Jo Ann Miller

High-risk geriatric protocol: improving mortality in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Injured geriatric patients pose unique challenges to the trauma team because of their abnormal responses to shock and injury. We have developed the high-risk geriatric protocol (GP) that seeks to identify high-risk geriatric patients. We hypothesized that a high-risk GP would improve outcome in this select group of patients. METHODS Patients from 2000 to 2010 were included. Patients 65 years or older who met high-risk GP based on comorbidities and/or physiologic parameters were compared with those patients who had not received GP before its implementation as well as other non-GP patients. This protocol includes a geriatric consultation, as well as a lactate levels, arterial blood gas levels, and echo test to assess for occult shock. Age, trauma activation, preexisting conditions, Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, and mortality were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors predictive of mortality. RESULTS A total of 3,902 patients were evaluated. Patients receiving GP were less likely to die (odds ratio, 0.63 [0.39–0.99], p = 0.046). For all patients, there was a dramatic increase in mortality for those patients older than 75 years. CONCLUSION The GP, adjusted for other covariates, significantly reduced mortality in our patient population. Thus, this study confirms the overall effectiveness of our GP, which is hallmarked by prompt identification of those patients with occult shock and a multidisciplinary care of the aged population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.

Determining venous thromboembolic risk assessment for patients with trauma: the Trauma Embolic Scoring System.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the relative “weight” of risk factors known to be associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) for patients with trauma based on injuries and comorbidities. METHODS A retrospective review of 16,608 consecutive admissions to a trauma center was performed. Patients were separated into those who developed VTE (n = 141) versus those who did not (16,467). Univariate analysis was performed for each risk factor reported in the trauma literature. Risk factors that were shown to be significant (p < 0.05) by univariate analysis underwent multivariate analysis to develop odds ratios for VTE. The Trauma Embolic Scoring System (TESS) was derived from the multivariate coefficients. The resulting TESS was compared with a data set from the National Trauma Data Bank (2002–2006) to determine its ability to predict VTE. RESULTS The multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, Injury Severity Score, obesity, ventilator use for more than 3 days, and lower-extremity trauma were significant predictors of VTE in our patient population. The TESS was from 0 to 14, with the best prediction for those patients with a score of more than 6 (sensitivity, 81.6%; specificity, 84%). Overall, the model had excellent discrimination in predicting VTE with a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.89. The VTE rates for TESS in the National Trauma Data Bank data set were similar for all integers except for 3 and 4, in which the VTE rates were significantly higher (3, 0.2% vs. 0.6%; 4, 0.4% vs. 1.0%). CONCLUSION The TESS provides an objective measure of classifying VTE risk for patients with trauma. The TESS could allow informed decision making regarding prophylaxis strategies in patients with trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level II.

Improved recovery of prophylactic inferior vena cava filters in trauma patients: the results of a dedicated filter registry and critical pathway for filter removal.

Background: Temporary inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) are uniquely suited for trauma patients in whom the high risk of venous thromboembolism is transient. Currently, few “retrievable filters” are actually retrieved, with most published series documenting a retrieval rate between 20% and 50%. We sought to determine whether we could achieve a higher rate of retrieval with an improved process of care. Methods: All permanent and temporary filters were entered prospectively into a dedicated filter registry. Within 60 days of filter placement, all temporary filter patients were contacted by a trauma case manager to evaluate ongoing venous thromboembolism risk. Low-risk patients were then evaluated by radiology for removal of the IVCF. If appropriate, removal of the IVCF was scheduled. Initial contacts with patients were made by telephone. If unsuccessful with phone contact, family members, rehabilitation facility, and social work were all contacted to obtain the most recent phone number and address. A follow-up letter was sent to the patient with follow-up visit instructions. Finally, if prior contact measures did not work, a certified letter was sent to the last known address. Results: Between 2006 and 2009, of 7,949 trauma admissions, 420 (5.2%) met indications for filter placement. Of those, 160 were available for removal and 94 were successfully removed (59%). Conclusions: A retrieval rate of 59% can be achieved with an explicit process of care emphasizing disciplined follow-up. Level of Evidence: III.

Magnet hospitals are a magnet for higher survival rates at adult trauma centers.

BACKGROUND Little is known about nursing care’s impact on trauma outcomes. The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes hospitals for quality patient care and nursing excellence based on objective standards. We hypothesized that Magnet-designated trauma centers would have improved survival over their non-Magnet counterparts. METHODS All 2009 to 2011 admissions to Pennsylvania’s Level I and II trauma centers with more than 500 admissions during the study period (10 Magnet and 17 non-Magnet hospitals) were extracted from the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation State Registry. A logistic regression model with mortality as the dependent variable included the following variables: Magnet status, age, sex, admitting temperature, logit transformation of mortality probability predicted by the Trauma Mortality Prediction Model (TMPM-ais), systolic blood pressure, mechanism of injury, paralytic drug use, and Glasgow Coma Scale motor (GCSm) score. RESULTS A total of 73,830 patients from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database met inclusion criteria for this study. The Magnet and non-Magnet hospital groups were statistically indistinguishable with respect to level of designation, medical school association, surgical residency programs, in-house surgeons, and urban locations. Patients admitted to a Magnet hospital had a significantly decreased odds of mortality when compared with their non-Magnet counterparts (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.70–0.99; p = 0.033), when controlling for numerous factors. Overall, the model has outstanding discrimination with a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.93. CONCLUSION Admission to a Magnet-designated hospital is associated with a 20% reduction in mortality. We believe that the Magnet program’s attention to nursing competence has important consequences for trauma patients, as reflected in the improved survival rates in trauma patients admitted to Magnet-designated hospitals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III. Care management study, level IV.

Hyponatremia as a fall predictor in a geriatric trauma population

INTRODUCTION Approximately one in three older adults fall each year, resulting in a significant proportion of geriatric traumatic injuries. In a hospital with a focus on geriatric fall prevention, we sought to characterize this population to develop targeted interventions. As mild hyponatremia, defined as a serum sodium <135meq/L, has been reported to be associated with falls, unsteadiness and attention deficits, we hypothesized that hyponatremia is associated with falls in our geriatric trauma population. METHODS Gender, age, pre-existing conditions (cardiac disease, diabetes, hematologic disorder, liver disease, malignancy, musculoskeletal disorder, neurological disorder, obesity, psychiatric disorder, pulmonary disease, renal disease, thyroid disease), mechanism of injury and admitting serum sodium level were queried for all geriatric trauma admissions from 2008 to 2011. Mechanism of injury was coded as falls admissions and non-falls admissions. Admitting serum sodium levels were coded as hyponatremic (<135mmol/L) and not hyponatremic (≥135mmol/L). RESULTS Of the 2370 geriatric trauma admissions during the study period, there were 1841 (77.7%) falls admissions and 293 (12.4%) patients who were hyponatremic. Gender, age, neurological disorder, hematologic disorder, and hyponatremia were found to be significant predictors of falls in both univariate and multivariable analyses. CONCLUSION Hyponatremic patients are significantly more likely to be admitted for a fall than non-hyponatremic patients, when adjusting for age, neurological disorder, and hematologic disorder. Consequently, hyponatremia identification and management should be an integral part of any geriatric trauma fall prevention programme. Additionally, if hyponatremia is found during a geriatric fall workup, it should be corrected prior to discharge and closely monitored by a primary care physician to prevent recurrent episodes of falls.

An analysis of geriatric recidivism in the era of accountable care organizations.

BACKGROUND To date, there are almost 500 accountable care organizations (ACOs) across the United States emphasizing cost-effective care. Readmission largely impacts health care cost; therefore, we sought to determine factors associated with geriatric trauma readmissions (recidivism) within our institution. METHODS All admissions from 2000 to 2011 attributed to patients 65 years or older at our Level II trauma center, recently verified by Medicare as an ACO, were queried. Patients were classified as recidivist or nonrecidivist. The first admissions of recidivist patients were compared with the nonrecidivist admissions with respect to sex, age, race, primary insurance, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), hospital length of stay, mechanism of injury (MOI), preexisting conditions, and discharge destination. Factors found to be significant predictors of recidivism in univariate analyses were subsequently incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression model. In addition, the second admission’s MOI was compared with the first admission’s MOI, and the proportion of first, second, and third admissions attributed to falls was calculated. A p < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS Between 2000 and 2011, a total of 4,963 unique patients were admitted to the trauma center at 65 years or older. This population was composed of 287 recidivists (5.8%) and 4,676 nonrecidivists (94.2%). When placed in a multivariate logistic regression, female sex, admission GCS score of 15, history of head trauma, and preexisting pulmonary disease were identified as significant predictors of recidivism. A trend toward increasing proportion of injuries attributed to falls was found with each subsequent trauma admission (81.5% [234 of 287] of first admissions, 88.2% [253 of 287] of second admissions, and 90.5% [19 of 21] of third admissions). CONCLUSION Our study identifies specific factors that should be targeted by social service and prevention resources to inhibit recidivism in the elderly. In the brave new world of ACOs, trauma centers must identify high-risk populations for the consumption of limited resources. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Care management study, level IV. Prognostic study, level III.

Mature Trauma Intensivist Model Improves Intensive Care Unit Efficiency But Not Mortality

Background: Although the Leap Frog intensivist staffing model has been shown to improve outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU), to date, no one has examined the effect of an intensivist model in a dedicated trauma ICU. With stricter adherence to evidence-based protocols and 24-hour availability, we hypothesized that a mature intensivist model in a trauma ICU would decrease mortality. Methods: Level II trauma center trauma ICU admissions 2006 to 2011. The ICU care provided by 6 trauma intensivists. Two periods were compared: early (2006-2008) and mature (2009-2011). Patients matched on age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), preexisting conditions, and so on in a univariate analysis, with significant variables placed in a logistic regression model, with mortality as the outcome. Results: A total of 3527 patients (2999 excluding do not resuscitate status) were reviewed. Age ≥65 (odds ratio [OR] 2.38, P < .001), ISS ≥17 (OR 3.3, P < .001), coagulopathy (OR 1.64, P = .004), and anemia (OR 1.73, P = .02) were independent predictors of mortality. Multivariate logistic model encompassing these factors found no statistically significant differences in mortality across the 6-year period. The ICU efficiency showed significant improvements in terms of ventilator days (30.1% EARLY vs 24.4% MATURE; P < .001), decreases in mean consultant use per patient (0.55 ± 0.85 EARLY vs 0.40 ± 0.74 MATURE; P < .001), and increase in number of bedside procedures per patient (0.09 ± 0.48 EARLY vs 0.40 ± 0.74 MATURE; P < .001 Conclusions: Our mature intensivists staffing model shows improvement in ICU throughput (ventilator days, ICU days, decreased consultant use, and increased bedside procedures) but no survival benefit. Further improvements in overall trauma mortality may lie in the resuscitative and operative phase of patient care.

Does prehospital prolonged extrication (entrapment) place trauma patients at higher risk for venous thromboembolism

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine if prolonged immobility and tissue injury from a prehospital entrapment would place patients at higher risk for in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) complications. It was hypothesized that entrapment would increase in-hospital VTE. METHODS All consecutive trauma admissions over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into those who were entrapped according to defined prehospital criteria for entrapment and those who were not entrapped. The complications of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were noted. RESULTS There were 15,159 patients admitted between 1999 and 2008. Of these, 1,176 met the criteria for prehospital entrapment. Those patients who met the criteria for entrapment had a significant risk for developing both deep vein thrombosis (P < .001, χ(2) test) and pulmonary embolism (P = .005, Fishers exact test). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed entrapment to be a significant contributing risk factor to the development of VTE (odds ratio, 1.54; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Patients with prehospital entrapment are at higher risk for VTE. These results mandate aggressive VTE prophylaxis in patients with histories of prehospital entrapment.

1157: DO MAGNET HOSPITALS ATTRACT BETTER OUTCOMES FOR PEDIATRIC TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS?

Crit Care Med 2015 • Volume 43 • Number 12 (Suppl.) Marfan syndrome on ECMO. Methods: Pediatric patients ≤18 yr of age with MFS in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry were included. The primary outcome of interest was death before hospital discharge. Between group comparisons (non Marfan patients (nonMFS) and Marfan patients) were performed using chi-square, t-test and fisher’s exact test. Results: Included were 19 patients with Marfan syndrome. ECMO use in patients with MFS has increased with all cases occurring after 1994. Compared to all pediatric ECMO patients (nonMFS, n=50,884 in ELSO registry) MFS patients had worse survival (MFS 21% vs. nonMFS 63%, p=0.001). More MFS patients were likely to be placed on ECMO for cardiac (74%) vs. respiratory failure (10%). In MFS patients no risk factors for mortality were identified. The most common complication was cardiovascular in 53% of patients. Conclusions: Marfan syndrome is an uncommon indication for ECMO survival with worse outcome than the overall ECMO population. Although limited by the small sample size these results should be factored in to decision making when considering ECMO for pediatric Marfan patients.