Michael R. Bard

Clinical practice guideline: red blood cell transfusion in adult trauma and critical care.

Objective: To develop a clinical practice guideline for red blood cell transfusion in adult trauma and critical care. Design: Meetings, teleconferences and electronic-based communication to achieve grading of the published evidence, discussion and consensus among the entire committee members. Methods: This practice management guideline was developed by a joint taskforce of EAST (Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma) and the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). We performed a comprehensive literature review of the topic and graded the evidence using scientific assessment methods employed by the Canadian and U.S. Preventive Task Force (Grading of Evidence, Class I, II, III; Grading of Recommendations, Level I, II, III). A list of guideline recommendations was compiled by the members of the guidelines committees for the two societies. Following an extensive review process by external reviewers, the final guideline manuscript was reviewed and approved by the EAST Board of Directors, the Board of Regents of the ACCM and the Council of SCCM. Results: Key recommendations are listed by category, including (A) Indications for RBC transfusion in the general critically ill patient; (B) RBC transfusion in sepsis; (C) RBC transfusion in patients at risk for or with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome; (D) RBC transfusion in patients with neurologic injury and diseases; (E) RBC transfusion risks; (F) Alternatives to RBC transfusion; and (G) Strategies to reduce RBC transfusion. Conclusions: Evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of RBC transfusion in adult trauma and critical care will provide important information to critical care practitioners.

Clinical practice guideline: Red blood cell transfusion in adult trauma and critical care*

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMRed blood cell (RBC) transfusion is common in critically ill and injured patients. Many studies1–6 have documented the widespread use of RBC transfusion in critically ill patients and the data from these studies from diverse locations in Western Europe, Canada, the United Kin

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.

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.

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 +/-

Clinical predictors of subtherapeutic aminoglycoside levels in trauma patients undergoing once-daily dosing.

28,305.54 vs.

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

19,161.11 +/-

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

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

Risks go beyond the violence: Association between intimate partner violence, mental illness, and substance abuse among females admitted to a rural Level I trauma center

20,049.75 +/-