mm Hg, 50%) and hypocarbia (Paco2 < 36 mm Hg, 20.3%) were common on presentation. Head computed tomographic scan most commonly found skull fracture (68.9%), subdural hematoma (54.1%), and cerebral contusion (51.4%). Hypertonic saline was administered to 69.7% and factor VIIa to 11.1%. Early in-theater mortality at Role 3 was 19.4%. CONCLUSION: Avoidance of secondary brain injury by optimizing oxygenation, ventilation, and cerebral perfusion is the primary goal in the contemporary care of moderate-to-severe CRTBI. Ideally, this crucial care must begin as early as possible after injury. Given the frequency of hypotension, hypoxia, and both hypercarbia and hypocarbia upon Role 3 arrival, increased emphasis on prehospital management is indicated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV; epidemiologic study, level III.

Military-to-civilian translation of battlefield innovations in operative trauma care.

BACKGROUND: Historic improvements in operative trauma care have been driven by war. It is unknown whether recent battlefield innovations stemming from conflicts in Iraq/Afghanistan will follow a similar trend. The objective of this study was to survey trauma medical directors (TMDs) at level 1-3 trauma centers across the United States and gauge the extent to which battlefield innovations have shaped civilian practice in 4 key domains of trauma care. METHODS: Domains were determined by the use of a modified Delphi method based on multiple consultations with an expert physician/surgeon panel: (1) damage control resuscitation (DCR), (2) tourniquet use, (3) use of hemostatic agents, and (4) prehospital interventions, including intraosseous catheter access and needle thoracostomy. A corresponding 47-item electronic anonymous survey was developed/pilot tested before dissemination to all identifiable TMD at level 1-3 trauma centers across the US. RESULTS: A total of 245 TMDs, representing nearly 40% of trauma centers in the United States, completed and returned the survey. More than half (n = 127; 51.8%) were verified by the American College of Surgeons. TMDs reported high civilian use of DCR: 95.1% of trauma centers had implemented massive transfusion protocols and the majority (67.7%) tended toward 1:1:1 packed red blood cell/fresh-frozen plasma/platelets ratios. For the other 3, mixed adoption corresponded to expressed concerns regarding the extent of concomitant civilian research to support military research and experience. In centers in which policies reflecting battlefield innovations were in use, previous military experience frequently was acknowledged. CONCLUSION: This national survey of TMDs suggests that military data supporting DCR has altered civilian practice. Perceived relevance in other domains was less clear. Civilian academic efforts are needed to further research and enhance understandings that foster improved trauma surgeon awareness of military-to-civilian translation.

Nonoperative management of splenic injury in combat: 2002-2012.

BACKGROUND: Selective nonoperative management of combat-related blunt splenic injury (BSI) is controversial. We evaluated the impact of the November 2008 blunt abdominal trauma clinical practice guideline that permitted selective nonoperative management of some patients with radiological suggestion of hemoperitoneum on implementation of nonoperative management (NOM) of splenic injury in austere environments. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of patients with splenic injuries from November 2002 through January 2012 in Iraq and Afghanistan was performed. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes identified patients as laparotomy with splenectomy, or NOM. Delayed operative management had no operative intervention at earlier North American Treaty Organization (NATO) medical treatment facilities (MTFs), and had a definitive intervention at a latter NATO MTFs. Intra-abdominal complications and overall mortality were juxtaposed. RESULTS: A total of 433 patients had splenic injuries from 2002 to 2012. Initial NOM of BSI from 2002 to 2008 compared to 2009-2012 was 44.1% and 47.2%, respectively (p=0.75). Delayed operative management and NOM completion had intra-abdominal complication and mortality rates of 38.1% and 9.1% (p<0.01), and 6.3% and 8.1% (p=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high-energy explosive injuries, NATO Role II MTFs radiological constraints and limited medical resources, hemodynamically normal patients with BSI and low abdominal abbreviated injury scores underwent NOM in austere environments.

An 8-year review of operation enduring freedom and operation iraqi freedom resuscitative thoracotomies.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate indications for resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) in an austere environment continue to evolve; the aim of this study was to determine survival and to analyze demographics of survivors within U.S. military personnel undergoing RT. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all U.S. soldiers who underwent thoracotomy in theater during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After individualized review, patients in extremis or who lost pulses and had their thoracotomy performed within 10 minutes of arrival to the emergency department were included. The primary outcome was survival at final hospital discharge, and secondary outcomes included demographics associated with survival. RESULTS: Between January 2003 and May 2010, 81 U.S. military personnel met inclusion criteria for RT in theater. As low as 6.7% (3/45) of patients receiving prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation were alive at final hospital discharge. Survival from RT after explosive/blast injury, penetrating (gunshot wound), and blunt trauma were 16.3% (8/49), 0% (0/28), and 0% (0/4), respectively. Patients with primary explosive/blast extremity trauma undergoing RT had a survival of 27.3% (6/22). Higher initial oxygen saturations, larger volume of crystalloids and blood products infused, and higher extremity abbreviated injury score were all associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Combat casualties who present pulseless or in extremis who were injured as a result of an explosive/blast injury mechanism resulting in a primary extremity injury may have a survival benefit from undergoing a RT in an austere environment.