Kareem Ibraheem

Emergency general surgery specific frailty index: A validation study.

INTRODUCTION Assessment of operative risk in geriatric patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) is challenging. Frailty is an established measure for risk assessment in surgical cases. The aim of our study was to validate a modified 15-variable EGS-specific frailty index (EGSFI). METHODS We prospectively collected geriatric (age older than 65 years) EGS patients for 2 years. Postoperative complications were collected. Frailty index was calculated for 200 patients based on their preadmission condition using 50-variable modified Rockwood frailty index. Emergency general surgery–specific frailty index was developed based on the regression model for complications and the most significant factors in the frailty index. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff for frail status. We validated our results using 60 patients for predicting complications. RESULTS A total of 260 patients (developing, 200; validation, 60) were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 71 ± 11 years, and 33% developed complications. Most common complications were pneumonia (12%), urinary tract infection (9%), and wound infection (7%). Univariate analysis identified 15 variables significantly associated with complications that were used to develop the EGSFI. A cutoff frailty score of 0.325 was identified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for frail status. Sixty patients (frail, 18; nonfrail, 42) were enrolled in the validation cohort. Frail patients were more likely to have postoperative complications (47% vs. 20%; p < 0.001) compared to nonfrail patients. Frail status based on EGSFI was a significant predictor of postoperative complications (odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–19.8; p = 0.006). Age was not associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.92–1.06; p = 0.86). CONCLUSION The 15-variable validated EGSFI is a simple and reliable bedside tool to determine the frailty status of patients undergoing EGS. Frail status as determined by the EGSFI is an independent predictor of postoperative complications and mortality in geriatric EGS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level II.

Improving mortality in trauma laparotomy through the evolution of damage control resuscitation: Analysis of 1,030 consecutive trauma laparotomies

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the related change in outcomes (mortality, complications) in patients undergoing trauma laparotomy (TL) with the implementation of damage control resuscitation (DCR). We hypothesized that the implementation of DCR in patients undergoing TL is associated with better outcomes. METHODS We analyzed 1,030 consecutive patients with TL. Patients were stratified into three phases: pre-DCR (2006–2007), transient (2008–2009), and post-DCR (2010–2013). Resuscitation fluids (crystalloids and blood products), injury severity score (ISS), vital signs, and laboratory (hemoglobin, international normalized ratio, lactate) parameters were recorded. Regression analysis was performed after adjusting for age, ISS, laboratory and vital parameters, comorbidities, and resuscitation fluids to identify independent predictors for outcomes in each phase. RESULTS Patient demographics and ISS remained the same throughout the three phases. There was a significant reduction in the volume of crystalloid (p = 0.001) and a concomitant increase in the blood product resuscitation (p = 0.04) in the post-DCR phase compared to the pre-DCR and transient DCR phases. Volume of crystalloid resuscitation was an independent predictor of mortality in the pre-DCR (OR [95% CI]: 1.071 [1.03–1.1], p = 0.01) and transient (OR [95% CI]: 1.05 [1.01–1.14], p = 0.01) phases; however, it was not associated with mortality in the post-DCR phase (OR [95% CI]:1.01 [0.96–1.09], p = 0.1). Coagulopathy (p = 0.01) and acidosis (p = 0.02) were independently associated with mortality in all three phases. CONCLUSION The implementation of DCR was associated with improved outcome in patients undergoing TL. There was a decrease in the use of damage control laparotomy, with a decrease in the use of crystalloid and an increase in the use of blood products. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.

Identifying potential utility of REBOA: An autopsy study

BACKGROUND Resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) has been the standard therapy in patients with acute arrest due to hemorrhagic shock. However, with the development of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), its role as a potential adjunct to a highly morbid intervention such as RT is being discussed. The aim of this study was to identify patients who most likely would have potentially benefited from REBOA use based on autopsy findings. METHODS We performed a 4-year retrospective review of all RTs performed at our Level I trauma center. Patients with in-hospital mortality and who underwent subsequent autopsies were included. Patients were divided into blunt and penetrating trauma with and without thoracic injuries. Autopsy reports were reviewed to identify vascular and solid organ injuries. Outcome measure was potential benefit with REBOA. Potential benefit with REBOA was defined based on the ability to safely deploy REBOA. In patients without cardiac, aortic, and major pulmonary vasculature injuries, REBOA was considered potentially beneficial. In all other patients, it was considered as nonbeneficial. RESULTS A total of 98 patients underwent an RT, of whom 87 had subsequent autopsies and were reviewed. The mean age was 35.25 (SD, 17.85) years, mean admission systolic blood pressure was 51.38 (SD, 70.11) mm Hg, median Injury Severity Score was 29 (interquartile range [IQR], 25–42), and 44 had penetrating injury. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta would have been potentially beneficial in 51.2% of patients (22 of 43 patients) with blunt mechanism of trauma, whereas REBOA would have been potentially beneficial in 38.6% of patients (17 of 44 patients) with penetrating mechanism of trauma. A subgroup analysis showed that REBOA use would have been potentially beneficial in 50.0% of blunt thoracic and 33.3% of penetrating thoracic trauma patients. CONCLUSIONS There are a great enthusiasm and premature efforts to introduce REBOA as an alternative to RT. While there exists a great potential for benefit with REBOA use in the management of noncompressible torso hemorrhage, the current indications for REBOA need to be defined better. Patients with penetrating chest trauma in extremis should be considered an absolute contraindication for REBOA use. The majority of patients with blunt trauma in extremis may potentially benefit from REBOA. However, better criteria will help increase these patients who may potentially benefit from REBOA placement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level V.

Substituting systolic blood pressure with shock index in the National Trauma Triage Protocol.

INTRODUCTION The National Trauma Triage Protocol (NTTP) is an algorithm that guides emergency medical services providers through four decision steps to identify the patients that would benefit from trauma center care. The NTTP defines a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of less than 90 mm Hg as one of the criteria for trauma center need. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of substituting SBP of less than 90 mm Hg with shock index (SI) on triage performance. METHODS A 2-year (2011–2012) retrospective analysis of all trauma patients 18 years or older in the National Trauma Databank was performed. Transferred patients, patients dead on arrival, and those with missing data were excluded. Our outcome measure was trauma center need defined by Injury Severity Score greater than 15, need for emergent operation, death in the emergency department, and intensive care unit stay of more than 1 day. Area under the characteristic curve and triage characteristics were compared between SBP of less than 90 mm Hg and SI of more than 1.0. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the mortality between patients triaged under current protocol of SBP of less than 90 mm Hg and patients triaged using the new defined protocol (SI >1.0). RESULTS A total of 505,296 patients were included. Compared with SBP of less than 90 mm Hg, SI of more than 1.0 had a higher sensitivity (44.4% vs. 41.7%) but lower specificity (80.2% vs. 82.4%). The area under the curve was significantly higher for SI of more than 1.0 (0.623 [95% confidence interval, 0.622–.625] vs. 0.620 [95% confidence interval, 0.619–0.622]). Substituting SBP of less than 90 mm Hg with SI of more than 1.0 resulted in a decrease in undertriage rate of 30,233 patients (5.9%) but an increase in overtriage of only 6,386 patients (1.3%). CONCLUSION Substituting the current criterion of SBP of less than 90 mm Hg in the NTTP with an SI of more than 1.0 results in significant reduction in undertriage rate without causing large increase in overtriage. Because of simplicity of use, better discrimination power, and minimal effect on overtriage rates, future studies should consider exploring the possibility of replacing the current SBP of less than 90 mm Hg criterion with SI of more than 1.0 in the NTTP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

American College of Surgeons Level I trauma centers outcomes do not correlate with patients’ perception of hospital experience

BACKGROUND The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey is a data collection methodology for measuring a patient’s perception of his/her hospital experience, and it has been selected by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services as the validated and transparent national survey tool with publicly available results. Since 2012, hospital reimbursements rates have been linked to HCAHPS data based on patient satisfaction scores. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess whether HCAHPS scores of Level I trauma centers correlate with actual hospital performance. METHODS Retrospective analysis of the latest publicly available HCAHPS data (2014–2015) was performed. American College of Surgeons (ACS) verified Level I trauma centers for each state were identified from the ACS registry and then the following data points were collected for each hospital: HCAHPS linear mean scores regarding cleanliness of the hospital, doctor and nurse communication with the patient, staff responsiveness, pain management, overall hospital rating, and patient willingness to recommend the hospital. Our outcome measure were serious complication scores, failure-to-rescue (FTR) scores and readmission-after-discharge scores. Spearman correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 119 ACS verified Level I trauma centers across 46 states were included. The median [IQR] overall hospital rating score for Level I trauma centers was 89 (87–90). The mean ± SD score for serious complication was 0.96 ± 0.266, FTR was 123.06 ± 22.5, and readmission after discharge was 15.71 ± 1.07. The Spearman correlation analysis showed that overall HCAHP-based hospital rating scores did not correlate with serious complications (correlation coefficient = 0.14 p = 0.125), FTR (correlation coefficient = −0.15 p = 0.073), or readmission after discharge (correlation coefficient = −0.18 p = 0.053). CONCLUSION The findings of our study suggest that no correlation exists between HCAHPS patient satisfaction scores and hospital performance for Level I trauma centers. Consequently, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services should reconsider hospital reimbursement decisions based on HCAHP patient satisfaction scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

Revitalizing Vital Signs: The Role of Delta Shock Index.

Introduction: Although variability in vital parameters has been shown to predict outcomes, the role of change in shock index (delta SI) as a predictive tool remains unknown. Methods: The National Trauma Data Bank (2011–2012) was abstracted for all patients aged 18 to 85 years and Injury Severity Score more than 15 with complete data. Transferred patients and patients dead on arrival were excluded. Patient demographics and injury parameters were recorded, and SI in the field, SI in the emergency department (ED), and change in SI (delta SI = ED SI−field SI) were calculated. Our outcome measure was mortality. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed. Results: A total of 95,088 patients were included, and the overall mortality rate was 11.9%. Patients with a positive delta SI had a mortality rate of 13.3% compared with 9.6% mortality rate in patients who had an unchanged or negative delta SI. After controlling for confounders, a delta SI more than 0.1 was found to be associated with an increased hazard of death (hazard ratio [95% CI] = 1.36 [1.29–1.45]) and mortality (16.6% vs. 9.5%, P < 0.001). Even in hemodynamically stable patients, a delta SI more than 0.1 was associated with increased hazard of death (hazard ratio [95% CI] = 1.29 [1.20–1.39]). Conclusions: Delta SI from field to hospital independently predicts higher mortality. It predicts higher mortality even in apparently hemodynamically stable patients with normal traditional vital signs and normal SI. Delta SI may serve as an adjunct to existing traditional vital signs for the identification of occult hypovolemic shock and higher risk of death in trauma patients.

Remote ischemic conditioning preserves cognition and motor coordination in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION Management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is focused on minimizing or preventing secondary brain injury. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is an established treatment modality that has been shown to improve patient outcomes in different clinical settings by influencing inflammatory insults. In a clinical trial, RIC showed amelioration of SB100 and neuron-specific enolase. The aim of our study was to further elucidate the mechanisms and outcome when applying RIC in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury. METHODS We subjected 100 male C57BL mice to a closed-skull cortical-controlled impact injury. Two hours after the TBI, the animals were allocated to either the RIC group (n = 50) or the sham group (n = 50). By clamping the exposed femoral artery, we induced RIC by six 4-minute cycles of ischemia and reperfusion. Circulating levels of S100-B, neuron-specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein were measured at multiple time points. Animals were additionally observed daily for cognition and motor coordination via novel object recognition and rotarod. Brain sections were stained and evaluated for neuronal injury at post-TBI Day 5. RESULTS The RIC animals had a significantly higher recognition index than did sham at 24, 48, and 72 hours after intervention. Rotarod latency was higher in the RIC animals compared to the sham animals at all-time points, and statistically significant at 120 hours after intervention. The RIC group demonstrated preserved cognitive function and motor coordination compared to the sham. On hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining of brain sections, there was less area of neuronal degeneration and astrocytosis, respectively, in the RIC group compared to the sham group. There was no significant difference in systemic neuronal markers between the RIC and sham animals. CONCLUSION Remote ischemic conditioning 2 hours after injury preserved cognitive functions and motor coordination in a mouse model of TBI. Remote ischemic conditioning can preserve viability of neurons and astrocytes after TBI and has potential as a clinically noninvasive and relatively easy method to improve outcome after TBI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic studies, randomized controlled trial, level I.