Mark A. Newell

A collaborative systems approach to rural burn care.

A collaborative systems approach was created between the regional verified burn center (BC) and the rural verified Level 1 trauma center (TC) to treat minor burns. This study assesses the feasibility of providing outpatient burn care at the TC. A retrospective review was performed from January 2000 to June 2005 of burn patients seen at the TC. Seven trauma/critical care surgeons and a dedicated burn nurse staffed the clinic twice a week. Burn surgeons from the BC provided consultation via email and telephone links and served as the regional resource. In the TC clinic, 314 injuries occurred in 311 patients. 196 patients were male with an average age of 34.5 ± 1.1 years. The mean burn TBSA was 2.9 ± 0.2%. Fourteen patients (4%) required skin grafts. Patients averaged 3.5 ± 0.1 clinic visits over a mean follow-up period of 42.9 ± 7.4 days from initial injury. There were 1252 scheduled appointments during the study period. Silver sulfadiazine or triple antibiotic ointment was applied in the majority of the cases. Thirty-one patients (9.9%) were documented to have complications, most of which were local wound infections. Long-term sequelae (scarring, chronic pain, and contractures) occurred in 13.4% of patients. Clinical success in outpatient burn care can be achieved at a non burn center with dedicated personnel. The successful collaboration between the BC and TC can unload some minor burn care from the burn center, while providing good clinical care to the local rural population.

Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Piperacillin Administered with Tazobactam in Critically Ill, Morbidly Obese Surgical Patients

To evaluate the steady‐state pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of piperacillin in morbidly obese, surgical intensive care patients.

Impact of Hypothermia (below 36°C) in the Rural Trauma Patient

BACKGROUND Hypothermia is an independent predictor of mortality based on urban studies. But this association has not been described in the rural setting. This studys purpose was to evaluate hypothermia as a cofactor to mortality, complications, and hospital length of stay (LOS) parameters in the rural trauma setting. STUDY DESIGN The National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons database for our rural, Level I trauma center was queried for a 5-year period (July 2002 to June 2007) to identify adult trauma patients. Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the association of hypothermia with mortality; infectious complications; organ dysfunction; and, among survivors, hospital LOS parameters. RESULTS Of 9,482 adult patients admitted, 1,490 (15.7%) patients were hypothermic. Hypothermia had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.70 for mortality (95% CI, 1.35 to 2.12; p < 0.001). After controlling for covariates, hypothermia was not significantly associated with infectious complications or organ dysfunction, except for arrhythmia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.40; CI, 1.03 to 1.90; p = 0.031). Hypothermia was not associated with a difference in ICU (p = 0.310) or ventilator (p = 0.144) LOS. But a slight increase in hospital days was noted in the hypothermic patient (hazards ratio, 0.890 for discharge; 95% CI, 0.838 to 0.946; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Hypothermia is a common problem at admission in a rural trauma center. It is associated with an increase in hospitalized days but not with increased ICU or ventilator days among survivors. Other than arrhythmias, it was not significantly associated with other National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons infectious or organ dysfunction complications. Hypothermia is an independent risk factor for mortality in the rural trauma patient.

Tissue oxygenation monitoring in the field: a new EMS vital sign.

BACKGROUND A tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation (STO2) monitor was created to assess the perfusion status of a peripheral muscle bed using near infrared light to directly measure oxygen saturation in the microcirculation. Hypoperfusion has been noted when the STO2 is <75%. The use of this technology has not been tested in the prehospital setting. This pilot study was performed to assess the technologys ease of use in the field and to correlate STO2 readings with patient outcomes. METHODS Hospital-based transport vehicles were equipped with STO2 monitors and personnel were asked to evaluate the functionality of the technology. Initial, average, and minimal STO2 values were collected and compared with data of the trauma registry. RESULTS Forty five of 55 surveys were returned with 100% reporting ease of use and no reports of interference with monitors or avionics. Monitoring length averaged 16.9 minutes +/- 6.9 minutes. Forty-one patients had complete data sets and five deaths were reported for a mortality rate of 12%. STO2 endpoints revealed and increased risk of death for every 10% decrease in STO2. CONCLUSION The STO2 monitor can easily be used in the prehospital environment. In addition, initial recordings were significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors with every 10% decrease in STO2 increasing mortality threefold. This monitor seems to give the prehospital provider a noninvasive tool for assessment of hypoperfusion in the field and may allow for earlier resuscitative efforts to commence.

Impact of hypothermia in the rural, pediatric trauma patient.

Objective: Hypothermia is an independent predictor of mortality in adult trauma studies. However, the impact of hypothermia on the pediatric trauma population has not been described. The purpose of this study is to evaluate hypothermia as a cofactor to mortality, complications, and among survivors, hospital length of stay parameters in the pediatric trauma population. Design: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database (National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons) over a 5-yr period (July 2002 to June 2007). Setting: A rural, level I trauma center. Patients: One thousand six hundred twenty-nine pediatric patients admitted with a traumatic injury. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the association of hypothermia with mortality, infectious complications, organ dysfunction, and among survivors, hospital length of stay parameters. Of 1,629 pediatric trauma patients admitted, 182 (11.1%) patients were hypothermic (temperature below 36°C) on admission. Hypothermia had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–5.22, p = .025) for mortality. After controlling for covariates, hypothermia had associations with developing pneumonia (AOR, 0.185, 95% CI, 0.040–0.853; p = .031) and a bleeding diathesis (AOR, 3.14, 95% CI, 1.04–9.44; p = .042). The median days in the hospital, intensive care unit (ICU), and ventilator were longer in the hypothermic cohort; however, after controlling for covariates, hypothermia was not associated with differences in hospital days, ICU days, or ventilator days. Conclusions: Hypothermia is a common problem at admission among pediatric trauma patients. Hypothermia is associated with an increase in the odds of death and the development of a bleeding diathesis, while having decreased odds for developing pneumonia. While the length of stay indicators were longer in the hypothermic cohort among survivors, no significant association was noted with hypothermia for hospital, ICU, or ventilator days after controlling for confounders.

The elderly trauma patient: an investment for the future?

BACKGROUND The cost of care in elderly (ELD) trauma patients is high compared with younger patients, but the association between age and reimbursement relative to cost is less clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between total costs (TC) and reimbursement in young (YNG) and ELD trauma patients. METHODS The National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons was queried for patients admitted to a level I trauma center between January 2002 and December 2004. YNG patients (18-64 years) were compared with ELD patients (> or =65 years) for mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, and outcome variables. Data obtained from the hospital cost accounting system included TC, total payment, and net margin (P-L). Virtually, all patients were reimbursed based on the fixed diagnostic-related group payment. RESULTS There were 641 ELD and 3,470 YNG patients included in the study. ELD patients were more commonly injured via a blunt mechanism than the YNG patients (97% vs. 83%; p < 0.001). The ELD were more severely injured (Injury Severity Score 14.9 +/- 10.8 vs. 13.3 +/- 10.9), developed more complications (54% vs. 34%), and died more frequently (17% vs. 4.7%; all p < 0.05). TC for the ELD were significantly higher than the YNG (

What price commitment: What benefit? The cost of a saved life in a developing level i Trauma Center

20,788.92 +/-

When birds can't fly: an analysis of interfacility ground transport using advanced life support when helicopter emergency medical service is unavailable

28,305.54 vs.

Damage control in the elderly: futile endeavor or fruitful enterprise?

19,161.11 +/-

High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation as a Rescue Therapy for Adult Trauma Patients

30,441.56; p = 0.02). Total payment (