Biliary hyperkinesia: an indication for cholecystectomy?

BACKGROUND: The main indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy are stone-related diseases in adults. With a normal abdominal ultrasound (US), a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan with ejection fraction (EF) is recommended to evaluate gallbladder function. Biliary dyskinesia or low gallbladder EF (EF < 35%) is a recognized indication for cholecystectomy. Recent articles report long-term resolution of symptoms in children with high EFs on the HIDA scan. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of patients with biliary colic and hyperkinetic gallbladder to cholecystectomy. We suggest that laparoscopic cholecystectomy might be a considerable surgical option in a subset of the adult population whose workup for food-related biliary abdominal pain is negative except for the high-value EF on HIDA scan. METHODS: Data were consecutively collected from all patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 2012 and June 2019 at a single institution. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Patients older than 17 years of age with the negative US (no stone, no sludge, no gallbladder wall thickening) and EF greater than 80% on cholecystokinin (CCK)-HIDA scan were included in this study. All patients were seen at 2 weeks and 10-16 months after surgeries. RESULTS: Over 7 years from June 2012 until June 2019, of 2116 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 59 patients (2.78%) met study criteria. Postprandial abdominal pain was the most common symptom (43, 72.90%) followed by nausea/vomiting. Forty-seven patients (74.6%) had a reproduction of symptoms with CCK infusion. The average EF was 88.51%. Final pathology showed chronic cholecystitis in 41 (69.5%) patients, cholesterolosis in 13 (22%), polyp in 2 (3.4%). Thirty-six (61%) patients had complete resolution of symptoms, 9 (15%) patients had partial resolution, and 14 (24%) patients had no change. There was a complete resolution rate of 61% and an improvement rate of 76%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with biliary symptoms, negative ultrasound, and elevated EF on HIDA scan (EF > 80%), laparoscopic cholecystectomy led to a significant rate of symptomatic relief. Interestingly, 94% also had unexpected pathologic findings. This disease process requires further analysis, but this could represent a new indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the adult population.

The role of deficient pain modulatory systems in the development of persistent post-traumatic headaches following mild traumatic brain injury: an exploratory longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is one of the most common and long-lasting symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the pathological mechanisms underlying the development of persistent PTH remain poorly understood. The primary purpose of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate whether early pain modulatory profiles (sensitization and endogenous pain inhibitory capacity) and psychological factors after mild TBI predict the development of persistent PTH in mild TBI patients. METHODS: Adult mild TBI patients recruited from Level I Emergency Department Trauma Centers completed study sessions at 1-2 weeks, 1-month, and 4-months post mild TBI. Participants completed the following outcome measures during each session: conditioned pain modulation to measure endogenous pain inhibitory capacity, temporal summation of pain and pressure pain thresholds of the head to measure sensitization of the head, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale, and a standardized headache survey. Participants were classified into persistent PTH (PPTH) and no-PPTH groups based on the 4-month data. RESULTS: The results revealed that mild TBI patients developing persistent PTH exhibited significantly diminished pain inhibitory capacity, and greater depression and pain catastrophizing following injury compared to those who do not develop persistent PTH. Furthermore, logistic regression indicated that headache pain intensity at 1-2 weeks and pain inhibitory capacity on the conditioned pain modulation test at 1-2 weeks predicted persistent PTH classification at 4 months post injury. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results suggested that persistent PTH is characterized by dysfunctional alterations in endogenous pain modulatory function and psychological processes in the early stages following mild TBI, which likely exacerbate risk for the maintenance of PTH.

Impact of Residents on Safety Outcomes in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: New training programs face quality concern by faculty who believe resident involvement in operative management may lead to poorer outcomes. This study aims to understand the impact of resident surgeons on outcomes in a specific common surgical procedure. METHODS: We obtained a retrospective review of 1216 laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases between June 2012 and June 2017 at a community teaching hospital. Data reviewed included patient demographics, operative time, length of stay, 30-day outcomes. An initial analysis comparing outcomes with/without resident participation was undertaken. A subset analysis comparing junior (PGY 1-2) and senior (PGY 3-5) groups was also performed. RESULTS: We found the resident group participated in higher-risk patient (ASA > 3, 47.5% vs 39.8%, p = 0.04 more acute disease (59.8% vs 37.5%, p < 0.0001) and emergent surgery (59.7% vs 37.5%, p < 0.0001). Resident involvement in severe cases was not a significant factor in the odds of morbidity, mortality, conversion rate or length of stay. Resident participation did increase the odds of having longer OR time (OR 12.54, 95% CI 7.74-17.34, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Resident participation is associated with increased operative times but not complications. This study confirms resident participation in the operating room in difficult and challenging cases is safe.

An Exploratory Study of Endogenous Pain Modulatory Function in Patients Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Recent animal research suggests that mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) facilitates abnormal endogenous modulation of pain, potentially underlying the increased risk for persistent headaches following injury. However, no human studies have directly assessed the functioning of endogenous facilitory and inhibitory systems in the early stages after an mTBI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine trigeminal sensitization and endogenous pain inhibitory capacity in mTBI patients in the acute stage of injury compared with matched controls. We also examined whether post-traumatic headache pain intensity within the mTBI sample was related to sensitization and pain inhibitory capacity. METHODS: Twenty-four mTBI patients recruited from emergency departments and 21 age-, race-, and sex-matched controls completed one experimental session. During this session, participants completed quantitative sensory tests measuring trigeminal sensitization (pressure pain thresholds and temporal summation of pain in the head) and endogenous pain inhibition (conditioned pain modulation). Participants also completed validated questionnaires measuring headache pain, depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing. RESULTS: The results revealed that the mTBI group exhibited significantly decreased pressure pain thresholds of the head and decreased pain inhibition on the conditioned pain modulation test compared with the control group. Furthermore, correlational analysis showed that the measures of trigeminal sensitization and depression were significantly associated with headache pain intensity within the mTBI group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, mTBI patients may be at risk for maladaptive changes to the functioning of endogenous pain modulatory systems following head injury that could increase risk for post-traumatic headaches.

Tdrkh is essential for spermatogenesis and participates in primary piRNA biogenesis in the germline.

Piwi proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) repress transposition, regulate translation, and guide epigenetic programming in the germline. Here, we show that an evolutionarily conserved Tudor and KH domain-containing protein, Tdrkh (a.k.a. Tdrd2), is required for spermatogenesis and involved in piRNA biogenesis. Tdrkh partners with Miwi and Miwi2 via symmetrically dimethylated arginine residues in Miwi and Miwi2. Tdrkh is a mitochondrial protein often juxtaposed to pi-bodies and piP-bodies and is required for Tdrd1 cytoplasmic localization and Miwi2 nuclear localization. Tdrkh mutants display meiotic arrest at the zygotene stage, attenuate methylation of Line1 DNA, and upregulate Line1 RNA and protein, without inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, Tdrkh mutants have severely reduced levels of mature piRNAs but accumulate a distinct population of 1'U-containing, 2'O-methylated 31-37 nt RNAs that largely complement the missing mature piRNAs. Our results demonstrate that the primary piRNA biogenesis pathway involves 3'→5' processing of 31-37 nt intermediates and that Tdrkh promotes this final step of piRNA biogenesis but not the ping-pong cycle. These results shed light on mechanisms underlying primary piRNA biogenesis, an area in which information is conspicuously absent.

Impact of triage guidelines on prehospital triage: comparison of guidelines with a statistical model.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeons developed the National Field Triage Decision Scheme (NFTDS) that has been adapted by many trauma centers in the nation, but quantitative evidence of its efficacy is unclear. We compare the NFTDS and state of Ohio guidelines to the "observed" rates and with rates derived using a statistical model. METHODS: We used 4757 trauma records from 2008-2012 available from the state and calculated undertriage (UT) and overtriage (OT) rates. We then simulated the NFTDS and the state guidelines for those years and estimated the corresponding UT and OT rates. We finally compared these rates with those derived from a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: For the state data, both NFTDS and state guidelines produced lower UT rate (∼9%) compared with the observed rate (∼17%), whereas the OT rates were higher (>85%) than the observed rates (∼54%). The statistical model identified novel factors that were not directly available in the NFTDS; change in responsiveness (odds ratio [OR] = 1.924) and complaint in body (OR = 3.140), back (OR = 1.890), chest (OR = 3.191), head (OR = 3.878), and abdomen (OR = 2.966). Although the statistical model performed similar to observed rates, it performed considerably better than NFTDS (UT = 1.93% versus 9.03%; OT = 66.42% versus 87.52%) and state guidelines (UT = 2.18% versus 8.72%; OT = 64.09% versus 86.52%). CONCLUSIONS: The current NFTDS and state's triage guidelines do not appear to achieve the ACS recommendation of <5% UT and <35% OT rates in the state of Ohio. Inclusion of region-specific factors may help enhance the current NFTDS guidelines and aid in the first impression or judgment of the Emergency Medical Services personnel to improve trauma care and reduce cost.

Cribari, does it apply in real time? An analysis of a community level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Major Trauma Code 1 (TC1) activations require significant resources to provide immediate treatment to potentially unstable, critically ill, patients. The Cribari Matrix Method (CMM) and Need For Trauma Intervention (NFTI) are two ways to determine over and undertriage in trauma. We studied the overtriage rate at a community level 1 trauma center using these two methods to determine the efficacy of the triage criteria in TC1 activations. METHOD: A retrospective review of all patients in the trauma registry of a level 1 American College of Surgeons trauma program from May to October 2021 was performed. Overtriage rates were determined using CMM and NFTI criteria. RESULTS: The overtriage rate of 552 activations using CMM alone was 73%. CMM combined with NFTI resulted in a 56% overtriage rate. CONCLUSION: The Cribari method can be used to determine the effectiveness of a system's trauma code 1 criteria but cannot delineate which criteria should be reviewed.

Are flexion extension films necessary for cervical spine clearance in patients with neck pain after negative cervical CT scan?

BACKGROUND: There are variations in cervical spine (CS) clearance protocols in neurologically intact blunt trauma patients with negative radiological imaging but persistent neck pain. Current guidelines from the current Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma include options of maintaining the cervical collar or obtaining either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or flexion-extension films (FEF). We evaluated the utility of FEF in the current era of routine computerized tomography (CT) for imaging the CS in trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All neurologically intact, awake, nonintoxicated patients who underwent FEF for persistent neck pain after negative CT scan of the CS at our level I trauma center over a 13-mo period were identified. Their charts were reviewed and demographic data obtained. RESULTS: There were 354 patients (58.5% male) with negative cervical CS CT scans who had FEF for residual neck pain. Incidental degenerative changes were seen in 37%--which did not affect their acute management. FEF were positive for possible ligamentous injury in 5 patients (1.4%). Two of these patients had negative magnetic resonance images and the other three had collars removed within 3 wk as the findings were ultimately determined to be degenerative. CONCLUSIONS: In the current era, where cervical CT has universally supplanted initial plain films, FEF appear to be of little value in the evaluation of persistent neck pain. Their use should be excluded from cervical spine clearance protocols in neurologically intact, awake patients.

Racial Differences in Head Pain and Other Pain-Related Outcomes After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Recent research suggests that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) may exert deleterious effects on endogenous pain modulatory function, potentially underlying the elevated risk for persistent headaches following injury. Accumulating research also shows race differences in clinical and experimental pain, with African Americans (AA) generally reporting more severe pain, worse pain modulation, and greater pain sensitivity compared with Caucasians. However, race differences in pain-related outcomes following mild TBI have rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to explore race differences in endogenous pain modulation, pain sensitivity, headache pain, and psychological factors among AA and Caucasian individuals with mild TBI in the first month following injury compared with healthy controls and across time. Patients with mild TBI were recruited from local emergency department trauma centers. Sixty-three participants with mild TBI (AAs: n = 23, Caucasians: n = 40) enrolled in this study and completed study sessions at 1-2 weeks and 1-month post-injury. Forty-one mild-TBI-free control participants (AAs: n = 11, Caucasians: n = 30), matched on age and sex, completed one study session. Assessments included a Headache Survey, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and quantitative sensory testing (QST) to measure endogenous pain modulatory function. QST included conditioned pain modulation (CPM) to measure endogenous pain inhibitory function and temporal summation (TS) of pain and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the head to measure pain sensitization and sensitivity. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether the outcome measures differed as a function of race, mild TBI, and time. Mediation analysis was used to explore potential mediators for the race differences in headache pain intensity. The results showed that AA participants with mild TBI reported significantly greater headache pain and pain catastrophizing and exhibited higher pain sensitivity and worse pain modulation on QST compared with Caucasian participants with mild TBI. These same race differences were not observed among the healthy TBI-free control sample. The mediation analyses showed complete mediation for the relation between race and headache pain intensity by pain catastrophizing at 1-2 weeks and 1-month post-injury. Overall, the results of this study suggest that AAs compared with Caucasians are characterized by psychological and pain modulatory profiles following mild TBI that could increase the risk for the development of intense and persistent headaches following injury.

Emergency department disposition: Do surgical residents contribute to inefficiency?

BACKGROUND: Residents are often viewed as contributors to Emergency Department (ED) prolongation of length of stay (LOS). To understand this proposition, we performed a study to identify ED patient care intervals and how each contributed to LOS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively gathered data on 145 ED surgery consults. Residents prospectively documented patient names, page times, and time of plan. Key ED patient care intervals were then retrospectively extracted from the patient's chart. A time analysis was then performed. RESULTS: Average arrival to disposition time was 305 min, and residents averaged 47 min to see and staff consults. The longest intervals were arrival to imaging (75 min) and imaging time (73 min). Average disposition to discharge time was 170 min (36% of LOS). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery residents see and staff consults within the norms for care established by the hospital. Imaging time is a bottleneck hindering disposition. Access block also significantly increases ED LOS.

Colonic stenting for malignant obstructions-A review of current indications and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Colonic stenting has emerged as preferred palliative treatment for left sided malignant obstructions. It shortens hospital stays, decreases healthcare cost, reduces permanent stoma rates, and expedites the start of chemotherapy. The role of stenting as a bridge-to-surgery remains unsettled. DATA SOURCE: For this paper the recommendations of the American and European society of gastroenterology and colorectal surgery were reviewed. We will discuss the benefits and risks of stenting in palliative setting and as bridge-to-surgery. Quality of life, hospital stay, and health care cost will also be considered. CONCLUSION: Non-traversable colon masses during endoscopy are considered a risk factor of development of intestinal obstruction but preventive stent placement in patients without obstructive symptoms is not recommended. The risk of technical or clinical failure is significant at 25%. If stent placement allows neoadjuvant chemotherapy, it may increase the rate of R0 resections. Perforations may raise local recurrence and mortality rates.

National adherence to the ASGE-SAGES guidelines for managing suspected choledocholithiasis: An EAST multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons provide guidelines for managing suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones. We sought to evaluate adherence to the guidelines among patients with choledocholithiasis and/or acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) and to evaluate the ability of these guidelines to predict choledocholithiasis. METHODS: We prospectively identified patients undergoing same-admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and/or ABP from 2016 to 2019 at 12 United States medical centers. Predictors of suspected CBD stones were very strong (CBD stone on ultrasound; bilirubin >4 mg/dL), strong (CBD > 6 mm; bilirubin ≥1.8 to ≤4 mg/dL), or moderate (abnormal liver function tests other than bilirubin; age >55 years; ABP). Patients were grouped by probability of CBD stones: high (any very strong or both strong predictors), low (no predictors), or intermediate (any other predictor combination). The management of each probability group was compared with the recommended management in the guidelines. RESULTS: The cohort was comprised of 844 patients. High-probability patients had 64.3% (n = 238/370) deviation from guidelines, intermediate-probability patients had 29% (n = 132/455) deviation, and low-probability patients had 78.9% (n = 15/19) deviation. Acute biliary pancreatitis increased the odds of deviation for the high- (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.8; p = 0.03) and intermediate-probability groups (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.07-2.42; p = 0.02). Age older than 55 years (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.4-3.43; p < 0.001) also increased the odds of deviation for the intermediate group. A CBD greater than 6 mm predicted choledocholithiasis in the high (adjusted OR (aOR), 2.16; 95% CI, 1.17-3.97; p = 0.01) and intermediate group (aOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.59-4.86; p < 0.001). Any very strong predictor (aOR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.76-3.37; p < 0.0001) and both strong predictors predicted choledocholithiasis (aOR, 2; 95% CI, 1.35-2.96; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Almost 45% of patients with suspected CBD stones were managed discordantly from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons guidelines. We believe these guidelines warrant revision to better reflect the ability of the clinical variables at predicting choledocholithiasis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Physical activity behavior in the first month after mild traumatic brain injury is associated with physiological and psychological risk factors for chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported physical activity (PA) in the first month after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) predicts endogenous pain modulatory function and pain catastrophizing at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 month after injury in patients with mTBI. METHODS: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury completed study sessions at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 month after injury. Assessments included a headache survey, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and several quantitative sensory tests to measure endogenous pain modulatory function including conditioned pain modulation (CPM), temporal summation, and pressure pain thresholds of the head. Hierarchical linear regressions determined the relationship between the PA variables (predictors) and pain catastrophizing and pain modulation variables (dependent variables) cross-sectionally and longitudinally, while controlling for potential covariates. RESULTS: In separate hierarchical regression models, moderate PA, walking, and total PA at 1 to 2 weeks after injury predicted pain inhibition on the CPM test at 1 month, after controlling for significant covariates. In addition, a separate regression revealed that minutes sitting at 1 month predicted CPM at 1 month. Regarding predicting pain catastrophizing, the regression results showed that sitting at 1 to 2 weeks after injury significantly predicted pain catastrophizing at 1 month after injury. CONCLUSION: Greater self-reported PA, especially moderate PA, 1 to 2 weeks after injury longitudinally predicted greater pain inhibitory capacity on the CPM test at 1 month after injury in patients with mTBI. In addition, greater sedentary behavior was associated with worse pain inhibition on the CPM test and greater pain catastrophizing at 1 month after injury.

The effect of prolonged antibiotics on postoperative complications for common bile duct stones: A post hoc analysis of an EAST multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial guidance for common bile duct (CBD) stones is limited. We sought to examine the effect of antibiotic duration on infectious complications in patients with choledocholithiasis and/or gallstone pancreatitis. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of a prospective, observational, multicenter study of patients undergoing same admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and gallstone pancreatitis between 2016 and 2019. We excluded patients with cholangitis and/or cholecystitis. Patients were divided into groups based on duration of antibiotics: prophylactic (<24 hours) or prolonged (≥24 hours). We analyzed these two groups in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Outcomes included infectious complications, acute kidney injury (AKI), and hospital length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: There were 755 patients in the cohort. Increasing age, CBD diameter, and a preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.73; p < 0.001) significantly predicted prolonged preoperative antibiotic use. Increasing age, operative duration, and a postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-13.65; p < 0.001) significantly predicted prolonged postoperative antibiotic use. Rates of infectious complications were similar between groups, but LOS was 2 days longer for patients receiving overall prolonged antibiotics (p < 0.0001). Patients with AKI received two more days of overall antibiotic therapy (p = 0.02) compared with those without AKI. CONCLUSION: Rates of postoperative infectious complications were similar among patients treated with a prolonged or prophylactic course of antibiotics. Prolonged antibiotic use was associated with a longer LOS and AKI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV.

Cross-sectional imaging of the torso reveals occult injuries in asymptomatic blunt trauma patients.

Background: High morbidity and mortality rates of trauma injuries make early detection and correct diagnosis crucial for increasing patient's survival and quality of life after an injury. Improvements in technology have facilitated the rapid detection of injuries, especially with the use of computed tomography (CT). However, the increased use of CT imaging is not universally advocated for. Some advocate for the use of selective CT imaging, especially in cases where the severity of the injury is low. The purpose of this study is to review the CT indications, findings, and complications in patients with low Injury Severity Scores (ISS) to determine the utility of torso CT in this patient cohort. Methods: A retrospective review of non-intubated, adult blunt trauma patients with an initial GCS of 14 or 15 evaluated in an ACS verified level 1 trauma center from July 2012 to June 2015 was performed. Data was obtained from the hospital's trauma registry and chart review, with the following data included: age, sex, injury type, ISS, physical exam findings, all injuries recorded, injuries detected by torso CT, missed injuries, and complications. The statistical tests conducted in the analysis of the collected data were chi-squared, Fischer exact test, and ANOVA analysis. Results: There were 2306 patients included in this study, with a mean ISS of 8. For patients with a normal chest exam that had a chest CT, 15% were found to have an occult chest injury. In patients with a negative chest exam and negative chest X-ray, 35% had occult injuries detected on chest CT. For patients with a negative abdominal exam and CT abdomen and pelvis, 16% were found to have an occult injury on CT. Lastly, 25% of patients with normal chest, abdomen, and pelvis exams with chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scans demonstrated occult injuries. Asymptomatic patients with a negative CT had a length of stay 1 day less than patients without a corresponding CT. No incidents of contrast-induced complications were recorded. Conclusions: A negative physical exam combined with a normal chest X-ray does not rule out the presence of occult injuries and the need for torso imaging. In blunt trauma patients with normal sensorium, physical exam and chest X-ray, the practice of obtaining cross-sectional imaging appears beneficial by increasing the accuracy of total injury burden and decreasing the length of stay.

Does platelet administration affect mortality in elderly head-injured patients taking antiplatelet medications?

A significant portion of patients sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI) take antiplatelet medications (aspirin or clopidogrel), which have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In an attempt to alleviate the risk of increased bleeding, platelet transfusion has become standard practice in some institutions. This study was designed to determine if platelet transfusion reduces mortality in patients with TBI on antiplatelet medications. Databases from two Level I trauma centers were reviewed. Patients with TBI 50 years of age or older with documented preinjury use of clopidogrel or aspirin were included in our cohort. Patients who received platelet transfusions were compared with those who did not to assess outcome differences between them. Demographics and other patient characteristics abstracted included Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale, hospital length of stay, and warfarin use. Three hundred twenty-eight patients comprised the study group. Of these patients, 166 received platelet transfusion and 162 patients did not. Patients who received platelets had a mortality rate of 17.5 per cent (29 of 166), whereas those who did not receive platelets had a mortality rate of 16.7 per cent (27 of 162) (P = 0.85). Transfusion of platelets in patients with TBI using antiplatelet therapy did not reduce mortality.

Outcome of cervical near-hanging injuries.

BACKGROUND: Cervical near-hangings are not rare, but have received little attention in the trauma literature. Increasing numbers of patients received from our local jail and detention centers prompted this study. METHODS: Seventeen-year review of a level I Trauma Center Registry identified 67 patients with cervical strangulation for study. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test to evaluate continuous predictors, and Fisher's exact test for categorical predictors. RESULTS: Ten of 67 patients died (14.9% mortality). Patients having a lower Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at the scene (3.5 +/- 1.3 vs. 8.3 +/- 5.0; p = 0.001) and lower GCS in the emergency department (ED) (3.0 +/- 0.0 vs. 9.0 +/- 5.3; p < 0.001) were more likely to die. Injuries consisted predominantly of neck abrasions and anoxic brain injuries (83% mortality). Laryngeal fractures and carotid arterial injuries were detected. No cervical spine fractures were seen, but subluxations were identified. Forty-two percent of the patients were in detention centers when the near-hanging incident occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical near-hangings are referred to the Trauma Service for evaluation. Scene or ED GCS of 3 does not preclude neurologically intact survival, although mortality is high. In our study, the most useful prognostic factors were the need for airway control by intubation or cricothyrotomy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, lower scene and ED GCS, and cerebral edema on CT Scan. Optimal evaluation includes head and neck CT and CT angiography of the neck. We plan to share these results with local authorities and encourage improvement in risk identification, with earlier involvement of mental health personnel.

Opening the Black Box of Peer Review.

In this Backstory, Cell Stem Cell Senior Scientific Editor Jonathan Saxe presents a case study of two Cell Stem Cell papers published in 2018. Using the correspondences between authors, editors, and reviewers as tools, he provides broader insights and tips into navigating the journal's editorial consideration process.

Do contradictions in TQIP measures affect perceptions of quality. An analysis of TQIP definitions on quality outcomes for placement of ICP monitoring at a single level one trauma center.

BACKGROUND: TQIP quality measures as currently defined on occasion provide discordant conclusions. A recent TQIP report of an urban level one-trauma center suggested a low employment of ICP monitoring while also demonstrating aggressive implementation of ICP monitoring (ave. within 90 min of arrival). This apparent contradiction leads to the question; Does TQIP define correctly the patient cohort who would most benefit from ICP monitoring? METHODS: A retrospective IRB approved review of all patients reported to TQIP with severe TBI was performed at an ACS verified level one trauma center. All patients admitted to the TS during the TQIP study period were reviewed. Demographic data as well as AIS, ISS, GCS, injury type and outcomes were reviewed. Data were reported as aggregate. RESULTS: Trauma registry review determined 108 patients met the TQIP definition for severe TBI. Analysis of these patients revealed only 58%(63) met clinical criteria for severe TBI. In this group 45.4%(49) suffered non-survivable TBI. ICP monitoring was not initiated in this subgroup of patients. 42%(45) of the patients were determined to have mild to moderate TBI. In this cohort the initial GCS reported in the trauma registry overestimated the severity of the TBI in 19.4%(21) of the patients. ICP monitoring was initiated 29%(30) patients. The analysis would indicate 13%(14) would have benefited from ICP monitoring indicating an 15%(16) over utilization. The majority of these patients sustained meaningful neurologic recovery indicating a better-defined criterion may be necessary to determine when ICP monitoring is a quality indicator. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the current TQIP definition used to justify ICP monitoring appears to overestimate the number of patients who would benefit from ICP monitoring. The corrected quality analysis indicates an overutilization rather than an underutilization of ICP monitoring. Further study of the effect of definitions on quality measures should be considered.