Robert K. Goldman

Delayed celiotomy for the treatment of bile leak, compartment syndrome, and other hazards of nonoperative management of blunt liver injury

BACKGROUND Management of blunt liver injury is predominantly nonoperative. However, complications occur in 10% to 25% of patients, with half taking place more than 24 hours after injury. Few reports have addressed the management of the new pattern of these delayed complications, which is the objective of this study. METHODS Adult patients admitted to our level one trauma center from 1995 to 2000 with blunt liver injury were identified. Demographic, physiologic and laboratory data, computed tomography (CT) and operative findings, and complications were reviewed. RESULTS Blunt liver injury was identified in 192 patients. Thirty-nine patients (20%) underwent immediate celiotomy. The remaining 153 patients were initially managed nonoperatively. Liver-related complications developed in 19 (12%) patients. Fifteen patients underwent delayed celiotomy to treat secondary inflammatory processes, from bile leak (6), hemorrhage (5), and hepatic abscess (1), and to treat abdominal compartment syndrome (2), and decompress hepatic compartment syndrome (1). Although no deaths or complications were directly caused by delayed celiotomy, 2 deaths (11%), occurring early in this series, were attributed to liver-related complications. CONCLUSIONS These complications, occurring in 12% of patients with liver injuries, may be a consequence of initial nonoperative management. Although these findings do not negate nonoperative management of blunt liver injury, this approach can be hazardous and requires diligence to recognize and treat delayed and potentially fatal complications.

Tracheostomy after anterior cervical spine fixation.

BACKGROUND Patients with cervical spine injury may require both anterior cervical spine fusion and tracheostomy, particularly in the setting of associated cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite the close proximity of the two surgical incisions, we postulated that tracheostomy could be safely performed after anterior spine fixation. In addition, we postulated that the severity of motor deficits in patients with cervical spine injury would correlate with the need for tracheostomy. METHODS A retrospective review was undertaken of all adult trauma patients diagnosed with cervical spine fractures or cervical SCI admitted between June 1996 and June 2001 at our university Level I trauma center. Demographic data, severity of neurologic injury based on the classification of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), complications, and use and type of tracheostomy were collected. In the subgroup of patients with unstable cervical spine injury that underwent anterior stabilization and tracheostomy, data regarding timing and technique of these procedures and wound outcomes were also collected. Categorical data were analyzed using chi analysis using Yates correction when appropriate, with p <0.05 considered significant. RESULTS During this time period, 275 adult survivors were diagnosed with cervical spinal cord or bony injury. Forty-five percent of patients with SCI (27 of 60) and 14% of patients without SCI (30 of 215) underwent tracheostomy (p <0.001). Moreover, on the basis of the ASIA classification system, 76% of ASIA A and B patients, 38% of ASIA C patients, 23% of ASIA D patients, and 14% of ASIA E patients were treated with tracheostomy (p <0.001). In the subgroup that underwent both anterior spine fixation and tracheostomy (n=17), the median time interval from spine fixation to airway placement was 7 days (interquartile range, 6-10 days), with 71% of these tracheostomies performed percutaneously. No patient developed a wound infection or nonunion as a consequence of tracheostomy placement, and there were no deaths because of complications of either procedure. CONCLUSION These data support the safety of tracheostomy insertion 6 to 10 days after anterior cervical spine fixation, particularly in the presence of cervical SCI. The presence of severe motor neurologic deficits was strongly associated with the use of tracheostomy in patients with cervical spine injury. Percutaneous tracheostomy, which is our technique of choice, may be advantageous in this setting by virtue of creating only a small wound. The optimal timing and use of tracheostomy in patients with cervical spine injury requires further study.

Cervical spine clearance and neck extension during percutaneous tracheostomy in trauma patients.

IntroductionThe lack of cervical spine clearance and inability to extend the neck are assumed to be relative contraindications for percutaneous tracheostomy. ObjectiveTo determine the necessity of cervical spine clearance and neck extension in trauma patients receiving percutaneous tracheostomy. DesignProspective analysis of case series from August 1, 1995 to August 31, 1998. SettingA university-based Level I trauma center. PatientsA total of 88 consecutive trauma patients receiving percutaneous tracheostomy. Patients were divided into two groups based on the radiographic or clinical status of their cervical spine: cleared and noncleared. ResultsThe overall success and complication rate were 99% (87/88) and 11% (10/88), respectively. There were no procedure-related deaths. The cleared group consisted of 60 patients; three patients in this group who had “bull” or “thick” necks did not have full neck extension during percutaneous tracheostomy. The noncleared group consisted of 28 patients, 13 of which had known cervical spine fractures; 27 noncleared patients were maintained in the neutral position (no extension) during percutaneous tracheostomy, whereas one patient with low suspicion of spinal injury was partially extended. Of the 13 patients with cervical spine fractures, six patients had been stabilized with a halo or operative fixation, and seven patients were stabilized with a cervical collar at the time of percutaneous tracheostomy. The success rate was 100% (60/60) for the cleared group compared with 96% (27/28) for the noncleared group (p > .05). The complication rate was 13% (8/60) for the cleared group compared with 7.1% (2/28) for the noncleared group (p > .05). We had a 100% success rate and no complications in the seven patients with cervical spine injury who were stabilized with a cervical collar. No patient had spinal cord injury caused by percutaneous tracheostomy. ConclusionPercutaneous tracheostomy can be safely performed in trauma patients without cervical spine clearance and neck extension, including patients with stabilized cervical spine or spinal cord injury.

Medical management of abdominal compartment syndrome: case report and a caution.

We report the case of a 55 year old woman who developed abdominal compartment syndrome [ACS] following total gastrectomy for caustic ingestion. Contributing factors for the development of ACS included peritonitis and massive fluid resuscitation for cardiovascular support of septic shock. The adverse cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of intra-abdominal hypertension [IAH] were reversed with pharmacological neuromuscular blockade [NMB]. Surgical decompression of ACS was, therefore, postponed, but the patient required re-operation for intra-abdominal sepsis several days later and subsequently died. Although medical management of ACS with NMB may lower IAH and reverse its negative cardiopulmonary effects, surgical decompression may still be required for definitive treatment.

Weaning injured patients with prolonged pulmonary failure from mechanical ventilation in a non-intensive care unit setting.

BACKGROUND Injured patients with pulmonary failure often require prolonged length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU), which includes weaning from ventilatory support. In the last decade, noninvasive ventilation modes have been established as safe and effective. One method for accomplishing this mode of ventilation uses a simple bilevel ventilator. Because this ventilator has been successfully used in hospital wards, we postulated that bilevel ventilators could provide sufficient support during weaning from mechanical ventilation of injured patients in a non-ICU setting. METHODS A retrospective review of trauma patients (August 1996-January 1999) undergoing bilevel positive pressure ventilation as the final phase of weaning was conducted. Before ward transfer with bilevel ventilation, conventionally ventilated ICU patients were changed to bilevel ventilation and were required to tolerate this mode for at least 24 hours. All patients had a tracheostomy as a secure airway. Outcomes analyzed included ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, weaning success, complications, and survival. RESULTS Fifty-one patients (39 men, 12 women) with a mean age of 53 received more than 24 hours of bilevel positive pressure ventilation. Mean Injury Severity Score was 29, with blunt mechanisms of injury occurring in 90%. Chest or spinal cord injuries that affected pulmonary mechanics were present in 75% of patients. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was treated in 43% of patients. Mean ICU length of stay and hospital length of stay were 21 and 34 days, respectively. Weaning was successful in 89% of patients, whereas 11% were discharged to skilled nursing facilities still receiving bilevel positive pressure ventilation. Two patients died, neither from a pulmonary nor airway complication. Of the remaining 49 patients, 12 were weaned in the ICU and 37 were transferred to the ward with bilevel ventilatory support. The average length of ward ventilation was 6.5 +/- 5.4 days (n = 37). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a program using bilevel ventilation to support the terminal phase of weaning seriously injured patients from mechanical ventilation was successful. After initiating this mode in the ICU, it was satisfactorily continued in standard surgical wards. Because this method enabled the withdrawal of ventilatory support in a non-ICU setting, its major advantage was reducing ICU length of stay.

Tracheal stenosis after percutaneous dilational tracheotomy

OBJECTIVE : In many critical care units percutaneous dilational tracheotomy (PDT) has become an alternative to open tracheotomy. Although significant tracheal stenosis after PDT has been reported, the exact incidence is unknown. We report our findings on endoscopic laryngotracheoscopy for a group of patients who had undergone PDT more than 6 months before their examination. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING : We did a retrospective review of 108 trauma patients who underwent PDT at least 6 months before enrollment in the study. Twenty-eight patients were either deceased or ineligible. Participation requests were mailed to the last recorded address of 80 patients. Thirty-four of those patients were contacted by phone, and 14 indicated their willingness to participate. Only 10 patients were able to make it to the clinic for examination. After transorally anesthetizing the hypopharynx and larynx with 4% lidocaine, each patient underwent flexible laryngotracheoscopy. Findings were categorized as normal or tracheal stenosis (<25%, 25% to 50%, or >50%). RESULTS : The tracheotomy site was virtually undetectable in 5 patients. In 4 patients, a scar was visible at the tracheotomy site, but there was no decrease in cross-sectional area. In 1 patient there was a 25% to 50% stenosis. All patients were completely asymptomatic with regard to airway and voice quality. CONCLUSION : One out of 10 patients in our series had a significant but asymptomatic stenosis after PDT. The risk of tracheal stenosis in PDT appears to be the same as that of open tracheotomy.