Adrian A. Maung

Selective Nonoperative Management of Blunt Splenic Injury: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Practice Management Guideline

BACKGROUND During the last century, the management of blunt force trauma to the spleen has changed from observation and expectant management in the early part of the 1900s to mainly operative intervention, to the current practice of selective operative and nonoperative management. These issues were first addressed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) in the Practice Management Guidelines for Non-operative Management of Blunt Injury to the Liver and Spleen published online in 2003. Since that time, a large volume of literature on these topics has been published requiring a reevaluation of the current EAST guideline. METHODS The National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health MEDLINE database was searched using Pub Med (www.pubmed.gov). The search was designed to identify English-language citations published after 1996 (the last year included in the previous guideline) using the keywords splenic injury and blunt abdominal trauma. RESULTS One hundred seventy-six articles were reviewed, of which 125 were used to create the current practice management guideline for the selective nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury. CONCLUSION There has been a plethora of literature regarding nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries published since the original EAST practice management guideline was written. Nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries is now the treatment modality of choice in hemodynamically stable patients, irrespective of the grade of injury, patient age, or the presence of associated injuries. Its use is associated with a low overall morbidity and mortality when applied to an appropriate patient population. Nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries should only be considered in an environment that provides capabilities for monitoring, serial clinical evaluations, and has an operating room available for urgent laparotomy. Patients presenting with hemodynamic instability and peritonitis still warrant emergent operative intervention. Intravenous contrast enhanced computed tomographic scan is the diagnostic modality of choice for evaluating blunt splenic injuries. Repeat imaging should be guided by a patient’s clinical status. Adjunctive therapies like angiography with embolization are increasingly important adjuncts to nonoperative management of splenic injuries. Despite the explosion of literature on this topic, many questions regarding nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries remain without conclusive answers in the literature.

Nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injury: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma practice management guideline

Background During the last century, the management of blunt force trauma to the liver has changed from observation and expectant management in the early part of the 1900s to mainly operative intervention, to the current practice of selective operative and nonoperative management. These issues were first addressed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma in the Practice Management Guidelines for Nonoperative Management of Blunt Injury to the Liver and Spleen published online in 2003. Since that time, a large volume of literature on these topics has been published requiring a reevaluation of the previous Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma guideline. Methods The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health MEDLINE database were searched using PubMed (www.pubmed.gov). The search was designed to identify English-language citations published after 1996 (the last year included in the previous guideline) using the keywords liver injury and blunt abdominal trauma. Results One hundred seventy-six articles were reviewed, of which 94 were used to create the current practice management guideline for the selective nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injury. Conclusion Most original hepatic guidelines remained valid and were incorporated into the greatly expanded current guidelines as appropriate. Nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injuries currently is the treatment modality of choice in hemodynamically stable patients, irrespective of the grade of injury or patient age. Nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injuries should only be considered in an environment that provides capabilities for monitoring, serial clinical evaluations, and an operating room available for urgent laparotomy. Patients presenting with hemodynamic instability and peritonitis still warrant emergent operative intervention. Intravenous contrast enhanced computed tomographic scan is the diagnostic modality of choice for evaluating blunt hepatic injuries. Repeated imaging should be guided by a patient’s clinical status. Adjunctive therapies like angiography, percutaneous drainage, endoscopy/endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopy remain important adjuncts to nonoperative management of hepatic injuries. Despite the explosion of literature on this topic, many questions regarding nonoperative management of blunt hepatic injuries remain without conclusive answers in the literature.

Increased CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cell activity in trauma patients depresses protective Th1 immunity

Objectives:We recently reported increased CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) activity after burn injury in mice. This study sought to determine if Tregs mediate the reduction in TH1-type immunity after serious injury in man and if Treg function is altered by injury. Methods:Peripheral blood was withdrawn from 19 consenting adult patients (35.1 ± 16.3 years of age) with Injury Severity Scores (ISS) 36.6 ± 13.9 on days 1 and 7 after trauma and from 5 healthy individuals. CD4+ T cells were purified and sorted into Treg (CD25high) and Treg-depleted populations. After activation of cells with anti-CD3/CD28 antibody, production of the TH1-type cytokine IFNγ, TH2-type cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5), and the inhibitory cytokine IL-10 was measured using cytometric bead arrays. Treg activity was measured by in vitro suppression of autologous CD4+ T cell proliferation. Results:All patients survived, 9 (47%) developed infection postinjury. IFNγ production by patient CD4+ T cells was decreased on day 1 and day 7, when compared with healthy controls. However, when Tregs were depleted from the CD4+ T cells, the IFNγ production increased to control levels. Tregs were the chief source of IL-4 and IL-5 as well as IL-10. Treg suppression of T cell proliferation increased significantly from day 1 to day 7 after injury. Conclusions:We demonstrate for the first time that human Tregs are increased in potency after severe injury. Most significantly, Tregs are important mediators of the suppression of T cell activation and the reduction in TH1 cytokine production found after injury.

Enhanced TLR4 reactivity following injury is mediated by increased p38 activation.

Severe injury primes the innate‐immune system for increased Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)‐induced proinflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. In this study, we examined changes in TLR4 signaling pathways in splenic macrophages from burn‐injured or sham mice to determine the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for the increased TLR4 responsiveness. Using flow cytometry and specific antibodies, we first looked for injury‐induced changes in the expression levels of several TLR‐associated signaling molecules. We found similar levels of myeloid differentiation primary‐response protein 88 (MyD88) and interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase‐M (IRAK‐M) and somewhat lower levels of total p38, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), and stress‐activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in burn compared with sham macrophages. However, with the use of antibodies specific for the phosphorylated (activated) forms of the three MAPKs, we found that macrophages from burn mice showed a twofold increase in purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated p38 activation as compared with cells from sham mice on days 1 and 7 post‐injury, whereas ERK and SAPK/JNK activation was increased by burn injury only on day 1. Using the specific p38 inhibitor (SB203580), we confirmed that the increase in tumor necrosis factor α production by LPS‐stimulated burn macrophages requires p38 activation. Although we demonstrated that injury increases macrophage TLR4 mRNA expression and intracellular expression of TLR4‐myeloid differentiation protein‐2 (MD‐2) protein, macrophage cell‐surface expression of TLR4‐MD‐2 was not changed by burn injury. Our results suggest that the injury‐induced increase in TLR4 reactivity is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced activation of the p38 signaling pathway.

Evaluation and management of small-bowel obstruction: an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma practice management guideline.

BACKGROUND Small-bowel obstruction (SBO) represents as many as 16% of surgical admissions and more than 300,000 operations annually in the United States. The optimal strategies for the diagnosis and management of SBO continue to evolve secondary to advances in imaging techniques, critical care, and surgical techniques. This updated systematic literature review was developed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma to provide up-to-date evidence-based recommendations for SBO. METHODS A search of the National Library of Medicine MEDLINE database was performed using PubMed interface for articles published from 2007 to 2011. RESULTS The search identified 53 new articles that were then combined with the 131 studies previously reviewed by the 2007 guidelines. The updated guidelines were then presented at the 2012 annual EAST meeting. CONCLUSION Level I evidence now exists to recommend the use of computed tomographic scan, especially multidetector computed tomography with multiplanar reconstructions, in the evaluation of patients with SBO because it can provide incremental clinically relevant information over plains films that may lead to changes in management. Patients with evidence of generalized peritonitis, other evidence of clinical deterioration, such as fever, leukocytosis, tachycardia, metabolic acidosis, and continuous pain, or patients with evidence of ischemia on imaging should undergo timely exploration. The remainder of patients can safely undergo initial nonoperative management for both partial and complete SBO. Water-soluble contrast studies should be considered in patients who do not clinically resolve after 48 to 72 hours for both diagnostic and potential therapeutic purposes. Laparoscopic treatment of SBO has been demonstrated to be a viable alternative to laparotomy in selected cases.

Evaluation and Management of Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injury: A Practice Management Guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

BACKGROUND Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is the second most common cause of death in trauma patients. Eighty percent of patients with BTAI will die before reaching a trauma center. The issues of how to diagnose, treat, and manage BTAI were first addressed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) in the practice management guidelines on this topic published in 2000. Since that time, there have been advances in the management of BTAI. As a result, the EAST guidelines committee decided to develop updated guidelines for this topic using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework recently adopted by EAST. METHODS A systematic review of the MEDLINE database using PubMed was performed. The search retrieved English language articles regarding BTAI from 1998 to 2013. Letters to the editor, case reports, book chapters, and review articles were excluded. Topics of investigation included imaging to diagnose BTAI, type of operative repair, and timing of operative repair. RESULTS Sixty articles were identified. Of these, 51 articles were selected to construct the guidelines. CONCLUSION There have been changes in practice since the publication of the previous guidelines in 2000. Computed tomography of the chest with intravenous contrast is strongly recommended to diagnose clinically significant BTAI. Endovascular repair is strongly recommended for patients without contraindications. Delayed repair of BTAI is suggested, with the stipulation that effective blood pressure control must be used in these patients.

Successful Nonoperative Management of the Most Severe Blunt Liver Injuries: A Multicenter Study of the Research Consortium of New England Centers for Trauma

HYPOTHESIS Grade 4 and grade 5 blunt liver injuries can be safely treated by nonoperative management (NOM). DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Eleven level I and level II trauma centers in New England. PATIENTS Three hundred ninety-three adult patients with grade 4 or grade 5 blunt liver injury who were admitted between January 1, 2000, and January 31, 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Failure of NOM (f-NOM), defined as the need for a delayed operation. RESULTS One hundred thirty-one patients (33.3%) were operated on immediately, typically because of hemodynamic instability. Among 262 patients (66.7%) who were offered a trial of NOM, treatment failed in 23 patients (8.8%) (attributed to the liver in 17, with recurrent liver bleeding in 7 patients and biliary peritonitis in 10 patients). Multivariate analysis identified the following 2 independent predictors of f-NOM: systolic blood pressure on admission of 100 mm Hg or less and the presence of other abdominal organ injury. Failure of NOM was observed in 23% of patients with both independent predictors and in 4% of those with neither of the 2 independent predictors. No patients in the f-NOM group experienced life-threatening events because of f-NOM, and mortality was similar between patients with successful NOM (5.4%) and patients with f-NOM (8.7%) (P = .52). Among patients with successful NOM, liver-specific complications developed in 10.0% and were managed definitively without major sequelae. CONCLUSIONS Nonoperative management was offered safely in two-thirds of grade 4 and grade 5 blunt liver injuries, with a 91.3% success rate. Only 6.5% of patients with NOM required a delayed operation because of liver-specific issues, and none experienced life-threatening complications because of the delay.

Contrast-induced nephropathy in elderly trauma patients.

BACKGROUND Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard for the identification of occult injuries, but the intravenous (IV) contrast used in CT scans is potentially nephrotoxic. Because elderly patients have decreased renal function secondary to aging and chronic disease, we sought to determine the rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) in elderly trauma patients exposed to IV contrast. METHODS Medical records of patients older than 55 years evaluated at a level-one trauma center between January 2003 and July 2008 were reviewed. Contrast was nonionic, isosmolar, and administered in standard volumes. Groups were based on administration of contrast. AKI was defined as a 25% relative or 0.5 mg/dL absolute increase in serum creatinine within 72 hours of presentation [corrected]. RESULTS During the study period 1,371 patients older than 55 years were evaluated, and 1,152 met the inclusion criteria. CT was performed on 1,071 patients (96%); 71% of this group received IV contrast. There was no significant difference between the contrast and noncontrast groups in terms of baseline characteristics. Criteria for AKI were satisfied in 2.1% of all patients, including 1.9% the contrast group versus 2.4% in the noncontrast group. AKI diagnosed within 72 hours of patient presentation was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay. CONCLUSIONS IV contrast media in elderly trauma patients is not associated with an increased risk of AKI. Development of AKI within 72 hours of admission is associated with mortality and increased length of stay.

Factors Associated With Survival Following Blunt Chest Trauma in Older Patients: Results From a Large Regional Trauma Cooperative

HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that patient factors, injury patterns, and therapeutic interventions influence outcomes among older patients incurring traumatic chest injuries. DESIGN Patients older than 50 years with at least 1 rib fracture (RF) were retrospectively studied, including institutional data, patient data, clinical interventions, and complications. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. SETTING Eight trauma centers. PATIENTS A total of 1621 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Survival. RESULTS Patient data collected include the following: age (mean, 70.1 years), number of RFs (mean, 3.7), Abbreviated Injury Scale chest score (mean, 2.7), Injury Severity Score (mean, 11.7), and mortality (overall, 4.6%). On univariable analysis, increased mortality was associated with admission to high-volume trauma centers and level I centers, preexisting coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure, intubation or development of pneumonia, and increasing age, Injury Severity Score, and number of RFs. On multivariable analysis, strongest predictors of mortality were admission to high-volume trauma centers, preexisting congestive heart failure, intubation, and increasing age and Injury Severity Score. Using this predictive model, tracheostomy and patient-controlled analgesia had protective effects on survival. CONCLUSIONS In a large regional trauma cooperative, increasing age and Injury Severity Score were independent predictors of survival among older patients incurring traumatic RFs. Admission to high-volume trauma centers, preexisting congestive heart failure, and intubation added to mortality. Therapies associated with improved survival were patient-controlled analgesia and tracheostomy. Further regional cooperation should allow development of standard care practices for these challenging patients.

Successful Nonoperative Management of the Most Severe Blunt Renal Injuries: A Multicenter Study of the Research Consortium of New England Centers for Trauma

IMPORTANCE Severe renal injuries after blunt trauma cause diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the treating clinicians. The need for an operative vs a nonoperative approach is debated. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate, causes, predictors, and consequences of failure of nonoperative management (NOM) in grade IV and grade V blunt renal injuries (BRIs). DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Twelve level I and II trauma centers in New England. PARTICIPANTS A total of 206 adult patients with a grade IV or V BRI who were admitted between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Failure of NOM, defined as the need for a delayed operation or death due to renal-related complications during NOM. RESULTS Of 206 patients, 52 (25.2%) were operated on immediately, and 154 (74.8%) were managed nonoperatively (with the assistance of angiographic embolization for 25 patients). Nonoperative management failed for 12 of the 154 patients (7.8%) and was related to kidney injury in 10 (6.5%). None of these 10 patients had complications because of the delay in BRI management. The mean (SD) time from admission to failure was 17.6 (27.4) hours (median time, 7.5 hours; range, 4.5-102 hours), and the cause was hemodynamic instability in 10 of the 12 patients (83.3%). Multivariate analysis identified 2 independent predictors of NOM failure: older than 55 years of age and a road traffic crash as the mechanism of injury. When both risk factors were present, NOM failure occurred for 27.3% of the patients; when both were absent, there were no NOM failures. Of the 142 patients successfully managed nonoperatively, 46 (32.4%) developed renal-related complications, including hematuria (24 patients), urinoma (15 patients), urinary tract infection (8 patients), renal failure (7 patients), and abscess (2 patients). These patients were managed successfully with no loss of renal units (ie, kidneys). The renal salvage rate was 76.2% for the entire population and 90.3% among patients selected for NOM. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Hemodynamically stable patients with a grade IV or V BRI were safely managed nonoperatively. Nonoperative management failed for only 6.5% of patients owing to renal-related injuries, and three-fourths of the entire population retained their kidneys.