Richard P. Gonzalez

Penetrating colon injuries requiring resection: Diversion or primary anastomosis? An AAST prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND The management of colon injuries that require resection is an unresolved issue because the existing practices are derived mainly from class III evidence. Because of the inability of any single trauma center to accumulate enough cases for meaningful statistical analysis, a multicenter prospective study was performed to compare primary anastomosis with diversion and identify the risk factors for colon-related abdominal complications. METHODS This was a prospective study from 19 trauma centers and included patients with colon resection because of penetrating trauma, who survived at least 72 hours. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare outcomes in patients with primary anastomosis or diversion and identify independent risk factors for the development of abdominal complications. RESULTS Two hundred ninety-seven patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion and analysis. Overall, 197 patients (66.3%) were managed by primary anastomosis and 100 (33.7%) by diversion. The overall colon-related mortality was 1.3% (four deaths in the diversion group, no deaths in the primary anastomosis group, p = 0.012). Colon-related abdominal complications occurred in 24% of all patients (primary repair, 22%; diversion, 27%; p = 0.373). Multivariate analysis including all potential risk factors with p values < 0.2 identified three independent risk factors for abdominal complications: severe fecal contamination, transfusion of > or = 4 units of blood within the first 24 hours, and single-agent antibiotic prophylaxis. The type of colon management was not found to be a risk factor. Comparison of primary anastomosis with diversion using multivariate analysis adjusting for the above three identified risk factors or the risk factors previously described in the literature (shock at admission, delay > 6 hours to operating room, penetrating abdominal trauma index > 25, severe fecal contamination, and transfusion of > 6 units blood) showed no statistically significant difference in outcome. Similarly, multivariate analysis and comparison of the two methods of colon management in high-risk patients showed no difference in outcome. CONCLUSION The surgical method of colon management after resection for penetrating trauma does not affect the incidence of abdominal complications, irrespective of associated risk factors. Severe fecal contamination, transfusion of > or = 4 units of blood within the first 24 hours, and single-agent antibiotic prophylaxis are independent risk factors for abdominal complications. In view of these findings, the reduced quality of life, and the need for a subsequent operation in colostomy patients, primary anastomosis should be considered in all such patients.

Colostomy in penetrating colon injury: is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE To compare in a randomized prospective manner the complication rates associated with colostomy versus primary repair in penetrating colon injuries. METHODS During a 38-month period, 114 patients with penetrating wounds of the colon were entered into a randomized prospective study at an urban Level I trauma center. The patients were randomized to a primary repair group or a diversion group. Randomization was completely independent of any risk factors, including number of abdominal organ systems injured, extent of fecal contamination, blood loss, presence of shock (systolic blood pressure < 80), time from injury to operation, and severity of colon injury. Five patients initially entered in the study died in the immediate postoperative period (< 24 hours) and were removed from the study because their deaths were unrelated to their colon injuries. RESULTS A total of 109 patients were studied, of which 56 were randomized to primary repair and 53 to diversion (39 colostomies, 14 ileostomies). The average age for the primary repair group was 28.5 years and for the diversion group it was 26.8 years. The average Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index for the primary repair group was 24.3 and for the diversion group it was 22.8. There were 11 (20%) septic-related complications in the primary group versus 13 (25%) in the diversion group. Complication rates in the presence of significant fecal contamination, shock, significant blood loss (> 1000 mL), more than two organ systems injured and extent of colon injury were all higher in the diversion group. There was one mortality in the diversion group and two in the primary repair group. CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that all penetrating colon injuries in the civilian population should be primarily repaired.

Does increased emergency medical services prehospital time affect patient mortality in rural motor vehicle crashes? A statewide analysis.

BACKGROUND Fatality rates from rural vehicular trauma are almost double those found in urban settings. It has been suggested that increased prehospital time is a factor that adversely affects fatality rates in rural vehicular trauma. By linking and analyzing Alabamas statewide prehospital data, emergency medical services (EMS) prehospital time was assessed for rural and urban vehicular crashes. METHODS An imputational methodology permitted linkage of data from police motor vehicle crash (MVC) and EMS records. MVCs were defined as rural or urban by crash location using the United States Census Bureau criteria. Areas within Alabama that fell outside the Census Bureau definition of urban were defined as rural. Prehospital data were analyzed to determine EMS response time, scene time, and transport time in rural and urban settings. RESULTS Over a 2-year period from January 2001 through December 2002, data were collected from EMS Patient Care Reports and police crash reports for the entire state of Alabama. By using an imputational methodology and join specifications, 45,763 police crash reports were linked to EMS Patient Care Reports. Of these, 34,341 (75%) were injured in rural settings and 11,422 (25%) were injured in urban settings. A total of 714 mortalities were identified, of which 611 (1.78%) occurred in rural settings and 103 (.90%) occurred in urban settings (P < .0001). When mortalities occurred, the mean EMS response time in rural settings was 10.67 minutes and 6.50 minutes in urban settings (P < .0001). When mortalities occurred, the mean EMS scene time in rural settings was 18.87 minutes and 10.83 minutes in urban settings (patients who were dead on scene and extrication patients were excluded from both settings) (P < .0001). When mortalities occurred, the mean EMS transport time in rural settings was 12.45 minutes and 7.43 minutes in urban settings (P < .0001). When mortalities occurred, the overall mean prehospital time in rural settings was 42.0 minutes and 24.8 minutes in urban settings (P < .0001). The mean EMS response time for rural MVCs with survivors was 8.54 minutes versus a mean of 10.67 minutes with mortalities (P < .0001). The mean EMS scene time for rural MVCs with survivors was 14.81 minutes versus 18.87 minutes with mortalities (patients who were dead on scene and extrication patients were excluded) (P = .0014). CONCLUSIONS Based on this statewide analysis of MVCs, increased EMS prehospital time appears to be associated with higher mortality rates in rural settings.

The Role of Presacral Drainage in the Management of Penetrating Rectal Injuries

PURPOSE To compare in a randomized, prospective manner infectious complication rates associated with presacral drainage versus no drainage in the presence of penetrating rectal injury. METHODS During a 45-month period, 48 patients with penetrating rectal injuries were entered into a randomized, prospective study at an urban Level I trauma center. The patients were randomized to a presacral drainage group or a nondrainage group. Randomization was performed after detection of the rectal injury. Forty-four injuries were identified by proctoscopy (92%), with the rest detected intraoperatively or by physical examination. All patients with rectal injuries were included regardless of age, associated injuries, time from injury to operation, blood loss, severity of rectal injury, other abdominal organs injured, or hemodynamic stability. Rectal injuries were defined as those injuries to the large bowel distal to the peritoneal reflection. All rectal injuries underwent fecal diversion, and all drainage was accomplished using closed Jackson-Pratt drainage. RESULTS Forty-eight patients were studied, of whom 25 were randomized to no drainage and 23 were randomized to presacral drainage. The average age for the nondrainage group was 21.9 years, and the average age for the presacral drainage group 26.0 years. The average Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index score was 34.3 for the nondrainage group and 32.4 for the presacral drainage group. There were two (8%) septic complications (one perirectal and one perivesical abscess) associated with the rectal injuries in the presacral drainage group. The abscesses in the drainage group resolved after computed tomography-guided drainage. There was one (4%) septic complication (rectocutaneous fistula) in the nondrainage group, which was associated with a retained missile fragment. The fistula resolved after bedside percutaneous removal of the missile fragment. CONCLUSION We conclude that presacral drainage for penetrating rectal injuries has no effect on infectious complications associated with the rectal injuries.

Role of clinical examination in screening for blunt cervical spine injury

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that awake and alert blunt trauma patients with Glasgow Coma Scores of 14 or 15 (regardless of blood ethanol level or other injuries sustained) can be effectively evaluated with clinical examination without radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine. STUDY DESIGN During a 32-month period at an urban Level 1 Trauma Center, 2,176 consecutive blunt trauma patients who presented with Glasgow Coma Scores of 14 or 15 were prospectively evaluated by trauma resident housestaff. Housestaff performed physical examinations of the neck and questioned the patients for the presence of neck pain. Following study form documentation of the cervical neck examination, a lateral cervical spine x-ray was performed. Further studies such as swimmers view and CAT scan were performed if the lateral x-ray could not completely evaluate C1 to C7. These further studies were considered part of the lateral cervical spine (c-spine) x-ray screen. Attending radiologists performed final x-ray interpretations. RESULTS The study consisted of 2,176 patients, 33 (1.6%) of whom were diagnosed with cervical spine injury. Of the 33 patients with cervical spine injury, 3 had negative clinical examinations (sensitivity, 91%). Lateral c-spine x-ray screen was negative in 1 of these 3 patients. The 2 patients with negative c-spine clinical examination but positive lateral c-spine x-ray screens were diagnosed with C2 spinous process fracture and C6-C7 body fractures. Thirteen patients with negative lateral c-spine screens (sensitivity, 61%) were diagnosed with cervical spine injury. We evaluated 463 patients with blood ethanol levels greater than 100 mg/dL, and 6 (1.3%) were diagnosed with c-spine injury. No injuries were missed on clinical examination in this subgroup with elevated blood ethanol levels. CONCLUSIONS 1) Clinical examination of the neck can reliably rule out significant cervical spine injury in the awake and alert blunt trauma patient. Addition of lateral c-spine x-ray does not improve the sensitivity of clinical examination in the diagnosis of significant cervical spine injury. 2) Elevated ethanol level is not a contraindication to the use of clinical examination as the screening tool for cervical spine injury. Level of consciousness, as determined by Glasgow Coma Score, is a more effective criterion to dictate a screening method for cervical spine injury.

The utility of clinical examination in screening for pelvic fractures in blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND Current recommendations of the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support course is routine radiographic screening of the pelvis for all patients who suffer blunt torso trauma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate in a prospective manner the sensitivity of clinical examination as a screening modality for pelvic fractures in awake and alert blunt trauma patients. STUDY DESIGN During a 32-month period, 2,176 consecutive blunt trauma patients who presented with Glasgow Coma Scores of 14 or 15 were evaluated at an urban Level I trauma center. Clinical examination of all patients was prospectively performed by trauma resident housestaff. The clinical examination of each patient was documented in a study form before performance of a standard anterior-posterior (A-P) pelvic x-ray. RESULTS We evaluated 2,176 blunt trauma patients, 97 (4.5%) of whom were diagnosed with pelvic fracture. There were seven missed injuries on clinical examination (sensitivity 93%). None of the missed injuries on clinical examination required surgical intervention. The sensitivity of A-P pelvic x-ray was 87%, with 13 missed injuries. There were 463 patients who entered with ethanol levels equal or greater than 100 mg/dL (range 100 to 480 mg/dL). There were 20 pelvic fractures diagnosed in this group, with only 1 missed injury on clinical examination (sensitivity 95%). CONCLUSIONS 1) Clinical examination of the pelvis can reliably rule out significant pelvic fracture in the awake and alert blunt trauma patient. 2) The addition of routine A-P pelvic x-ray does not improve the sensitivity in diagnosis of surgically significant pelvic fractures nor does it have significant impact on outcomes of pelvic fracture patients. 3) Elevated ethanol level is not a contraindication to use of clinical examination as a screening modality for pelvic fractures in the awake and alert blunt trauma patient.

Complementary roles of diagnostic peritoneal lavage and computed tomography in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma

OBJECTIVE To assess in randomized prospective format sensitivity, laparotomy rate, and cost-effectiveness of using diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) in a complementary role with computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. METHODS Blunt trauma patients greater than 18 years of age were eligible for entry in the study. The study period was from February 1999 to July 2000 at an urban Level I trauma center. All patients were hemodynamically stable upon study entry and had abdominal tenderness with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores > 13 or GCS < 14. Patients were randomized to a DPL arm (DPL-CT) versus a CT arm. If randomized to the CT arm, patients underwent abdominal/pelvis CT. If CT was positive for solid organ injury, patients were observed. If free fluid was identified on CT without solid organ injury, patients were explored. If randomized to DPL-CT, patients underwent closed infraumbilical DPL, except pelvic fractures that were done with the open supraumbilical technique. If the DPL result was > 20,000 RBCs/mm3, patients underwent abdominal/pelvis CT. If the CT following DPL was consistent with solid organ injury, patients were observed. If the CT following DPL identified free fluid without solid organ injury and DPL was > 100,000 RBCs/mm3, patients were explored. RESULTS Two hundred fifty-two patients were entered; 127 patients were randomized to DPL-CT and 125 to CT. Of the 125 patients randomized to CT, 102 (82%) CT scans were negative, 19 (15%) were positive for solid organ injury, and 3 (2%) had free fluid. Three (2%) of the initial negative CT scan patients underwent delayed laparotomy for missed injuries. Of the 127 patients randomized to DPL-CT, 26 (20%) required CT scan, of which 13 (10%) were positive for solid organ injury and 13 (10%) for free fluid. Positive DPL results that were indications for CT ranged from 21,000 to 1 million RBCs/mm3. Eight of the 13 DPL-CT patients with free fluid on CT had DPL results less than 100,000 RBCs/mm3 and did not require laparotomy. There were no known missed injuries in the DPL-CT arm. Seven (6%) laparotomies were performed in the DPL-CT arm and 10 (8%) in the CT arm. The average cost to the patient for abdominal evaluation in the CT arm was 1611 dollars and 650 dollars in the DPL-CT arm. CONCLUSION Screening DPL with complementary CT has a low nontherapeutic laparotomy rate and is a sensitive and cost-effective method for the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.

Abdominal stab wounds : Diagnostic peritoneal lavage criteria for emergency room discharge

OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate a method for management of abdominal stab wounds that allows for immediate emergency room discharge. METHODS Anterior abdominal stab wound patients were prospectively placed in a study trial during a 48-month period. Consent was obtained for all patients before study entry. Anatomic boundaries for abdominal stab wounds were costal margins, inguinal ligaments, and anterior axillary lines. Hemodynamically stable patients with negative physical examinations were entered in the study and evaluated with closed diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL). Patients with DPL results less than 1000 RBCs/mm3 were sent home. Patients with DPL results greater than 1000 RBCs/mm3 (including gross blood) were admitted for observation. Hemodynamically stable patients with evisceration and no abdominal tenderness had the viscera replaced in the emergency room. Eviscerated patients did not undergo DPL and were admitted for observation. Patients that presented with hemodynamic instability or peritonitis were not entered in the study and underwent immediate surgical intervention. RESULTS Ninety hemodynamically stable patients were entered in the study. Forty-four (49%) patients had DPL < 1000 RBCs/mm3, 34 of which were discharged home. Of the 10 admissions that qualified for discharge, 4 were admitted due to elevated ethanol levels and no family assistance, 3 were admitted to psychiatry, and 3 required other surgical procedures. No patient with DPL < 1000 RBCs/mm3 required laparotomy or had complications associated with their stab wounds. Thirty-eight (42%) patients were observed because DPL counts were greater than 1000 RBCs/mm3. Eight (21%) of these patients developed positive physical examinations that prompted exploratory laparotomy, of which five (63%) were therapeutic. There were no complications associated with delayed laparotomy. Four (4%) patients had DPL results greater than 500 WBCs/mm3, all of which underwent immediate exploratory laparotomy. Four (4%) patients presented with evisceration, one of which underwent therapeutic laparotomy. CONCLUSION Abdominal stab wound patients that are hemodynamically stable can be safely sent home from the emergency room when DPL counts are less than 1000 RBCs/mm3. Observation of hemodynamically stable patients allows for low laparotomy rates with minimal morbidity.

Surgical management of renal trauma: is vascular control necessary?

OBJECTIVE To assess in a randomized prospective manner nephrectomy rate, transfusion rate, blood loss, and time of operation in penetrating renal trauma patients randomized to vascular control or no vascular control before opening Gerotas fascia. METHOD During a 53-month period from January of 1994 to May of 1998, 56 patients with penetrating renal injuries were entered into a randomized prospective study at an urban Level I trauma center. The patients were randomized to a preliminary vascular control group or no vascular control group. Randomization was performed intraoperatively before opening Gerotas fascia. All renal injuries were identified and diagnosed intraoperatively. Intravenous pyelography was not performed preoperatively. If the patient was randomized to the no control group and significant bleeding ensued after opening of Gerotas fascia, the renal hilum was cross-clamped. All injuries were included regardless of patient age, associated injuries, blood loss, severity of renal injury, or other abdominal organs injured. All injuries that required renorrhaphy or partial nephrectomy underwent drainage with closed Jackson-Pratt drainage. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients were randomized to the preliminary vascular control group, and 27 patients were randomized to the no vascular control group. The average age in the vascular control group was 25.3 years (SD, 10.9) and 23.4 years (SD, 8.2) in the no control group. The average penetrating abdominal trauma index in the vascular control group was 22.9 (SD, 10.9) and in the no control group 23.7 (SD, 13.7). Nine nephrectomies (31%) were performed in the vascular control group, and eight nephrectomies (30%) were performed in the no vascular control group (p > 0.05). The average operative time for the vascular control group was 127 minutes and for the no control group was 113 minutes (p > 0.05). Eleven patients (38%) required intraoperative blood transfusion in the vascular control group (average, 5.5 U/patient transfused) versus eight patients (30%) in the no vascular control group (average, 5.2 U/patient transfused) (p > 0.05). The average blood loss in the vascular control group was 1.06 liters versus 0.91 liters in the no control (p > 0.05). There was one mortality in the study population. CONCLUSION Vascular control of the renal hilum before opening Gerotas fascia has no impact on nephrectomy rate, transfusion requirements, or blood loss. Operative time may be increased with the vascular control technique.

Blood transfusion products contain mitochondrial DNA damage-associated molecular patterns: a potential effector of transfusion-related acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is the most frequent and severe complication in patients receiving multiple blood transfusions. Current pathogenic concepts hold that proinflammatory mediators present in transfused blood products are responsible for the initiation of TRALI, but the identity of the critical effector molecules is yet to be determined. We hypothesize that mtDNA damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are present in blood transfusion products, which may be important in the initiation of TRALI. METHODS DNA was extracted from consecutive samples of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelets procured from the local blood bank. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify ≈200 bp sequences from the COX1, ND1, ND6, and D-loop regions of the mitochondrial genome. RESULTS A range of mtDNA DAMPs were detected in all blood components measured, with FFP displaying the largest variation. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that mtDNA DAMPs are present in packed red blood cells, FFP, and platelets. These observations provide proof of the concept that mtDNA DAMPs may be mediators of TRALI. Further studies are needed to test this hypothesis and to determine the origin of mtDNA DAMPs in transfused blood.