Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in trauma management: a comprehensive study of clinical indications and challenges.

Background: The application of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in trauma resuscitation, including for profound shock and cardiac arrest, has gained prominence. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of patients who were transported to the trauma resuscitation area (the TTRA group) and those who died at the scene (the DAS group), aiming to identify suitable REBOA candidates and critical contraindications. Methods: A descriptive research design was used. We retrospectively reviewed 1158 adult trauma patients managed at a level I trauma center in 2020 and 2021. The TTRA group comprised 215 patients who, upon arrival at the trauma resuscitation area, either presented with a systolic blood pressure under 90 mm Hg or were in traumatic cardiac arrest but still exhibited signs of life. The study included patients directly transferred from incident scenes to the forensic unit. The DAS group comprised 434 individuals who were declared deceased at the scene of major trauma. REBOA indications were considered for two purposes: anatomic bleeding control for sources below the diaphragm to the groin, and circulatory restoration in patients with profound shock or cardiac arrest. Absolute REBOA contraindications were assessed, particularly for aortic and cardiac injuries, with or without cardiac tamponade. Results: Predominantly male, the cohort largely consisted of motorcycle accident victims. The median Injury Severity Score was 41 (range 1-75). Within the TTRA group, the prospective applicability of REBOA was 52.6%, with a prevalence of major hemorrhagic sources from the abdomen to the groin of 38.6% and substantial intra-abdominal bleeding of 28.8%. The DAS group exhibited a prevalence of major hemorrhagic sources from the abdomen to the groin of 50.2%, and substantial intra-abdominal bleeding of 41.2%. In terms of REBOA contraindications, the DAS group demonstrated a greater prevalence of overall contraindications of 25.8%, aortic injuries 17.3%, and concomitant conditions of 16.4%. In the TTRA group, the rates of overall contraindications, aortic injury, and comorbid conditions were 12.6%, 4.2%, and 8.8, respectively. Cardiac injuries were noted in approximately 10% of patients in both groups. Conclusions: This investigation underscores the potential benefits of REBOA in the management of major trauma patients. The prevalence of bleeding sources suitable for REBOA was high in both the TTRA and DAS groups. However, a significant number of patients in both groups also had contraindications to the procedure. These outcomes highlight the critical importance of enhanced training in patient assessment to ensure the safe and effective deployment of REBOA, particularly in resource-limited environments such as ongoing trauma resuscitation and prehospital care. Level of evidence: Level III.

Using interoperable nursing care data to improve outcomes for multiple traumas patients with Impaired Physical Mobility.

AIM(S): To demonstrate how interoperable nursing care data can be used by nurses to create a more holistic understanding of the healthcare needs of multiple traumas patients with Impaired Physical Mobility. By proposing and validating linkages for the nursing diagnosis of Impaired Physical Mobility in multiple trauma patients by mapping to the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) equivalent terms using free-text nursing documentation. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional design, combining quantitative analysis of interoperable data sets and the Kappa's coefficient score with qualitative insights from cross-mapping methodology and nursing professionals' consensus. METHODS: Cross-mapping methodology was conducted in a Brazilian Level 1 Trauma Center using de-identified records of adult patients with a confirmed medical diagnosis of multiple traumas and Impaired Physical Mobility (a nursing diagnosis). The hospital nursing free-text records were mapped to NANDA-I, NIC, NOC and NNN linkages were identified. The data records were retrieved for admissions from September to October 2020 and involved medical and nursing records. Three expert nurses evaluated the cross-mapping and linkage results using a 4-point Likert-type scale and Kappa's coefficient. RESULTS: The de-identified records of 44 patients were evaluated and then were mapped to three NOCs related to nurses care planning: (0001) Endurance; (0204) Immobility Consequences: Physiological, and (0208) Mobility and 13 interventions and 32 interrelated activities: (6486) Environmental Management: Safety; (0840) Positioning; (3200) Aspiration Precautions; (1400) Pain Management; (0940) Traction/Immobilization Care; (3540) Pressure Ulcer Prevention; (3584) Skincare: Topical Treatment; (1100) Nutrition Management; (3660) Wound Care; (1804) Self-Care Assistance: Toileting; (1801) Self-Care Assistance: Bathing/Hygiene; (4130) Fluid Monitoring; and (4200) Intravenous Therapy. The final version of the constructed NNN Linkages identified 37 NOCs and 41 NICs. CONCLUSION: These valid NNN linkages for patients with multiple traumas can serve as a valuable resource that enables nurses, who face multiple time constraints, to make informed decisions efficiently. This approach of using evidence-based linkages like the one developed in this research holds high potential for improving patient's safety and outcomes. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: In this study, there was no direct involvement of patients, service users, caregivers or public members in the design, conduct, analysis and interpretation of data or preparation of the manuscript. The study focused solely on analysing existing de-identified medical and nursing records to propose and validate linkages for nursing diagnoses.

Elbow Reconstruction with Megaprosthesis: An Effective Strategy for Salvage Surgery in Trauma Patients.

Delayed fracture healing can have devastating functional consequences, including pseudoarthrosis. Many factors can contribute to delayed healing, including decreased vascularity, micro-motion at the fracture site, large fracture gaps, multiple traumas at the same site, compromised metabolic status, surgical complications, and other conditions. A 61-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with left distal humeral pseudarthrosis, accompanied by chronic pain and disability. Two years prior, the patient suffered a traumatic incident. At another medical facility, the patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery with simultaneous ulnar nerve transposition. She showed favorable postoperative recovery. Unfortunately, approximately one year later, the patient sustained a second trauma to the same arm. This led to peri-implant fracture and post-traumatic aseptic degradation of the osteosynthesis system which was subsequently removed. Twelve months after the last surgery, the patient was referred to our hospital and, after thorough consideration of the therapeutic options, we decided to perform left elbow arthroplasty with left distal humeral reconstruction by using Zimmer's Comprehensive Segmental Revision System. This approach is generally reserved for tumors, and only a handful of cases of megaprostheses for non-tumoral indications have been previously reported. The surgery and perioperative care of our patient were optimal, there were no complications, and the patient recovered arm functionality following rehabilitation.

A case of fatal fulminant fat embolism syndrome saved by VA-ECMO in the acute phase of multiple trauma.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare complication of long bone fractures, with fulminant FES developing within 12 h of injury and often proving fatal (Shaikh, 2009 [1]). Here, we present a case of fulminant FES in a patient who developed sudden right heart failure after undergoing external fixation of a lower leg fracture and required veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). A 79-year-old woman injured in a traffic accident was transferred to our emergency department. Upon arrival, her level of consciousness deteriorated, and she developed circulatory failure. We promptly performed transcatheter arterial embolization for the pelvic fracture and external fixation of the tibiofibular fracture. Within four hours of the injury, she was admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU). Two hours after ICU admission, her hemodynamic status worsened, necessitating the administration of maximum catecholamine dose. Echocardiography revealed petechial hemorrhage of the palpebral conjunctiva and enlargement of the right ventricle. Despite maximal supportive care, the patient remained cardiovascularly unstable. Therefore, VA-ECMO was initiated to stabilize her hemodynamic status. Thereafter, her hemodynamics stabilized, and ECMO support was weaned off and removed on day 3. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed evidence of cerebral fat embolism. On day 9, she underwent open reduction of the left lower leg with internal fixation and was transferred to another hospital on day 29. This report documents the successful management of fulminant FES during the acute phase of multiple traumas. Clinicians should consider VA-ECMO when suspecting uncontrolled circulatory failure due to fulminant FES, even in the acute phase of multiple trauma.

The role of childhood cumulative trauma in the risk of lifetime PTSD: An epidemiological study.

Cumulative trauma is usually devastating and can lead to severe psychological consequences, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure to various types of traumas, particularly during childhood, can be even more deleterious than the sheer number of events experienced. This epidemiological study is the first to investigate the impact of discrete childhood traumatic exposure on the risk of developing lifetime PTSD in a representative sample of the general population of the two biggest Brazilian cities. Participants were aged between 15 and 75 years old, living in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who had experienced traumatic events (N = 3,231). The PTSD diagnosis was assessed using the DSM-IV criteria through the version 2.1 of Composite International Diagnostic Interview. To operationalize childhood cumulative trauma, we considered the sum of 15 different childhood trauma categories that occurred before PTSD onset. The final multivariate logistic regression model indicated a strong relationship between the number of discrete types of childhood traumas and the likelihood of the lifetime PTSD development. The lifetime PTSD risk increased 28 % with each different type of childhood trauma when adjusted by confounds. Our study strengthens the evidence associating childhood cumulative trauma to increased lifetime PTSD risk.

Angioembolization for splenic injuries: does it help? Retrospective evaluation of grade III-V splenic injuries at two level I trauma centers.

Background: Splenic angioembolization (SAE) has increased in utilization for blunt splenic injuries. We hypothesized lower SAE usage would not correlate with higher rates of additional intervention or mortality when choosing initial non-operative management (NOM) or surgery. Study design: Trauma registries from two level I trauma centers from 2010 to 2020 were used to identify patients aged >18 years with grade III-V blunt splenic injuries. Results were compared with the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) for 2018 for level I and II centers. Additional intervention or failure was defined as any subsequent SAE or surgery. Mortality was defined as death during admission. Results: There were 266 vs 5943 patients who met inclusion/exclusion criteria at Stanford/Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) versus the NTDB. Initial intervention differed significantly between cohorts with the use of SAE (6% vs 17%, p=0.000). Failure differed significantly between cohorts (1.5% vs 6.5%, p=0.005). On multivariate analysis, failure in NOM was significantly associated with NTDB cohort status, age 65+ years, more than one comorbidity, mechanism of injury, grade V spleen injury, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) 25+. On multivariate analysis, failure in SAE was significantly associated with Shock Index >0.9 and 10+ units blood in 24 hours. On multivariate analysis, a higher risk of mortality was significantly associated with NTDB cohort status, age 65+ years, no private insurance, more than one comorbidity, mechanism of injury, ISS 25+, 10+ units blood in 24 hours, NOM, more than one hospital complications, anticoagulant use, other Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3 abdominal injuries. Conclusions: Compared with national data, our cohort had less SAE, lower rates of additional intervention, and had lower risk-adjusted mortality. Shock Index >0.9, grade V splenic injuries, and increased transfusion requirements in the first 24 hours may signal a need for surgical intervention rather than SAE or NOM and may reduce mortality in appropriately selected patients. Level of evidence: Level II/III.

Brodifacoum contamination of synthetic cannabinoid causing unexplained coagulopathy in multiple trauma: A case report.

An 18-year-old female presented to the emergency department after a motor vehicle collision. Initial imaging revealed a liver laceration. Subsequent labs showed significantly elevated prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and activated partial thromboplastin time. Thromboelastography demonstrated a flatline tracing. The patient denied use of anticoagulation but admitted to synthetic cannabinoid use. It was believed the patient had taken synthetic cannabinoid contaminated by brodifacoum. She was therefore given prothrombin complex concentrate and vitamin K with blood products. The patient underwent sequential embolization, laparotomy, thoracotomy, and repair of the vena cava with a shunt. Thirty minutes postoperatively, her coagulation tests and thromboelastography were much improved. Two and a half hours postoperatively, it was determined she had sustained non-survivable injuries. The patient experienced brain death due to prolonged hypotension as a result of hemorrhagic shock with bleeding exacerbated by brodifacoum. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of a trauma-induced coagulopathy exacerbated by brodifacoum-contaminated synthetic cannabinoid. Her coagulopathy was clearly not due to trauma alone and contributed greatly to the difficulty in controlling hemorrhage. The synthetic cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy rendered her otherwise potentially survivable injuries fatal. Given the frequency of multiple trauma and the recent increase in the prevalence of synthetic cannabinoid, it can be expected that the incidence of trauma complicated by synthetic cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy will increase in the near future. For patients that present with prolonged prothrombin time and/or activated partial thromboplastin time, it is important to inquire about recent synthetic cannabinoid use.

In-hospital mortality after prehospital endotracheal intubation versus alternative methods of airway management in trauma patients. A cohort study from the TraumaRegister DGU®.

PURPOSE: Prehospital airway management in trauma is a key component of care and is associated with particular risks. Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is the gold standard, while extraglottic airway devices (EGAs) are recommended alternatives. There is limited evidence comparing their effectiveness. In this retrospective analysis from the TraumaRegister DGU®, we compared ETI with EGA in prehospital airway management regarding in-hospital mortality in patients with trauma. METHODS: We included cases only from German hospitals with a minimum Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥ 2 and age ≥ 16 years. All patients without prehospital airway protection were excluded. We performed a multivariate logistic regression to adjust with the outcome measure of hospital mortality. RESULTS: We included n = 10,408 cases of whom 92.5% received ETI and 7.5% EGA. The mean injury severity score was higher in the ETI group (28.8 ± 14.2) than in the EGA group (26.3 ± 14.2), and in-hospital mortality was comparable: ETI 33.0%; EGA 30.7% (27.5 to 33.9). After conducting logistic regression, the odds ratio for mortality in the ETI group was 1.091 (0.87 to 1.37). The standardized mortality ratio was 1.04 (1.01 to 1.07) in the ETI group and 1.1 (1.02 to 1.26) in the EGA group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in mortality rates between the use of ETI or EGA, or the ratio of expected versus observed mortality when using ETI.

Role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio at the time of arrival to the emergency room as a predictor of short-term mortality in trauma patients with severe trauma team activation.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-to-Lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been studied as a prognostic factor for various diseases and traumas. This study examined the utility of PLR as a tool for predicting 30-day mortality in patients experiencing severe trauma. METHODS: This study included 139 patients who experienced trauma and fulfilled ≥1 criteria for activation of the hospital's severe trauma team. Patients were divided into non-survivor and survivor groups. Mean PLR values were compared between the groups, the optimal PLR cut-off value was determined, and mortality and survival analyses were performed. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS ver. 26.0. The threshold of statistical significance was P<0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean (±standard deviation) PLR between the non-survivor (n=36) and survivor (n=103) groups (53.4±30.1 vs. 89.9±53.3, respectively; P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an optimal PLR cut-off of 65.35 (sensitivity, 0.621; specificity, 0.694, respectively; area under the ROC curve, 0.742), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a significant difference in mortality rate between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: PLR can be calculated quickly and easily from a routine complete blood count, which is often performed in the emergency department for individuals who experience trauma. The PLR is useful for predicting 30-day mortality in trauma patients with severe trauma team activation.

[Trauma Injuries Associated with Rope Bullfights in the Azores: A Cross-Sectional Study]. / Trauma Associado às Touradas à Corda nos Açores: Um Estudo Transversal.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to describe trauma injuries associated with rope bullfights in the Azores, Portugal, regarding the cause of the incident, trauma mechanism, most affected anatomical areas, and injury severity. METHODS: Two-year cross-sectional study in the local hospital with prospective data collection. Patients who were consecutively admitted to the local hospital's emergency department with trauma injuries from the bull's direct impact or from falls either during the bull's escape or when handling the rope, were included. Data on general demographics, lesion characteristics, treatments, need for hospitalization and mortality were collected. RESULTS: Fifty-six incidents and 80 trauma injuries were identified. The main cause of trauma was the bull's direct impact (37; 66.07%) and the mechanism of injury was blunt trauma in all patients (100%; 56). Head and neck injuries (27; 33.75%) were the most common. The median Injury Severity Score at the emergency department admission was 4. Major trauma was noted in five patients (8.92%). Ten patients (17.85%) needed hospitalization with a median hospital stay of seven days. Three of the 10 hospitalized patients (30%) were previously admitted to the intensive care unit. Surgery was performed in six patients (10.71%). CONCLUSION: The main cause of trauma was the bull's direct impact, and the mechanism of injury was blunt trauma. The most affected anatomical areas were the head and neck. These findings are a wake-up call to the impact of these events regarding the economic costs they entail, the costs for the health of the local population, the safety measures currently implemented and the availability of the necessary means to treat these patients.

Introdução: O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as lesões traumáticas tauromáquicas ocorridas nas touradas à corda nos Açores no que diz respeito à causa do incidente, mecanismo de trauma, área anatómica mais afetada e gravidade das lesões. Métodos: Estudo unicêntrico, transversal, com a colheita prospetiva de dados realizada durante dois anos. Foram incluídos os doentes que consecutivamente recorreram ao serviço de urgência do hospital local por lesões traumáticas ocorridas por trauma direto com o animal ou quedas aquando da fuga ou manuseio da corda. Foram colhidos dados demográficos gerais, características da lesão, tratamentos efetuados, necessidade de internamento hospitalar e mortalidade. Foi realizada uma análise estatística descritiva com recurso ao software estatístico SPSS. Resultados: Registaram-se 56 admissões hospitalares e 80 lesões traumáticas. A principal causa de traumatismo foi o trauma direto com o animal (37; 66,07%) e o mecanismo de lesão foi o trauma fechado (56; 100%). As áreas anatómicas mais afetadas foram a cabeça e pescoço (27; 33,75%). A mediana de Injury Severity Score foi de 4 à admissão hospitalar. Cinco doentes (8,92%) apresentaram trauma major. Dez doentes (17,85%) necessitaram de internamento hospitalar com uma mediana de dias de internamento de sete (IIQ 4,5 dias). Três (30%) dos doentes internados necessitaram de internamento em unidade de cuidados intensivos. Seis doentes (10,71%) foram submetidos a cirurgia. Conclusão: A principal causa de traumatismo foi o trauma direto com o animal e o mecanismo de lesão foi o trauma fechado. As áreas anatómicas mais afetadas foram a cabeça e pescoço. Estes dados constituem um alerta para o impacto destes eventos no que diz respeito aos custos económicos que acarretam, aos custos para a saúde da população local, às medidas de segurança atualmente implementadas e à disponibilidade dos meios necessários para tratar estes doentes.

[Serious burns associated with a fracture : how to react in emergency]. / Comment je traite en urgence des brûlures graves associées à une fracture.

The incidence of burns associated with one or even several fractures is rare and linked to high-energy mechanisms (traffic accidents, terrorist attacks, etc.). Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach both at the medical and paramedical levels. The various stages of treatment require a systematic reassessment of the situation according to the patient's evolution. Detailed understanding of treatment strategies and outcomes is vital when managing these patients with multiple trauma. We will discuss about our experience with a focus on the management of burns, fractures and associated pathologies.

L'incidence des brûlures associées à une ou plusieurs fractures est rare et liée à des mécanismes à haute énergie (accidents de roulage, attentats…). La prise en charge nécessite une approche pluridisciplinaire tant au niveau médical que paramédical. Les diverses étapes de traitement nécessitent une réévaluation systématique de la situation en fonction de l'évolution du patient. La compréhension détaillée des stratégies de traitement et des résultats est vitale lors de la prise en charge de ces patients polytraumatisés. Nous allons discuter de notre expérience avec un focus sur la prise en charge des brûlures, des fractures et des pathologies associées.

Comparison of military and civilian surgeon outcomes with emergent trauma laparotomy in a mature military-civilian partnership.

Introduction: Medical readiness is of paramount concern for active-duty military providers. Low volumes of complex trauma in military treatment facilities has driven the armed forces to embed surgeons in high-volume civilian centers to maintain clinical readiness. It is unclear what impact this strategy may have on patient outcomes in these centers. We sought to compare emergent trauma laparotomy (ETL) outcomes between active-duty Air Force Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) general surgeons and civilian faculty at an American College of Surgeons verified level 1 trauma center with a well-established military-civilian partnership. Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained, single-center database of ETL from 2019 to 2022 was performed. ETL was defined as laparotomy from trauma bay within 90 min of patient arrival. The primary outcome was to assess for all-cause mortality differences at multiple time points. Results: 514 ETL were performed during the study period. 22% (113 of 514) of patients were hypotensive (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mm Hg) on arrival. Six SOST surgeons performed 43 ETL compared with 471 ETL by civilian faculty. There were no differences in median ED length of stay (27 min vs 22 min; p=0.21), but operative duration was significantly longer for SOST surgeons (129 min vs 110 min; p=0.01). There were no differences in intraoperative (5% vs 2%; p=0.30), 6-hour (3% vs 5%; p=0.64), 24-hour (5% vs 5%; p=1.0), or in-hospital mortality rates (5% vs 8%; p=0.56) between SOST and civilian surgeons. SOST surgeons did not significantly impact the odds of 24-hour mortality on multivariable analysis (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.10, 6.09). Conclusion: Trauma-related mortality for patients undergoing ETL was not impacted by SOST surgeons when compared with their civilian counterparts. Military surgeons may benefit from the valuable clinical experience and mentorship of experienced civilian trauma surgeons at high volume trauma centers without creating a deficit in the quality of care provided. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic/care management.