The Special Pathogens Research Network: Enabling Research Readiness.

The 2013-2016 epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) that originated in West Africa underscored many of the challenges to conducting clinical research during an ongoing infectious disease epidemic, both in the most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as well as in the United States and Europe, where a total of 27 patients with EVD received care in biocontainment units. The Special Pathogens Research Network (SPRN) was established in the United States in November 2016 to provide an organizational structure to leverage the expertise of the 10 Regional Ebola and Other Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs); it was intended to develop and support infrastructure to improve readiness to conduct clinical research in the United States. The network enables the rapid activation and coordination of clinical research in the event of an epidemic and facilitates opportunities for multicenter research when the RESPTCs are actively caring for patients requiring a biocontainment unit. Here we provide an overview of opportunities identified in the clinical research infrastructure during the West Africa EVD epidemic and the SPRN activities to meet the ongoing challenges in the context of Ebola virus and other special pathogens.

To shunt or not to shunt in combined orthopedic and vascular extremity trauma.

BACKGROUND: There exists a long established but not validated practice of placing temporary intravascular shunts (TIVS) in cases of combined vascular and orthopedic extremity trauma. Though logical to prioritize blood flow, large-scale data to support this practice is lacking. We hypothesize that the order of repair yields no difference in outcomes in combined vascular and orthopedic extremity trauma and offer a larger-scale analysis than is previously available. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted at six Level I trauma centers from 2004 to 2015 comparing patients who received a TIVS during their initial surgery versus those who did not. Nonshunted patients were further divided into initial definitive vascular repair versus initial orthopedic fixation groups. Metrics were used to control for sampling bias while revision rate, amputation, hospital length of stay (HLOS), and development of thrombosis and compartment syndrome were used to assess outcomes. RESULTS: Of 291 total patients, 72 had TIVS placement, 97 had initial definitive vascular repair, and 122 had initial orthopedic fixation. The shunted group had a higher Abbreviated Injury Scale (3.0 vs. 2.8 p = 0.04) and Mangled Extremity Severity Score (6.1 vs. 5.7 p = 0.006) and a significantly lower rate of compartment syndrome (15% vs. 34% p = 0.002). Among patients who developed compartment syndrome, those who were shunted were younger (23 vs. 35 yrs, p = 0.03) and were more likely sustain a penetrating injury (p = 0.007). Those receiving initial orthopedic fixation had a longer HLOS (HLOS >15 days in 61% vs. 38%, p = 0.049) and a higher amputation rate (20% vs. 7%, p = 0.006) when compared with those undergoing initial definitive vascular repair. CONCLUSION: Lack of TIVS was associated with a significant increase in the development of compartment syndrome. Though it seems to have become common practice to proceed directly to vascular repair during the initial surgery, morbidity is improved with the placement of a TIVS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic cohort, level III.