Jay N. Collins

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.

Impact of a monitored program of care on incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia: results of a longterm performance-improvement project.

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a major source of morbidity, mortality, and expense in the ICU despite therapies directed against it. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective review of a prospectively developed performance-improvement project monitoring the incidence of VAP in two adjacent ICUs was conducted. In response to an excessive VAP rate, weekly multidisciplinary team meetings were instituted to review data, develop care protocols, and modify care routines. Protocol compliance was monitored daily and feedback provided weekly to the care teams. VAP rates were determined by the institutional Infection Control Committee and reviewed monthly with the ICU multidisciplinary team. Duration of the investigational period was 10 years. RESULTS A standardized ventilator-weaning protocol was instituted with confirmed 95% use. Additional modifications of care, such as patient positioning, use of specific endotracheal tubes to minimize aspiration of supraglottic secretions, an oral-care regimen, and aggressive antibiotic stewardship were standardized, with a compliance rate >90%. VAP rates dropped from 12.8 per 1,000 patient-days in 1998 to 1.1 in 2007 in the burn trauma ICU and from 21.2 to <1 in the neurotrauma ICU in the same time frame. Also, mean ventilator length of stay decreased from 6 days to 4.2 and from 5.8 days to 4.75 simultaneously in the respective ICUs. Such performance improvement has been sustained since implementation of the program. CONCLUSION A systematic, monitored program of standardized care protocols can markedly reduce VAP rate in the ICU.

Recombinant thrombin: safety and immunogenicity in burn wound excision and grafting.

This study evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and hemostatic effect of recombinant human Thrombin (rThrombin), in patients undergoing skin grafting for burns. This was a phase 2 multiple site, single-arm, open-label study in patients receiving partial- or full-thickness autologous grafts. rThrombin was applied using a spray applicator to newly excised wounds of 1 to 4% body surface area at 5 minutes intervals for up to 20 minutes, after point source bleeding was stopped. Adverse events, skin graft survival, and formation of anti-rThrombin antibodies were measured at baseline and Day 29. There were no deaths or study drug discontinuations. Adverse events occurred in 63 of 72 patients (88%), and were typical of sequelae of skin grafting. Hemostasis was achieved within 20 minutes after application of rThrombin in 65 of 71 patients (91.5%). Skin graft failure occurred in 4 patients (6%). At the day 29 evaluation, for those patients who returned, 88.9% had ≥90% graft survival. One patient (1 of 70, 1.4%) had specific, low titer antibodies to rThrombin at baseline, but no increase in titer posttreatment; a second patient (1 of 62, 1.6%), developed antibodies to rThrombin at day 29. None of the antibodies neutralized native human thrombin. In excised burn wounds, hemostasis at 20 minutes was achieved in 91.5% of patients and skin graft survival was excellent. There was a low rate of antibodies to rThrombin at baseline (1.4%) and a low rate of anti-rThrombin antibody formation at day 29 (1.6%). rThrombin was well tolerated when administered with a pump spray.

Thoracic ultrasound can predict safe removal of thoracostomy tubes.

BACKGROUND Chest x-rays (CXRs) have been the mainstay for the management of thoracostomy tubes (TTs), but reports that ultrasound (US) may be more sensitive for detection of pneumothorax (PTX) continue to increase. The objective of this study was to determine if US is safe and effective for the detection of PTX following TT removal. METHODS This was a retrospectively reviewed, prospective process improvement project involving patients who had a TT managed by the surgical team. Bedside US was performed by experienced surgeon sonographers before and after TT removal. Initially, a CXR was obtained before and after TT removal, with sonographers blinded to CXR findings. Subsequently, routine CXR was no longer obtained, and TT removal was determined by US. RESULTS One hundred twenty-nine TTs were placed during the study. Initially, water seal and postpull US were performed on 49 TTs, with 6 tubes having only postpull imaging. US was able to detect all significant PTXs seen on CXR but identified one false-positive. Subsequently, 74 TTs had US imaging on water seal and after pull. Water seal US allowed the safe removal of 70% of the TTs. Twenty patients had no slide on water seal US and required follow-up CXR. Most importantly, US had a 100% negative predictive value for PTX during TT removal. CONCLUSION US is safe and effective for the rapid diagnosis of PTX. This has allowed the discontinuation of routine CXR for the evaluation of PTX during TT removal for patients with adequate lung slide seen on thoracic US lung windows. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic test, level II. Therapeutic study, level IV.

The impact of intravascular ultrasound on outcomes of endovascular repair of blunt traumatic aortic injury

Introduction Endovascular repair has become first-line therapy for traumatic aortic injury. Proper endograft sizing is critical to outcomes following traumatic aortic injury repair; however, the adequacy of standard imaging modalities for this purpose remains uncertain. We assessed the impact of intravascular ultrasound on outcomes of endovascular traumatic aortic injury repair. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for all traumatic aortic injury patients from 2005 to 2015. Primary endpoints were 30-day aortic-related complications (aortic-related mortality, stroke, and spinal cord ischemia) and late device-related complications (collapse, migration, endoleak, and reintervention) over the duration of follow-up. Aortic measurements were calculated from three-dimensional-reconstructed computerized tomography studies and intravascular ultrasound images. Aortic remodeling was quantified by volume change between initial and first follow-up computerized tomography scans. Results Twenty-five patients were included (mean age 41, 72% male). Intravascular ultrasound was used in 14 patients. No differences in demographics or injury characteristics were observed between intravascular ultrasound and non-intravascular ultrasound patients. Proximal neck diameter was 1.2 mm greater on intraoperative intravascular ultrasound than initial computerized tomography imaging (P = .048). Endograft oversizing in relation to initial computerized tomography was 25% in intravascular ultrasound patients versus 9% in non-intravascular ultrasound patients (P = .001). No significant differences in aortic-related complications were noted. Device-related complications occurred more frequently in the non-intravascular ultrasound group at a mean follow-up of 252 days (36.4% vs. 0%, P = .026). Aortic remodeling rate was 4.41 cm3/day in the intravascular ultrasound group versus 2.34 cm3/day in the non-intravascular ultrasound group (P = .256). Conclusions Intravascular ultrasound significantly impacts endograft sizing and was associated with decreased device-related complications following endovascular traumatic aortic injury repair.