Predicting Unplanned Readmissions to the Intensive Care Unit in the Trauma Population.

Background: Unplanned readmission to intensive care units (UR-ICU) in trauma is associated with increased hospital length of stay and significant morbidity and mortality. We identify independent predictors of UR-ICU and construct a nomogram to estimate readmission probability. Materials and Methods: We performed an IRB-approved retrospective case-control study at a Level I trauma center between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients with UR-ICU (n = 175) were matched with patients who were not readmitted (NR-ICU) (n = 175). Univariate and multivariable binary linear regressionanalyses were performed (SPSS Version 28, IBM Corp), and a nomogram was created (Stata 18.0, StataCorp LLC). Results: Demographics, comorbidities, and injury- and hospital course-related factors were examined as potential prognostic indicators of UR-ICU. The mortality rate of UR-ICU was 22.29% vs 6.29% for NR-ICU (P < .001). Binary linear regression identified seven independent predictors that contributed to UR-ICU: shock (P < .001) or intracranial surgery (P = .015) during ICU admission, low hematocrit (P = .001) or sedation administration in the 24 hours before ICU discharge (P < .001), active infection treatment (P = .192) or leukocytosis on ICU discharge (P = .01), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (P = .002). A nomogram was generated to estimate the probability of UR-ICU and guide decisions on ICU discharge appropriateness. Discussion: In trauma, UR-ICU is often accompanied by poor outcomes and death. Shock, intracranial surgery, anemia, sedative administration, ongoing infection treatment, leukocytosis, and COPD are significant risk factors for UR-ICU. A predictive nomogram may help better assess readiness for ICU discharge.

Coronary Artery Calcification and Risk of Cardiac Complication in Geriatric Trauma Population.

BACKGROUND: Better means of identifying patients with increased cardiac complication (CC) risk is needed. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is reported on routine chest CT scans. We assessed the correlation of CAC and CCs in the geriatric trauma population. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, observational study of patients 55 years and older who had chest CT scan from May to September 2022 at a level 1 trauma center. Radiologists scored CAC as none, mild, moderate, or severe. None-to-mild CAC (NM-CAC) and moderate-to-severe CAC (MS-CAC) were grouped and in-hospital CCs assessed (arrhythmia, ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], non-STEMI, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac mortality). Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-nine patients had a chest CT, of them 12 were excluded due to missing CAC severity. Of 557 patients, 442 (79.3%) had none-to-mild CAC and 115 (20.7%) has MS-CAC; the MS-CAC group was older (73.3 vs 67.4 years) with fewer male patients (48.7% vs 54.5%), had higher cardiac-related comorbidities, and had higher abbreviated injury scale chest injury scores. The MS-CAC group had an increased rate of CC (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, p = 0.016). Cardiac complications statistically more common in MS-CAC were congestive heart failure (OR 3.41, p = 0.003); cardiogenic shock (OR 3.3, p = 0.006); non-STEMI I or II (OR 2.8, p = 0.017); STEMI (OR 5.9, p = 0.029); and cardiac-caused mortality (OR 5.27, p = 0.036). No statistical significance between pulmonary edema (p = 0.6), new-onset arrhythmia (p = 0.74), or cardiac arrest (p = 0.193). CONCLUSIONS: CAC as reported on chest CT scans demonstrates a significant correlation with CC and should warrant additional cardiac monitoring.