Trauma Bay Time Clocks: Influence on Emergency Department Length of Stay.

BACKGROUND: To monitor the time elapsed since patient arrival in the emergency department, Trauma Services at the study institution installed a large digital stopwatch timer placed at the head of each trauma bay on June 5, 2017. This quality improvement endeavor became an essential component of performance evaluation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to measure the impact of trauma bay time clocks on emergency department length of stay. METHODS: This is a retrospective before-and-after study of trauma activation patients between June 2015 and May 2019. Two 24-month intervals were compared before and after installation of time clocks. RESULTS: In full activation patients, outcomes of emergency department length of stay ≤50 min (39.2% vs. 61.7%, p < .001) and time to transfer to intensive care unit ≤56 min (45.3% vs. 55.1%, p = .002) were significantly favorable in the postimplementation phase. Time to first computed tomography scan and time to first operating room from arrival to the emergency department were comparable between both phases. For limited activation patients, positive changes were noted in emergency department length of stay ≤87 min (41.4% vs. 60.6%, p < .001), time to first computed tomography scan ≤32 min (47.7% vs. 53.0%, p = .015), and time to transfer to intensive care unit ≤74 min (50.2% vs. 57.2%, p = .008). Time to first operating room remained comparable between two periods. CONCLUSIONS: The study institution improved their provision of immediate care by using time clocks in trauma bays. This is a simple and cost-effective intervention and may benefit similar institutions.

Using simulation to improve root cause analysis of adverse surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a simulation method of conducting investigation of the causality of adverse surgical outcomes. DESIGN: Six hundred and thirty-one closed claims of a major medical malpractice insurance company were reviewed. Each case had undergone conventional root cause analysis (RCA). Claims were categorized by comparing the predominant underlying cause documented in the case files. Three cases were selected for simulation. SETTING: All records (medical and legal) were analyzed. Simulation scenarios were developed by abstracting data from the records and then developing paper and electronic medical records, choosing appropriate STUDY PARTICIPANTS: including test subjects and confederates, scripting the simulation and choosing the appropriate simulated environment. INTERVENTION: In a simulation center, each case simulation was run 6-7 times and recorded, with participants debriefed at the conclusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sources of error identified during simulation were compared with those noted in the closed claims. Test subject decision-making was assessed qualitatively. RESULTS: Simulation of adverse outcomes (SAOs) identified more system errors and revealed the way complex decisions were made by test subjects. Compared with conventional RCA, SAO identified root causes less focused on errors by individuals and more on systems-based error. CONCLUSIONS: The use of simulation for investigation of adverse surgical outcomes is feasible and identifies causes that may be more amenable to effective systems changes than conventional RCA. The information that SAO provides may facilitate the implementation of corrective measures, decreasing the risk of recurrence and improving patient safety.

Linea alba fasciotomy: a novel alternative in trauma patients with secondary abdominal compartment syndrome.

Polytrauma patients needing aggressive resuscitation can develop intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) with subsequent secondary abdominal compartment syndrome (SACS). After patients fail medical therapy, decompressive laparotomy is the surgical last resort. In patients with severe pancreatitis SACS, the use of linea alba fasciotomy (LAF) is an effective intervention to lower IAH without the morbidity of laparotomy. A pilot study of LAF was designed to evaluate its benefit in patients with SACS polytrauma. We conducted an observational study of blunt injury polytrauma patients undergoing LAF. Variables measured before and after LAF included intra-abdominal pressure (IAP, mmHg), abdominal perfusion pressure (APP, mmHg), right ventricular end diastolic volume index (RVEDVI, mL/m2), and ejection fraction. Of the five trauma patients with SACS, the mean age was 36 +/- 17, four (80%) male with an Injury Severity Score of 27 +/- 9. Pre- and post-LAF, IAP was 20.6 +/- 4.7 and 10.6 +/- 2.7 (P < 0.0001), APP 55.2 +/- 5.5 and 77.6 +/- 7.1 (P < 0.0001), RVEDVI 86.4 +/- 9.3 and 123.6 +/- 11.9 (P < 0.0001), and EF 27.6 +/- 4.2 and 40.8 +/- 5 (P < 0.0001), respectively. One patient needed full decompression for bile ascites from unrecognized liver injury. Linea alba fasciotomy, as a first-line intervention before committing to full abdominal decompression in patients with SACS trauma, improved physiological variables without mortality. Consideration for LAF as a bridge before full abdominal decompression needs further evaluation in patients with polytrauma SACS.

Damage control resuscitation in combination with damage control laparotomy: a survival advantage.

BACKGROUND: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) improves outcomes when used in patients with severe hemorrhage. Correction of coagulopathy with close ratio resuscitation while limiting crystalloid forms a new methodology known as damage control resuscitation (DCR). We hypothesize a survival advantage in DCL patients managed with DCR when compared with DCL patients managed with conventional resuscitation efforts (CRE). METHODS: This study is a 4-year retrospective study of all DCL patients who required >or=10 units of packed red blood cells (PRBC) during surgery. A 2-year period after institution of DCR (DCL and DCR) was compared with the preceding 2 years (DCL and CRE). Univariate analysis of continuous data was done with Student's t test followed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: One Hundred twenty-four and 72 patients were managed during the DCL and CRE and DCL and DCR time periods, respectively. Baseline patient characteristics of age, Injury Severity Score, % penetrating, blood pressure, hemoglobin, base deficit, and INR were similar between groups. There was no difference in quantity of intraoperative PRBC utilization between DCL and CRE and DCL and DCR study periods: 21.7 units versus 25.5 units (p = 0.53); however, when compared with DCL and CRE group, patients in the DCL and DCR group received less intraoperative crystalloids, 4.7 L versus 14.2 L (p = 0.009); more fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 18.2 versus 6.4 (p = 0.002); a closer FFP to PRBC ratio, 1 to 1.2 versus 1 to 4.2 (p = 0.002); platelets to PRBC ratio, 1:2.3 versus 1:5.9 (0.002); shorter mean trauma intensive care unit length of stay, 11 days versus 20 days (p = 0.01); and greater 30-day survival, 73.6% versus 54.8% (p < 0.009). The addition of DCR to DCL conveyed a survival benefit (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval: 0.19 (0.05-0.33), p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: This is the first civilian study that analyses the impact of DCR in patients managed with DCL. During the DCL and DCR study period more PRBC, FFP, and platelets with less crystalloid solution was used intraoperatively. DCL and DCR were associated with a survival advantage and shorter trauma intensive care unit length of stay in patients with severe hemorrhage when compared with DCL and CRE.

Recurrent abdominal compartment syndrome: an inciting factor of the second hit phenomenon.

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) after damage control laparotomy (DCL) is not unusual and because of this, patients are treated with open-abdomen techniques to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The occurrence of recurrent ACS (R-ACS) after abdominal wall closure under tension in patients managed with DCL can be a trigger factor for second hit syndrome. Outcomes in this subset have not been previously described. In this 1-year retrospective study of severely injured patients in a Level I trauma center managed with DCL and sequential abdominal wall closure, 26 patients were identified. After attempted abdominal wall closure, 13 (50%) patients had R-ACS and 13 (50%) non-R-ACS. R-ACS patients had a statistically significant higher incidence of multisystem organ failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and sepsis as well as requiring longer ventilator support and longer hospital length of stay. We concluded that failure to recognize and treat IAH with development of R-ACS after tension abdominal wall closure in patients with DCL will trigger the second hit syndrome with increased risk of morbidity. Institution of a management algorithm with intra-abdominal pressure/abdominal perfusion pressure surveillance at the time of abdominal wall closure can potentially ameliorate complications.