Michael D. Grossman

When is an elder old? Effect of preexisting conditions on mortality in geriatric trauma

BACKGROUND As the U.S. population ages, the number of geriatric trauma victims will continue to grow. Outcomes are known to be worse for these patients, in large part because of preexisting conditions (PECs). The specific impact of various PECs on outcome in geriatric trauma has not been well studied because of heterogeneous data sets and sample sizes. METHODS We sought to define the impact of clinical variables and PECs on mortality in geriatric trauma by analyzing a large statewide trauma database. We defined geriatric trauma patients as those age > or = 65. Isolated hip fractures were excluded. We used multiple logistic regression to determine the effect of 21 different PECs on 30-day in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Data were abstracted from 33,781 patient records. Overall mortality was 7.6%. For each 1-year increase in age beyond age 65, odds of dying after geriatric trauma increased by 6.8% (95% confidence interval, 6.1-7.5%). When presenting vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and ISS were controlled, PECs with the strongest effect on mortality were hepatic disease (odds ratio [OR], 5.1), renal disease (OR, 3.1), and cancer (OR, 1.8). Chronic steroid use increased the odds of death after geriatric trauma (OR, 1.6), whereas Coumadin therapy did not. CONCLUSION Considered independently, these data are insufficient to allow withdrawal of care, but this information may be a useful component to help in guiding families faced with difficult decisions after geriatric trauma.

National Survey of the Incidence of Cervical Spine Injury and Approach to Cervical Spine Clearance in U.s. Trauma Centers

BACKGROUND The overall incidence of cervical spine injury (CSI) has been estimated from small studies; the incidence of specific injury types is less well established. The approach to screening for CSI has not been well studied; variation may exist based on Trauma Center (TC) level and type (academic vs. nonacademic). We attempted to define the incidence of different types of CSI and determine whether a national standard for cervical spine clearance (CSC) could be identified. We hypothesized a significant variation in incidence of CSI and approach to CSC based on TC level and type. METHODS In a survey of 615 TC, institutions were asked to describe themselves as academic/nonacademic and provide a Level I-IV. Questions concerned demographics, Injury Severity Score, incidence of CSI, clinical resources, and approach to CSC. Methods of CSC included protocols, use of flexion-extension films, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cervical collars. Clinical scenarios examined indications and technique for CSC. RESULTS A total of 637 surveys were sent to 615 TC (25 follow-ups), and 165 TC (25%) responded. A total of 156 TC provided data for type: academic 44 (28%), nonacademic 112 (72%). A total of 142 TC provided data for level: 49 (34%) Level I, 75 (53%), Level II, 18 (13%), Level III. A total of 111,219 patients were entered into the trauma registries of these TC. The overall incidence of all types of CSI was 4.3%, CSI without spinal cord injury was 3.0%, spinal cord injury without fracture was 0.70%, and delayed diagnosis of all types of CSI was 0.01%. There was no difference in the incidence of CSI overall or by subtype based on TC level or type. Injury Severity Score correlated with incidence of CSI without cord injury (r = 0.387, p < 0.01). Regarding approach to CSC, differences existed by TC level and type for responsibility for CSC and protocols for CSC (p < 0.05). Level II TC felt early flexion-extension views were potentially harmful (60%); Level I TC did not (39%) (p < 0.05). Regarding indications for CSC, there was agreement on 10 of 11 clinical scenarios. For three of five clinical scenarios examining radiographic approach to CSC there was a broad distribution of approaches to patients with normal radiographs and cervical pain, altered mental status, coma. CONCLUSION Incidence of CSI is uniform by TC level and type. Incidence of spinal cord injury without fracture is low: 0.7%. Reported rate of missed CSI is very low: 0.01%. There is good agreement (>78%) among TC on indications for CSC but less agreement on radiographic approach to CSC.

Nonoperative management of abdominal gunshot wounds

Mandatory surgical exploration for gunshot wounds to the abdomen has been a surgical dictum for the greater part of this past century. Although nonoperative management of blunt solid organ injuries and low-energy penetrating injuries such as stab wounds is well established, the same is not true for gunshot wounds. The vast majority of patients who sustain a gunshot injury to the abdomen require immediate laparotomy to control bleeding and contain contamination. Nonoperative treatment of patients with a gunshot injury is gaining acceptance in only a highly selected subset of hemodynamically stable adult patients without peritonitis. Although the physical examination remains the cornerstone in the evaluation of patients with gunshot injury, other techniques such as computed tomography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, and laparoscopy allow accurate determination of intra-abdominal injury. The ability to exclude internal organ injury nonoperatively avoids the potential complications of unnecessary laparotomy. Clinical data to support selective nonoperative management of certain gunshot injuries to the abdomen are accumulating, but the approach has risks and requires careful collaborative management by emergency physicians and surgeons experienced in the care of penetrating injury.

Determining anatomic injury with computed tomography in selected torso gunshot wounds.

BACKGROUND Changes in the management of torso gunshot wounds (TGSWs) have evolved in recent years as a result of differences between military and civilian injuries and increasing interest in avoiding nontherapeutic invasive procedures. The objective of this study was to establish the utility and accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of selected patients with TGSWs. METHODS Retrospective review for a 6-year period of patients who sustained TGSWs and underwent CT solely for the purpose of trajectory determination. Patients had complete physical examinations and plain radiographic evaluations by a dedicated group of in-house trauma surgeons. When trajectory was indeterminate after evaluation, CT was performed. In some cases, CT was used when trajectory was determined to be intracavitary but organ injury was believed to be unlikely or amenable to nonoperative management. RESULTS Fifty TGSW patients underwent 52 computed tomographic scans. Abdominal/pelvic CT was performed in 37 patients, and thoracic CT was performed in 15 patients. All patients were stable and none sustained complications attributable to CT or delay in therapy. Twenty of 37 abdominal/pelvic computed tomographic scans excluded transabdominal or pelvic trajectory. Seventeen of 37 scans proved transabdominal or pelvic trajectory; nine laparotomies were performed, and eight patients were observed. Nine of 15 thoracic computed tomographic scans excluded transmediastinal trajectory. Six of 15 scans suggested vascular proximity and prompted further workup, which was positive in two cases. CONCLUSION CT of selected TGSW patients is safe and may reduce the incidence of invasive diagnostic procedures. A prospective evaluation of CT for TGSW patients is warranted.

Functional outcomes in octogenarian trauma.

BACKGROUND Outcome data on geriatric trauma patients (GTPs) (age >or= 65) focus on mortality and resource use. We examined mortality and outcome in GTPs and octogenarian trauma patients (OTPs) (age >or= 80). We hypothesized that OTPs would have worse functional outcomes than GTPs as defined by functional independence measurement (FIM) scales. METHODS Our study was a 13-year retrospective analysis of a statewide trauma database. Isolated hip fractures and intubation with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 3 at admission were excluded. Demographic data, preexisting conditions, complications, discharge destination, mortality, and FIM were analyzed. RESULTS OTPs constituted 17742 (40.9%) of 43297 GTPs admitted to trauma centers. Falls (64.4%) and motor vehicle collisions (24.5%) were predominant. Average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in GTPs (11.5 +/- 9.2 vs. 10.8 +/- 8.3, p = 0.001). Cardiac disease was the most common preexisting condition. Diabetes, obesity, and pulmonary disease were more common in GTPs than in OTPs (p = 0.001). Dementia, congestive heart failure, and hematologic disease were more common in OTPs than in GTPs (p = 0.001). Pulmonary and infectious complications were most common and occurred with equal frequency in OTPs and GTPs. Mortality rates were higher (10.0% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.001) for OTPs overall and when stratified into low (<10), moderate (11-20), and high (>20) ISS subgroups (p = 0.001). Discharge destination was most often home (53.3% vs. 28.8%, p = 0.001) or a rehabilitation facility (20.0% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.001) for GTPs versus OTPs. OTPs were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (37.2% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.001) far more often than GTPs. FIM at discharge was lower in all categories for OTPs. Modified dependence in locomotion and transfer was seen for OTPs but not GTPs overall and when stratified by ISS subgroups (p = 0.001). Some dependence in feeding was seen for OTPs but not GTPs with high injury severity (p = 0.001). Otherwise, feeding, expression, and social independence were preserved for both OTPs and GTPs. CONCLUSION Functional outcomes after blunt trauma are worse for OTPs; however, functional independence in feeding and social interaction are preserved in OTPs even with moderate injury severity.

Adrenal gland trauma is associated with high injury severity and mortality

PURPOSE To review a statewide experience of adrenal gland trauma (AGT), incidence, demographics, associated injuries, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), mechanisms of injury, and complications, associated with AGT. METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients admitted to accredited trauma centers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who sustained AGT from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 2000. RESULTS Adrenal trauma was found in 322 of 210,508 cases (0.15%). There were 76.4% men and 23.6% women. Seventy-one percent of patients had an ISS greater than 20. The overall mortality was 32.6%. The mechanism of injury was blunt in 81.4% of the cases and penetrating in 18.6%. Vehicular accidents constituted 48.8% of the cases. Younger age was associated with male predominance and greater proportion of penetrating injuries. Although exact indications are not known, advanced imaging studies were done in 163 of 322 (50.6%) patients: computed tomography in 133 (41.3%), ultrasound in 26 (8.1%), and angiography in 4 cases (1.2%). Exploratory laparotomy was done in 60 (18.6%), splenectomy in 25 (7.8%), nephrectomy in 14 (4.3%), and adrenalectomy in 8 (2.5%). Penetrating injuries had a 43.8% rate of exploratory laparotomy, whereas it was 12.4% in blunt trauma. Associated injuries included liver injury (57.8%), rib fractures (50.9%), kidney injury (41.3%), and spleen injury (32.9%). Pulmonary complications were most common, followed by infection/sepsis, and cardiovascular. Nearly 45% of patients were discharged home, 17% of patients were discharged to a rehabilitation facility, and 3.4% to nursing homes. CONCLUSIONS Adrenal gland trauma is a rare and largely coincidental finding diagnosed either during an initial radiologic examination or surgical exploration for other injuries. Surgical exploration was carried out in 21.4% of patients, with adrenalectomy in 2.5% of cases and nephrectomy in 4.3% of cases. Adrenal injury is associated with high injury severity, and with mortality rates up to 5 times higher than non-AGT trauma.

Methylene blue and vasoplegia: who, when, and how?

Systemic inflammatory response can be associated with clinically significant and, at times, refractory hypotension. Despite the lack of uniform definitions, this condition is frequently called vasoplegia or vasoplegic syndrome (VS), and is thought to be due to dysregulation of endothelial homeostasis and subsequent endothelial dysfunction secondary to direct and indirect effects of multiple inflammatory mediators. Vasoplegia has been observed in all age groups and in various clinical settings, such as anaphylaxis (including protamine reaction), sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, hemodialysis, and cardiac surgery. Among mechanisms thought to be contributory to VS, the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway appears to play a prominent role. In search of effective treatment for vasoplegia, methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and guanylate cyclase (GC), has been found to improve the refractory hypotension associated with endothelial dysfunction of VS. There is evidence that MB may indeed be effective in improving systemic hemodynamics in the setting of vasoplegia, with reportedly few side effects. This review describes the current state of clinical and experimental knowledge relating to MB use in the setting of VS, highlighting the potential risks and benefits of therapeutic MB administration in refractory hypotensive states.

Long-term survival after major trauma in geriatric trauma patients: The glass is half full

BACKGROUND: The objective is to examine the long-term survival status of geriatric trauma patients (GTPs) after major trauma. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective review at a Level I trauma center was performed. GTP were defined as age ≥65 years, with Injury Severity Score ≥30. Primary endpoints: survival at hospital discharge and long-term survival and discharge status. Two groups were defined: Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) head >3 (G1, n = 116) and AIS head ⩽3 (G2, n = 29). For GTP surviving hospitalization, two subgroups were defined: AIS head >3 (SG1, n = 77) and AIS head ⩽3 (SG2, n = 20). Comparisons were analyzed for exploratory purposes only by independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney rank sums tests as appropriate. Long-term survival was plotted by a Kaplan-Meier curve. RESULTS: A total of 145 GTP met inclusion criteria. In-hospital mortality was 33%. Nonsurvivors had lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (6 vs. 14, p < 0.001), higher Injury Severity Score (38 vs. 34, p < 0.003), and lower Revised Trauma Score (5.97 vs. 7.84, p < 0.002). Hospital mortality for G1 was 34% (39 of 116) and for G2 was 31% (9 of 29). In group 1 (n = 116), 39 patients (34%) died while 77 (66%) survived a median of 29 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 6–62). In group 2 (n = 29), 9 patients (31%) died while 20 (69%) survived a median of 46.50 months (IQR = 26.75–79). For the 77 patients who were alive at discharge (subgroup 1, AIS >3), 25 (32%) died while 52 (68%) survived a median of 33 months (IQR = 10.50–72.75). For the 20 patients with AIS ⩽3 (subgroup 2), 7 of 20 (35%) died while 13 (65%) survived a median of 49 months (IQR = 30.50–93.50). A total of 28 patients (19%) survived more than 5 years from the time of discharge. For these 65 GTPs who are currently alive at the time of follow-up, living status could be determined for 49 (75%) and 33 of 49 (67%) were living at home. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents appreciable long-term survival for GTP with major injury including severe head injury. A substantial proportion of these patients was able to return home. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, prognostic/epidemiological study.

Improved hemodialysis access in children

Vascular access for chronic hemodialysis in children is difficult because of problems that include obtaining vessels of sufficient size, the limited life-span of external shunts, and the multiple painful punctures associated with internal fistulae. Twenty-five expanded polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) grafts of 6-mm diameter were inserted for dialysis access over a 2-yr period in 23 children. Grafts were placed either in the upper arm or thigh. Each patient was successfully dialyzed from 60 to 370 times. Longterm patency of the PTFE grafts was 88%, with a complication rate of 36%, mostly minor. The same ease of insertion and high flow characteristics were noted in a series of 22 bovine carotid heterograft (BCH) fistulae inserted in the two years immediately preceeding this study. However, the patency rate was only 36% and the complication rate was 69%, mostly major. We consider the PTFE graft fistula to be the preferred method for long-term hemodialysis access in children.

Use of the esophageal echo-Doppler to guide intensive care unit resuscitations: A retrospective study

Purpose: The esophageal Doppler monitoring (EDM) has emerged as an alternative to the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC). The purpose of this study is to better define its role in the ICU. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of Hemosonic™ 100 EDM probe use between 2003 and 2005. Patient- and EDM-related characteristics, indications, complications, resuscitation end points (lactate, base excess - BE, left ventricular ejection time - LVET) were recorded. Comparisons between EDM and PAC were made. Results: Thirty-nine patients were monitored using the EDM. EDM-guided interventions resulted in significantly improved lactate, BE and LVET (all, P P Conclusions: EDM may be most helpful in ventilated/sedated patients requiring short-term hemodynamic monitoring. When compared to PAC, the EDM tends to underestimate CO in the lower range and overestimate CO in the upper range of measurements. We recommend EDM use concurrently with end-points of resuscitation.