Brian J. Daley

Clinical Practice Guideline: Endpoints of Resuscitation

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Severely injured trauma victims are at high risk of development of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) or death. To maximize chances for survival, treatment priorities must focus on resuscitation from shock (defined as inadequate tissue oxygenation to meet tissue O2 requirements), including appropriate fluid resuscitation and rapid hemostasis. Inadequate tissue oxygenation leads to anaerobic metabolism and resultant tissue acidosis. The depth and duration of shock leads to a cumulative oxygen debt. Resuscitation is complete when the oxygen debt has been repaid, tissue acidosis eliminated, and normal aerobic metabolism restored in all tissue beds. Many patients may appear to be adequately resuscitated based on normalization of vital signs, but have occult hypoperfusion and ongoing tissue acidosis (compensated shock), which may lead to organ dysfunction and death. Use of the endpoints discussed in this guideline may allow early detection and reversal of this state, with the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality from trauma. Without doubt, resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock is impossible without hemostasis. Fluid resuscitation strategies before obtaining hemostasis in patients with uncontrolled hemorrhage, usually victims of penetrating trauma, remain controversial. Withholding fluid resuscitation may lead to death from exsanguination, whereas aggressive fluid resuscitation may disrupt the clot and lead to more bleeding. “Limited,” “hypotensive,” and/or “delayed” fluid resuscitation may be beneficial, but clinical trials have yielded conflicting results. This clinical practice guideline will focus on resuscitation after achieving hemostasis and will not address the issue of uncontrolled hemorrhage further. Use of the traditional markers of successful resuscitation, including restoration of normal blood pressure, heart rate, and urine output, remain the standard of care per the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course. When these parameters remain abnormal, i.e., uncompensated shock, the need for additional resuscitation is clear. After normalization of these parameters, up to 85% of severely injured trauma victims still have evidence of inadequate tissue oxygenation based on findings of an ongoing metabolic acidosis or evidence of gastric mucosal ischemia. This condition has been described as compensated shock. Recognition of this state and its rapid reversal are critical to minimize risk of MODS or death. Consequently, better markers of adequate resuscitation for severely injured trauma victims are needed. This guideline committee sought to evaluate the current state of the literature regarding use of potential markers and related goals of resuscitation, focusing on those that have been tested in human trauma victims. This manuscript is part of an ongoing process of guideline development that includes periodic (every 3–4 years) review of the topic and the recommendations in light of new data. The goal is for these guidelines to assist clinicians in assuring adequate resuscitation of trauma patients, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Outcome of the current management of splenic injuries.

BACKGROUND For patients > 55 years, nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injury remains controversial. Conflicting reports of excessively high or acceptably low failure rates have discouraged widespread application of NOM in these older patients. However, the small number of patients in these studies limits the impact of their conclusions. METHODS We manage splenic injury nonoperatively in all appropriate patients without regard to age. We present the largest series of patients > 55 years who have been managed nonsurgically, in a retrospective review of all patients with blunt splenic injury admitted to our trauma center between 1996 and 1999. RESULTS In 4 years, 542 patients were admitted with blunt splenic injury. Eighty-three patients were > 55 years, and 61 of these patients underwent NOM. Seven older patients failed NOM and required delayed splenectomy, yielding a failure rate of 11.4%. This failure rate was statistically equivalent to the 7% failure rate of patients < 55 years. This study has a power of 80% to detect a failure rate change from 7% to 20%. By multivariate analysis, the only factor that significantly increased the risk of NOM failure was splenic injury grade. Patients > 55 years had a higher mortality than younger patients regardless of NOM/operative treatment. Splenic injury did not directly cause any of the deaths in patients > 55 years who had NOM or failure of NOM. High-grade splenic injuries fail NOM in those > 55 years. CONCLUSION Nonoperative management of lower grade splenic injuries in patients > 55 years can be accomplished with an acceptably low failure rate. Only grade of splenic injury, not patient age, increases the risk of NOM failure.

Percutaneous Embolization for the Management of Grade 5 Renal Trauma in Hemodynamically Unstable Patients: Initial Experience

PURPOSE We evaluated the efficacy and safety of percutaneous embolization for the treatment of grade 5 renal injuries secondary to blunt trauma in patients who are hemodynamically unstable. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of grade 5 blunt renal trauma managed with percutaneous embolization between October 2004 and December 2007. Technical success was defined as complete occlusion of all renovascular bleeding at the end of the procedure. Clinical success was defined as the stabilization of vital signs and absence of need for further surgical or radiological intervention. RESULTS Nine patients (6 male and 3 female) with grade 5 renal injury secondary to blunt trauma were treated with percutaneous embolization. These patients did not require surgery for other intra-abdominal injuries. Mean patient age was 30 years (median 34, range 5 to 56, SD 15). Mean hospital length of stay was 18 days (median 13, range 5 to 46, SD 14). Mean units of packed red blood cells transfused for each patient was 6 (median 5, range 0 to 17, SD 5) with 2 receiving none. Technical success was achieved in all patients (100%) and all showed complete resolution of active extravasation on angiography. Clinical success was achieved in all patients (100%) with none requiring further intervention. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous embolization for the management of grade 5 renal injuries is safe and effective with an excellent success rate in our series. The overall complication rate is minimal. Larger studies with long-term followup are needed to assure durability and efficacy.

Nutritional Considerations for Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Review of the Literature

PURPOSE Approximately 35% to 60% of all patients with head and neck cancer are malnourished at the time of their diagnosis because of tumor burden and obstruction of intake or the anorexia and cachexia associated with their cancer. The purpose of this article is to provide a contemporary review of the nutritional aspects of care for patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was performed in Medline, Cochrane, and other available databases from 1990 through 2012 for the clinical effectiveness of nutritional support, treatment modalities, and methods of delivery in relation to patients with head and neck malignancies. Human studies published in English and having nutritional status and head and neck cancer as a predictor variable were included. Randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, prospective clinical studies, and systemic reviews were selected based on their relevance to the abovementioned subtitles. The resultant articles were analyzed and summarized into the definition, impact, assessment, treatment, and modes of administration of nutrition on the outcome of patients with head and neck cancer. RESULTS Articles were reviewed that focused on the etiology and assessment of malnutrition and current nutritional treatments for cancer-induced anorexia and cachexia. Two hundred forty-eight articles were found: 2 clinical trials, 10 meta-analyses, 210 review studies, and 26 systematic reviews. Because of the lack of prospective data, a summative review of the conclusions of the studies is presented. CONCLUSION Nutritional interventions should be initiated before cancer treatment begins and these interventions need to be ongoing after completion of treatment to ensure optimal outcomes for patients. A nutritional assessment must be part of all comprehensive treatment plans for patients with head and neck cancer. Alternative medical interventions, such as immune-enhancing nutrients or anticytokine pharmaceutical agents, also may be effective as adjuvant therapies, but more research is needed to quantify their clinical effect.

The Predictive Value of General Surgery Application Data for Future Resident Performance

OBJECTIVE The predictive value of application data for future general surgery resident performance and attrition are poorly understood. We sought to determine what variables obtained in the application process might predict future resident success. METHODS We performed an 18-year review (1990-2008) of all matched residents (n = 101) to a university program. Both categorical graduates (CG) and nongraduates (CNG) and nondesignated preliminaries matching (PM) and preliminaries nonmatching (PNM) were evaluated. We also screened for previous high-performance accomplishments outside of the medical field such as in the performing arts or collegiate athletics (SKILL). Outcome data include graduation or match status, American Board of Surgery In-service Training Examination (ABSITE), and faculty Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competency evaluations. RESULTS Background data from the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application between the various groups was compared with univariate analysis and logistic regression. There were significant differences between the groups on the measures of USMLE step 1 (STEP1) (p = 0.001), medical school grade point average (GPA) (p = 0.023), interview data (INTERVIEW) (p < 0.001), and ABSITE (p < 0.001). The variable of INTERVIEW had an odds ratio of 188.27 (95% confidence interval, 3.757-9435.405). Overall attrition was 23.7% (n = 24) and was evenly divided between those who left for lifestyle reasons and those who were encouraged to leave. CONCLUSIONS Within our system, INTERVIEW, USMLE STEP1, and SKILL predict successful completion of a general surgery residency. In contrast to prior reports, female sex, ethnicity, medical school grades, or Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (AOA) status were not significant. The variable SKILL is novel and highlights the importance of nonacademic background data. Our data indicate STEP1 is an independent predictor of resident success in general surgery and should maintain an important role in general surgery applicant screening. The ideal screening threshold is likely > 215.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' impact on nonunion and infection rates in long-bone fractures.

BACKGROUND There is a dearth of clinical data regarding the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on long-bone fracture (LBF) healing in the acute trauma setting. The orthopedic community believes that the use of NSAIDs in the postoperative period will result in poor healing and increased infectious complications. We hypothesized that, first, NSAID use would not increase nonunion/malunion and infection rates after LBF. Second, we hypothesized that tobacco use would cause higher rates of these complications. METHODS A retrospective study of all patients with femur, tibia, and/or humerus fractures between October 2009 and September 2011 at a Level 1 academic trauma center was performed . In addition to nonunion/malunion and infection rates, patient records were reviewed for demographic data, mechanism of fracture, type of fracture, tobacco use, Injury Severity Score (ISS), comorbidities, and medications given. RESULTS During the 24-month period, 1,901 patients experienced LBF; 231 (12.1%) received NSAIDs; and 351 (18.4%) were smokers. The overall complication rate including nonunion/malunion and infection was 3.2% (60 patients). Logistic regression analysis with adjusted odds ratios were calculated on the risk of complications given NSAID use and/or smoking, and we found that a patient is significantly more likely to have a complication if he or she received an NSAID (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–4.10; p < 0.016) in the inpatient postoperative setting. Likewise, smokers are significantly more likely to have complications (odds ratio, 3.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.84–5.53; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION LBF patients who received NSAIDs in the postoperative period were twice as likely and smokers more than three times likely to suffer complications such as nonunion/malunion or infection. We recommend avoiding NSAID in traumatic LBF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic & therapeutic study; level II.

Role of duodenography in the diagnosis of blunt duodenal injuries

BACKGROUND The differentiation of duodenal perforation from duodenal hematoma is not always possible with computed tomography (CT). Our diagnostic guideline has included duodenography to investigate CT findings of periduodenal fluid or wall thickening. However, the utility of duodenography as a diagnostic study in blunt abdominal trauma is not defined. We evaluated duodenography as a diagnostic test in patients with suspected blunt duodenal injuries (BDIs). METHODS During a 10-year period, 96 patients out of 25,608 trauma admissions had CT findings of possible BDI and underwent duodenography. Demographic and clinical data, diagnostic methods, and management were derived from prospectively collected data. CT and duodenography studies were reviewed and correlated with surgical findings and outcome. All CT scans were obtained with intravenous contrast; oral contrast was used in 32 patients. Duodenography was analyzed using the 2 x 2 method and Bayes theorem. RESULTS Indications for duodenography included periduodenal fluid without extravasation (76%), abnormal duodenal wall thickening (16%), and retroperitoneal extraluminal gas (5%). Eighty-six duodenography studies were reported as normal, six were consistent with hematoma, one was indeterminate, and only three revealed extravasation. Two of these three patients with duodenal perforation had retroperitoneal extraluminal air. Only one patient underwent exploration on the basis of duodenography. No blunt duodenal perforation was diagnosed by CT. Overall, duodenography had sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 98%. For BDIs requiring repair, duodenography sensitivity was only 25%; the false-negative rate was also 25%. Retroperitoneal extraluminal air was a useful sign of duodenal perforation, occurring in two of three patients with BDI and only in one without BDI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Duodenography has a low sensitivity in patients with suspected BDI by CT findings and is of minimal utility in diagnostic evaluation. Retroperitoneal extraluminal air seen on CT is an important sign of BDI requiring surgical repair.

Is routine roentgenography needed after closed tube thoracostomy removal

BACKGROUND Efficacy of chest radiograph protocol after tube thoracostomy tube (CT) removal. METHODS Retrospective review (July of 1995 to July of 1996) of 141 patients with CT followed throughout their hospitalization. Excluded patients died (23 patients) or had thoracotomy (13 patients) before CT removal. RESULTS A total of 105 patients had 113 CT removed (mean age, 36.9 years; Injury Severity Score = 23.4; CT duration, 5.0 days). Protocol chest radiographs were performed on average at 7.9 and 22.1 hours. Recurrent pneumothorax (RHPTX = new interpleural air) occurring in 12 patients (11%) and persistent pneumothorax (PHPTX = same volume of interpleural air) occurring in 13 patients (12%) caused no clinical problems and were treated without tube replacement. Three patients had symptoms after removal; none had RHPTX. Two patients had clinical signs; one reaccumulated a hemothorax requiring CT replacement, the other improved without replacement. CONCLUSIONS Clinically significant RHPTX/PHPTX after CT removal is infrequent. Signs not symptoms detect CT removal complications. At our institution, chest radiographs are obtained in a delayed manner from protocol and offer no benefit over clinical assessment.

Intermediate-term follow-up of patients treated with percutaneous embolization for grade 5 blunt renal trauma.

BACKGROUND The short-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous embolization for the treatment of hemodynamically unstable patients with grade 5 renal injuries secondary to blunt trauma has been previously established; however, there has been no published intermediate-term follow-up. The purpose of this study is to report intermediate-term follow-up and complications for this treatment modality. METHODS A retrospective study was performed to determine intermediate-term outcomes in an observational cohort of patients who underwent percutaneous embolization for the management of grade 5 blunt renal trauma. Demographic and perioperative data were obtained. Follow-up was performed via mail and/or phone questionnaires. RESULTS Between October 2004 and July 2008, 10 hemodynamically unstable patients with grade 5 blunt renal trauma were treated with percutaneous embolization. Mean age of the cohort was 29 years (range, 5-50). Mean follow-up via phone and/or mail questionnaires was 2.7 years (1.5-5.1 years). One patient reported a new diagnosis of hypertension, which is well controlled by a single antihypertensive medication. There were no reported complications of refractory hypertension, altered renal function, new urolithiasis, chronic pain, urine leak, arteriovenous fistula, or pseudoaneurysm. No other procedures were required after the initial embolization for their renal trauma. CONCLUSIONS Management of grade 5 renal injuries with percutaneous embolization is safe and is not associated with intermediate-term adverse events.

Current Status of Nutrition Training in Graduate Medical Education From a Survey of Residency Program Directors A Formal Nutrition Education Course Is Necessary

INTRODUCTION Nutrition leaders surmised graduate medical nutrition education was not well addressed because most medical and surgical specialties have insufficient resources to teach current nutrition practice. A needs assessment survey was constructed to determine resources and commitment for nutrition education from U.S. graduate medical educators to address this problem. METHODS An online survey of 36 questions was sent to 495 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Program Directors in anesthesia, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and general surgery. Demographics, resources, and open-ended questions were included. There was a 14% response rate (72 programs), consistent with similar studies on the topic. RESULTS Most (80%) of the program directors responding were from primary care programs, the rest surgical (17%) or anesthesia (3%). Program directors themselves lacked knowledge of nutrition. While some form of nutrition education was provided at 78% of programs, only 26% had a formal curriculum and physicians served as faculty at only 53%. Sixteen programs had no identifiable expert in nutrition and 10 programs stated that no nutrition training was provided. Training was variable, ranging from an hour of lecture to a month-long rotation. Seventy-seven percent of program directors stated that the required educational goals in nutrition were not met. The majority felt an advanced course in clinical nutrition should be required of residents now or in the future. CONCLUSIONS Nutrition education in current graduate medical education is poor. Most programs lack the expertise or time commitment to teach a formal course but recognize the need to meet educational requirements. A broad-based, diverse universal program is needed for training in nutrition during residency.