scholarly journals Interhospital Transfer of Acute Trauma Patients: How Long Does it Take and how is the Time Spent?

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. CMTIM.S1024
Author(s):  
Garth H. Utter ◽  
Gregory P. Victorino ◽  
David H. Wisner
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Interhospital Transfer ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Level I ◽  
Mean Time

Background Trauma patients in rural areas are frequently transferred to regional trauma centers for expeditious evaluation and management of potentially life-threatening injuries. We sought to characterize how long the process takes, once it has begun, for acutely injured patients to be transferred from emergency departments (EDs) of referring hospitals to trauma centers and how the time is spent. Methods We conducted a retrospective multi-institutional case series study. We reviewed records of acutely injured trauma patients transferred from the EDs of 114 outlying hospitals to the EDs of three Level I or II regional trauma centers over a 12–24 month period. We calculated the duration of the transfer process and its component time intervals (reported as the mean ± standard deviation). Results Among 1099 patients transferred from 114 referring hospitals, the mean Injury Severity Score was 11.6. Mortality was 5.9%. Half of all transfers were by ground ambulance, 36% by helicopter, and 13% by airplane. The mean time from patient presentation at the ED of the referring hospital until transfer request was 126 ± 94 min, and the mean time from transfer acceptance until arrival at the trauma center was an additional 119 ± 60 min. The mean time from transfer acceptance to departure of the patient from the ED of the referring hospital was 68 ± 48 min. Transportation time accounted for 48 ± 29 min, or 40% of the total time between transfer acceptance and arrival at the accepting hospital. Conclusions Interhospital transfer of acutely injured trauma patients takes a substantial amount of time even after acceptance of the patient, and actual time spent in transportation accounts for only 40% of the time from transfer acceptance to arrival of the patient at the receiving hospital, on average. Efforts to speed transfers should focus on shortening the time from transfer acceptance to departure from the referring hospital.

Children and Terror Casualties Receive Preference in ICU Admissions

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobi Peleg ◽  
Michael Rozenfeld ◽  
Eran Dolev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Severe Injuries ◽  
Level I ◽  
Hospital Emergency Departments ◽  
Trauma Type

ABSTRACTObjective: Trauma casualties caused by terror-related events and children injured as a result of trauma may be given preference in hospital emergency departments (EDs) due to their perceived importance. We investigated whether there are differences in the treatment and hospitalization of terror-related casualties compared to other types of injury events and between children and adults injured in terror-related events.Methods: Retrospective study of 121 608 trauma patients from the Israel Trauma Registry during the period of October 2000-December 2005. Of the 10 hospitals included in the registry, 6 were level I trauma centers and 4 were regional trauma centers. Patients who were hospitalized or died in the ED or were transferred between hospitals were included in the registry.Results: All analyses were controlled for Injury Severity Score (ISS). All patients with ISS 1-24 terror casualties had the highest frequency of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions when compared with patients after road traffic accidents (RTA) and other trauma. Among patients with terror-related casualties, children were admitted to ICU disproportionally to the severity of their injury. Logistic regression adjusted for injury severity and trauma type showed that both terror casualties and children have a higher probability of being admitted to the ICU.Conclusions: Injured children are admitted to ICU more often than other age groups. Also, terror-related casualties are more frequently admitted to the ICU compared to those from other types of injury events. These differences were not directly related to a higher proportion of severe injuries among the preferred groups.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:14–19)

The G60 Trauma Center: A Future Consideration?

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 547-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Bukur ◽  
Joshua Simon ◽  
Joseph Catino ◽  
Margaret Crawford ◽  
Ivan Puente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Major Complication ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Failure To Rescue ◽  
Level I

With a considerably increasing elderly population, we sought to determine whether the volume of elderly trauma patients treated impacted outcomes at two different Level I trauma centers. This is a retrospective review of all elderly patients (>60 years) at two state-verified Level I trauma centers over the past five years. The elderly trauma center (ETC) saw a greater proportion (52%) of elderly patients than the reference trauma center (30%, TC). Demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted and stratified into ETC and TC groups for comparison. Primary outcomes were overall postinjury complication and mortality rates, as well as death after major complication (failure to rescue). ETC patients were older (78.6 vs 70.5), more likely to be admitted with severe head injuries (head abbreviated injury score ≥ 3, 50.0% vs 32%), had a greater overall injury burden (injury severity score > 16 41.4% vs 21.1%), and required intensive care unit admission (81.3% vs 64%) than the TC group. Need for operative intervention, mechanism of injury, and comorbidities were similar between the two groups. Overall complications were higher in trauma patients admitted to the TC (21.9% vs 14.3%), as well as failure to rescue (4.0% vs 1.8%). Adjusting for confounding factors, ETC had significantly lower chance of developing a postinjury complication (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.3, 0.5]), failure to rescue (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI = [0.1, 0.5]), and overall mortality (AOR = 0.3, 95% CI = [0.2, 0.4]). Improved outcomes were demonstrated in the Level I center treating a higher proportion of elderly patients. Exact etiology of these benefits should be determined for quality improvement in care of the injured geriatric patient.

scholarly journals COVID-19 in trauma: a propensity-matched analysis of COVID and non-COVID trauma patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric O. Yeates ◽  
Areg Grigorian ◽  
Morgan Schellenberg ◽  
Natthida Owattanapanich ◽  
Galinos Barmparas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Surgical Patients ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Matched Cohort ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Trauma Population ◽  
Level I ◽  
Score Model

Abstract Purpose There is mounting evidence that surgical patients with COVID-19 have higher morbidity and mortality than patients without COVID-19. Infection is prevalent amongst the trauma population, but any effect of COVID-19 on trauma patients is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on a trauma population, hypothesizing increased mortality and pulmonary complications for COVID-19-positive (COVID) trauma patients compared to propensity-matched COVID-19-negative (non-COVID) patients. Methods A retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to 11 Level-I and II trauma centers in California between 1/1/2019–6/30/2019 and 1/1/2020–6/30/2020 was performed. A 1:2 propensity score model was used to match COVID to non-COVID trauma patients using age, blunt/penetrating mechanism, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 20,448 trauma patients were identified during the study period. 53 COVID trauma patients were matched with 106 non-COVID trauma patients. COVID patients had higher rates of mortality (9.4% vs 1.9%, p = 0.029) and pneumonia (7.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.011), as well as a longer mean length of stay (LOS) (7.47 vs 3.28 days, p < 0.001) and intensive care unit LOS (1.40 vs 0.80 days, p = 0.008), compared to non-COVID patients. Conclusion This multicenter retrospective study found increased rates of mortality and pneumonia, as well as a longer LOS, for COVID trauma patients compared to a propensity-matched cohort of non-COVID patients. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and to elucidate the underlying pathways responsible for higher mortality in COVID trauma patients.

scholarly journals Combination of Intravitreal Injection of Ranibizumab and Photocoagulation for the Treatment of Aggressive Posterior Retinopathy of Prematurity with Vitreous Hemorrhage

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yu Xu ◽  
Xiaoli Kang ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Qiujing Huang ◽  
Jiao Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Therapy ◽  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Vitreous Hemorrhage ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Intravitreal Ranibizumab ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Time

To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) combined with laser photocoagulation for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) patients with vitreous hemorrhage, we conducted a retrospective observational case series study. A total of 37 eyes of 20 patients’ medical records were reviewed. Patients first received IVR (0.25 mg/0.025 mL) and later photocoagulation. The mean postconceptual age of injection was 34.6 ± 1.4 weeks, and the mean follow-up period was 39.3 ± 8.3 weeks. During the follow-up, 96.6% eyes had various degree of rapid absorption of vitreous hemorrhage after IVR. The mean time of received first photocoagulation after IVR was 4.8 ± 2.9 weeks. Ten (27.0%) eyes received second laser therapy and the mean time of second laser therapy after IVR was 3.2 ± 0.8 weeks. All eyes exhibited adequate regression of ROP and were stable with attached retina. Fibrosis membrane was observed in seven eyes (18.9%) and three of them demonstrated mild ectopic macula. No significant side effects related to IVR were observed. So IVR could be conducted as primary treatment of AP-ROP associated with vitreous hemorrhage, which can improve the fundus visibility, followed by conventional photocoagulation. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to compare the clinical efficacy and safety with conventional interventions.

scholarly journals Lengthening Over an Existing Intramedullary Nail In Cases of Post-traumatic Femoral Shortening. Technical Note. Case Series Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18
Author(s):  
Achilleas Boutsiadis ◽  
Eirini Iosifidou ◽  
Xilouris Nikolaos ◽  
Ippokratis Hatzokos
Keyword(s):  
External Fixator ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Length Discrepancy ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Femoral Shortening ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Time

Background: Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the method of choice for the treatment of most femoral shaft fractures. However, despite successful solid union, great initial fracture comminution can lead to significant leg length discrepancy affecting normal gait mechanics. Femoral osteotomy and distraction osteogenesis over the pre-existing IM nail could restore this limb inequality. Methods: Five patients with an average post-traumatic femoral shortening of 3.83 cm were presented in our department with the nail in situ. Limb lengthening was achieved with the application of a distal hybrid external rail frame over the pre-existing nail. We assumed that the choice of a distal external fixator ring with wires could facilitate the procedure and minimize the possibility of friction–contact problems with the large diameter nail. Results: The amount of length discrepancy, calculated preoperatively, was restored in all patients. The mean time in frame was 57.6 days and the external fixator index 16.978 d/cm. The mean time of total healing was 152.6 days and the average bone-healing index 44.9d/cm. No deep infection or hardware loosening was observed. One superficial pin track infection was treated successfully with oral antibiotics. Conclusion: This technique utilizes the principles and advantages of lengthening over an IM nail, avoids the necessity of nail removal and minimizes the complication rates and the overall time for complete recovery.

Is Helicopter Evacuation Effective in Rural Trauma Transport?

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 794-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie K. Rose ◽  
G. R. Cummings ◽  
Charles B. Rodning ◽  
Sid B. Brevard ◽  
Richard P. Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Patient Survival ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Severely Injured ◽  
Transport Services ◽  
Ground Ambulance ◽  
Level I

Helicopter transport for trauma remains controversial because its appropriate utilization and efficacy with regard to improved survival is unproven. The purpose of this study was to assess rural trauma helicopter transport utilization and effect on patient survival. A retrospective chart review over a 2-year period (2007–2008) was performed of all rural helicopter and ground ambulance trauma patient transports to an urban Level I trauma center. Data was collected with regard to patient mortality and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Miles to the Level I trauma center were calculated from the point where helicopter or ground ambulance transport services initiated contact with the patient to the Level I trauma center. During the 2-year period, 1443 rural trauma patients were transported by ground ambulance and 1028 rural trauma patients were transported by helicopter. Of the patients with ISS of 0 to 10, 471 patients were transported by helicopter and 1039 transported by ground. There were 465 (99%) survivors with ISS 0 to 10 transported by helicopter with an average transport distance of 34.6 miles versus 1034 (99.5%) survivors with ISS 0 to 10 who were transported by ground an average of 41.0 miles. Four hundred and twenty-one patients with ISS 11 to 30 were transported by helicopter an average of 33.3 miles with 367 (87%) survivors versus a 95 per cent survival in 352 patients with ISS 11 to 30 who were transported by ground an average of 39.9 miles. One hundred and thirty-six patients with ISS >30 were transported by helicopter an average of 32.8 miles with 78 (57%) survivors versus a 69 per cent survival in 52 patients with ISS > 30 who were transported by ground an average of 33.0 miles. Helicopter transport does not seem to improve survival in severely injured (ISS > 30) patients. Helicopter transport does not improve survival and is associated with shorter travel distances in less severely injured (ISS < 10) patients in rural areas. This data questions effective helicopter utilization for trauma patients in rural areas. Further study with regard to helicopter transport effect on patient survival and cost-effective utilization is warranted.

scholarly journals 48. Age, Sex, Ethanol Levels, and Helmet Use Among Injured Motorcyclists

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (S2) ◽  
pp. S32-S32
Author(s):  
William B. Lober ◽  
Daniel G. Judkins
Keyword(s):  
Head Trauma ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Helmet Use ◽  
Ethanol Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Level I ◽  
Motorcycle Injuries

Introduction: Previous studies of motorcycle injuries show that helmet use is associated with a decrease in head trauma. Understanding patterns of helmet use is important in selecting and assessing injury prevention strategies.Methods: All 470 motorcyclists presenting to either of two regional Level I trauma centers from 7/93 through 12/95 comprise this case series. Thirty-three patients were excluded due to unknown helmet use or outcome, and 50 due to age under 18 years (for whom helmet use was required by state law).Results: Of 386 patients, 42% wore helmets, and 58% did not, with no difference in the mean ages of the groups. 13% of patients were women (n = 50), and 10% were passengers (n = 38). Women were 25 times more likely than men to be passengers (95% CI: 11 to 50), and passengers were 5 times more likely than drivers to not wear a helmet (95% CI: 2 to 16). Helmet use was not related to sex, even when the data were controlled for driver vs. passenger. Of 265 patients assayed for ethanol, 30% had >100 mg/dL, 7% had <100 mg/dL, and 63% had none. Non-helmeted patients were 3.6 more likely than helmeted ones to have detectable ethanol (95% CI: 2.0 to 6.5), but there was no association with sex or age. The mean ethanol level was 80 mg/dL in non-helmet users, and 24 mg/dL in helmet users (p <0.001). 39% of non-helmeted patients were legally intoxicated (ethanol > 100 mg/dL), compared to 11% of helmeted ones.

Regional, Racial, and Mortality Disparities Associated With Neurosurgeon Staffing at Level I Trauma Centers

2020 ◽  
pp. 000313482098318
Author(s):  
Richelle L. Homo ◽  
Areg Grigorian ◽  
Jefferson Chen ◽  
Cesar Figueroa ◽  
Theresa Chin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Level I

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in approximately 30% of trauma patients. Because neurosurgeons hold expertise in treating TBI, increased neurosurgical staffing may improve patient outcomes. We hypothesized that TBI patients treated at level I trauma centers (L1TCs) with ≥3 neurosurgeons have a decreased risk of mortality vs. those treated at L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons. Methods The Trauma Quality Improvement Program database (2010-2016) was queried for patients ≥18 years with TBI. Patient characteristics and mortality were compared between ≥3 and <3 neurosurgeon-staffed L1TCs. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with mortality. Results Traumatic brain injury occurred in 243 438 patients with 5188 (2%) presenting to L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons and 238 250 (98%) to L1TCs with ≥3 neurosurgeons. Median injury severity score (ISS) was similar between both groups (17, P = .09). There were more Black (37% vs. 12%, P < .001) and Hispanic (18% vs. 12%, P < .001) patients in the <3 neurosurgeon group. Nearly 60% of L1TCs with <3 neurosurgeons are found in the South. Mortality was higher in the <3 vs. the ≥3 group (12% vs. 10%, P < .001). Patients treated in the <3 neurosurgeon group had a higher risk for mortality than those treated in the ≥3 neurosurgeon group (odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.01-1.26, P = .028). Discussion There exists a significant racial disparity in access to neurosurgeon staffing with additional disparities in outcomes based on staffing. Future efforts are needed to improve this chasm of care that exists for trauma patients of color.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Casualty Admissions—Do they Affect Treatment in the Receiving Trauma Center?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Paul Johan Teuben ◽  
Carsten Mand ◽  
Laura Moosdorf ◽  
Kai Sprengel ◽  
Alba Shehu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Damage Control ◽  
Ct Scanning ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Simultaneous Treatment ◽  
Diagnostic Pathway ◽  
Injured Patients ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mean Time

Abstract Background Simultaneous trauma admissions expose medical professionals to increased workload. The impact of simultaneous trauma admissions on hospital allocation, therapy, and outcome is currently unclear. We hypothesized that multiple admission-scenarios impact the diagnostic pathway and outcome. Methods The TraumaRegister DGU® was utilized. Patients admitted between 2002–2015 with an ISS ≥ 9, treated with ATLS®- algorithms were included. Group ´IND´ included individual admissions, two individuals that were admitted within 60 min of each other were selected for group ´MULT´. Patients admitted within 10 min were considered as simultaneous (´SIM´) admissions. We compared patient and trauma characteristics, treatment, and outcomes between both groups. Results 132,382 admissions were included, and 4,462/3.4% MULTiple admissions were found. The SIM-group contained 1,686/1.3% patients. The overall median injury severity score was 17 and a mean age of 48 years was found. MULT patients were more frequently admitted to level-one trauma centers (68%) than individual trauma admissions were (58%, p < 0.001). Mean time to CT-scanning (24 vs. 26/28 min) was longer in MULT / SIM patients compared to individual admissions. No differences in utilization of damage control principles were seen. Moreover, mortality rates did not differ between the groups (13.1% in regular admissions and 11.4%/10,6% in MULT/SIM patients). Conclusion This study demonstrates that simultaneous treatment of injured patients is rare. Individuals treated in parallel with other patients were more often admitted to level-one trauma centers compared with individual patients. Although diagnostics take longer, treatment principles and mortality are equal in individual admissions and simultaneously admitted patients. More studies are required to optimize health care under these conditions.

Does Gender Matter: A Multi-Institutional Analysis of Viscoelastic Profiles for 1565 Trauma Patients With Severe Hemorrhage

2021 ◽  
pp. 000313482110335
Author(s):  
Alison Smith ◽  
Juan Duchesne ◽  
Matthew Marturano ◽  
Shaun Lawicki ◽  
Kevin Sexton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alpha Angle ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Maximum Amplitude ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Trauma Centers ◽  
Survival Difference ◽  
Severe Hemorrhage ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Level I ◽  
Clot Formation Time

Background Viscoelastic tests including thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) are being used in patients with severe hemorrhage at trauma centers to guide resuscitation. Several recent studies demonstrated hypercoagulability in female trauma patients that was associated with a survival advantage. The objective of our study was to elucidate the effects of gender differences in TEG/ROTEM values on survival in trauma patients with severe hemorrhage. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive adult patients receiving massive transfusion protocol (MTP) at 7 Level I trauma centers was performed from 2013 to 2018. Data were stratified by gender and then further examined by TEG or ROTEM parameters. Results were analyzed using univariate and multi-variate analyses. Results A total of 1565 patients were included with 70.9% male gender (n = 1110/1565). Female trauma patients were older than male patients (43.5 ± .9 vs 41.1 ± .6 years, P = .01). On TEG, females had longer reaction times (6.1 ± .9 min vs 4.8 ± .2 min, P = .03), increased alpha angle (68.6 ± .8 vs 65.7 ± .4, P < .001), and higher maximum amplitude (59.8 ± .8 vs 56.3 ± .4, P < .001). On ROTEM, females had significantly longer clot time (99.2 ± 13.7 vs 75.1 ± 2.6 sec, P = .09) and clot formation time (153.6 ± 10.6 sec vs 106.9 ± 3.8 sec, P < .001). When comparing by gender, no difference for in-hospital mortality was found for patients in the TEG or ROTEM group ( P > .05). Multivariate analysis showed no survival difference for female patients (OR 1.11, 95% CI .83-1.50, P = .48). Conclusions Although a difference between male and females was found on TEG/ROTEM for certain clotting parameters, no difference in mortality was observed. Prospective multi-institutional studies are needed.

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