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Fluid therapy is one of the fundamental treatments for the management of trauma patients. Apart from supplementary hydration, fluid therapy is also applied for resuscitation. Especially in cases of hypovolemic shock due to bleeding, fluid therapy needs to be carefully adjusted to correct the shock. The importance of fluid therapy is increasing not only in resuscitation and treatment after hospitalization but also in pre-hospital care. Fluid therapy needs to be adjusted based depending each patient’s volume status. The various classifications of fluids include crystalloid solutions, glucose solutions, and colloid solutions. Although not included as a fluid therapy, blood transfusion is increasingly gaining more importance than fluid therapy in unstable trauma patients. Early appropriate fluid therapy is crucial in the treatment of hemodynamically unstable patients such as multiple trauma and massive bleeding, whereas comprehensive fluid therapy should be applied by considering the characteristics of specific injuries such as fractures, vascular damage, and cerebral hemorrhage, as well as the age groups (children, the elderly, and pregnant women).
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Background@#The preventable trauma death rate survey is a basic tool for the quality management of trauma treatment because it is a method that can intuitively evaluate the level of national trauma treatment. We conducted this study as a national biennial follow-up survey project and report the results of the review of the 2019 trauma death data in Korea. @*Methods@#From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, of a total of 8,482 trauma deaths throughout the country, 1,692 were sampled from 279 emergency medical institutions in Korea. All cases were evaluated for preventability of death and opportunities for improvement using a multidisciplinary panel review approach. @*Results@#The preventable trauma death rate was estimated to be 15.7%. Of these, 3.1% were judged definitive preventable deaths, and 12.7% were potentially preventable deaths. The odds ratio for preventable traumatic death was 2.56 times higher in transferred patients compared to that of patients who visited the final hospital directly. The group that died 1 hour after the accident had a statistically significantly higher probability of preventable death than that of the group that died within 1 hour after the accident. @*Conclusion@#The preventable trauma death rate for trauma deaths in 2019 was 15.7%, which was 4.2%p lower than that in 2017. To improve the quality of trauma treatment, the transfer of severe trauma patients to trauma centers should be more focused.
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Background@#This study examined the impact of the performance improvement and patient safety (PIPS) program implemented in 2015 on outcomes for trauma patients in a regional trauma center established by a government-led project for a national trauma system in Korea. @*Methods@#The PIPS program was based on guidelines by the World Health Organization and American College of Surgeons. The corrective strategies were proceeded according to the loop closure principle: data-gathering and monitoring, identification of preventable trauma deaths (PTDs), evaluation of preventable factors, analysis of findings, and corrective action plans. We established guidelines and protocols for trauma care, conducted targeted education and peer review presentations for problematic cases, and enhanced resources for improvement accordingly. A comparative analysis was performed on trauma outcomes over a four-year period (2015–2018) since implementing the PIPS program, including the number of trauma team activation and admissions, time factors related to resuscitation, ventilator duration, and the rate of PTDs. @*Results@#Human resources in the center significantly increased during the period; attending surgeons responsible for trauma resuscitation from 6 to 11 and trauma nurses from 85 to 218. Trauma admissions (from 2,166 to 2,786), trauma team activations (from 373 to 1,688), and severe cases (from 22.6 to 33.8%) significantly increased (all P < 0.001). Time to initial resuscitation and transfusion significantly decreased from 120 to 36 minutes (P < 0.001) and from 39 to 16 minutes (P < 0.001). Time to surgery for hemorrhage control and decompressive craniotomy improved from 99 to 54 minutes (P < 0.001) and 181 to 135 minutes (P = 0.042). Ventilator duration and rate of PTDs significantly decreased from 6 to 4 days (P = 0.001) and 22.2% to 8.4% (P = 0.008). @*Conclusion@#Implementation of the PIPS program resulted in improvements in outcomes at a regional trauma center that has just been opened in Korea. Further establishment of the PIPS program is required for optimal care of trauma patients.
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Objective@#Suicide is a major issue in South Korea, and falling is a common method of suicide. Further, accidental falls are a common cause of death. However, whether suicidal falls differ from accidental falls is inconclusive. This study aimed to compare suicidal and accidental falls to identify risk factors for mortality. @*Methods@#From March 2010 to December 2016, patients admitted to our hospital because of falls were reviewed retrospectively. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between suicide and accident groups. Injury distribution was compared using the Injury Severity Score and Abbreviated Injury Scales. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, including suicide intent, for mortality. @*Results@#Of 242 patients, 42 were included in the suicide group and 200 were included in the accident group. The suicide group showed higher fall heights and injuries of greater severity. The accident group was younger and included a higher number of men. The suicide group showed a higher mortality (23.8% vs. 6.5%, P=0.001) and a higher proportion of injuries in the lower extremities or abdomen. In the multivariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale score (0.575 [0.433–0.764], P<0.001), body mass index (1.638 [1.194–2.247], P=0.002), suicide intent (9.789 [1.026–93.404], P=0.047) and Injury Severity Score (1.091 [1.000–1.190], P=0.049) were identified as risk factors for mortality. @*Conclusion@#Suicidal falls were associated with poorer outcomes and a greater tendency to land feet first relative to accidental falls. Suicide intent was a risk factor for mortality.
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Background@#This study examined the impact of the performance improvement and patient safety (PIPS) program implemented in 2015 on outcomes for trauma patients in a regional trauma center established by a government-led project for a national trauma system in Korea. @*Methods@#The PIPS program was based on guidelines by the World Health Organization and American College of Surgeons. The corrective strategies were proceeded according to the loop closure principle: data-gathering and monitoring, identification of preventable trauma deaths (PTDs), evaluation of preventable factors, analysis of findings, and corrective action plans. We established guidelines and protocols for trauma care, conducted targeted education and peer review presentations for problematic cases, and enhanced resources for improvement accordingly. A comparative analysis was performed on trauma outcomes over a four-year period (2015–2018) since implementing the PIPS program, including the number of trauma team activation and admissions, time factors related to resuscitation, ventilator duration, and the rate of PTDs. @*Results@#Human resources in the center significantly increased during the period; attending surgeons responsible for trauma resuscitation from 6 to 11 and trauma nurses from 85 to 218. Trauma admissions (from 2,166 to 2,786), trauma team activations (from 373 to 1,688), and severe cases (from 22.6 to 33.8%) significantly increased (all P < 0.001). Time to initial resuscitation and transfusion significantly decreased from 120 to 36 minutes (P < 0.001) and from 39 to 16 minutes (P < 0.001). Time to surgery for hemorrhage control and decompressive craniotomy improved from 99 to 54 minutes (P < 0.001) and 181 to 135 minutes (P = 0.042). Ventilator duration and rate of PTDs significantly decreased from 6 to 4 days (P = 0.001) and 22.2% to 8.4% (P = 0.008). @*Conclusion@#Implementation of the PIPS program resulted in improvements in outcomes at a regional trauma center that has just been opened in Korea. Further establishment of the PIPS program is required for optimal care of trauma patients.
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Purpose@#Base deficit (BD) is superior to vital signs in predicting trauma outcomes in adults. The authors aimed to compare BD and vital signs as criteria for the four-tiered hemorrhagic shock classification in children with trauma. @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1046 injured children who visited a Korean academic hospital from 2010 through 2018. These children were classified separately based on BD (class I, BD ≤2.0 mmol/L; II, 2.1–6.0 mmol/L; III, 6.1–10 mmol/L; and IV, ≥10.1 mmol/L) and vital signs (<13 years: age-adjusted hypotension and tachycardia, and Glasgow Coma Scale; 13–17 years: the 2012 Advanced Trauma Life Support classification). The two methods were compared on a class-by-class basis regarding the outcomes: mortality, early transfusion (overall and massive), and early surgical interventions for the torso or major vessels. @*Results@#In total, 603 children were enrolled, of whom 6.6% died. With the worsening of BD and vital signs, the outcome rates increased stepwise (most p<0.001; only between surgical interventions and vital signs, p=0.035). Mortality more commonly occurred in BD-based class IV than in vital signs-based class IV (58.8% vs. 32.7%, p=0.008). Early transfusion was more commonly performed in BD-based class III than in vital signs-based class III (overall, 73.8% vs. 53.7%, p=0.007; massive, 37.5% vs. 15.8%, p=0.001). No significant differences were found in the rates of early surgical interventions between the two methods. @*Conclusion@#BD can be a better predictor of outcomes than vital signs in children with severe hemorrhagic shock.
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Objective@#Suicide is a major issue in South Korea, and falling is a common method of suicide. Further, accidental falls are a common cause of death. However, whether suicidal falls differ from accidental falls is inconclusive. This study aimed to compare suicidal and accidental falls to identify risk factors for mortality. @*Methods@#From March 2010 to December 2016, patients admitted to our hospital because of falls were reviewed retrospectively. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between suicide and accident groups. Injury distribution was compared using the Injury Severity Score and Abbreviated Injury Scales. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, including suicide intent, for mortality. @*Results@#Of 242 patients, 42 were included in the suicide group and 200 were included in the accident group. The suicide group showed higher fall heights and injuries of greater severity. The accident group was younger and included a higher number of men. The suicide group showed a higher mortality (23.8% vs. 6.5%, P=0.001) and a higher proportion of injuries in the lower extremities or abdomen. In the multivariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale score (0.575 [0.433–0.764], P<0.001), body mass index (1.638 [1.194–2.247], P=0.002), suicide intent (9.789 [1.026–93.404], P=0.047) and Injury Severity Score (1.091 [1.000–1.190], P=0.049) were identified as risk factors for mortality. @*Conclusion@#Suicidal falls were associated with poorer outcomes and a greater tendency to land feet first relative to accidental falls. Suicide intent was a risk factor for mortality.
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PURPOSE: This study was designed to provide a basis for building a master plan for a regional trauma system by analyzing the distribution of trauma deaths in the most populous province in Korea.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the time distribution to death for trauma patients who died between January and December 2017. The time distribution to death was categorized into four groups (within a day, within a week, within a month, and over a month). Additionally, the distribution of deaths within 24 hours was further analyzed. We also reviewed the distribution of deaths according to the cause of death and mechanism of injury.RESULTS: Of the 1546 trauma deaths, 328 cases were included in the final study population. Patients who died within a day were the most prevalent (40.9%). Of those who died within a day, the cases within an hour accounted for 40.3% of the highest proportion. The majority of trauma deaths within 4 hours were caused by traffic-related accidents (60.4%). The deaths caused by bleeding and central nervous system injuries accounted for most (70.1%) of the early deaths, whereas multi-organ dysfunction syndrome/sepsis had the highest ratio (69.7%) in the late deaths. Statistically significant differences were found in time distribution according to the mechanism of injury and cause of death (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: The distribution of overall timing of death was shown to follow a bimodal pattern rather than a trimodal model in Korea. Based on our findings, a suitable and modified trauma system must be developed.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cause of Death , Central Nervous System , Hemorrhage , Korea , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
Purpose@#This study was performed to investigate the association of high age-adjusted shock index (AASI) with mortality in Korean children with trauma. @*Methods@#The data of children (aged < 15 years) with trauma who visited an university hospital in Korea from 2010 through 2018 were reviewed. High AASI was defined by age groups as follows: < 12 months, ≥ 2.7; 12-23 months, ≥ 2.1; 2-4 years, ≥ 1.9; 5-11 years, ≥ 1.5; and 12-14 years, ≥ 1.1. Age, sex, transfer status, injury mechanism, hypotension, tachycardia, base deficit, hemoglobin concentration, trauma scores, hemorrhage-related procedures (transfusion and surgical interventions), and severe traumatic brain injury were compared according to high AASI and in-hospital mortality. The association of high AASI with the mortality was analyzed using logistic regression. @*Results@#Of the 363 enrolled children, 29 (8.0%) had high AASI and 24 (6.6%) died. The children with high AASI showed worse trauma scores and underwent hemorrhage-related procedures more frequently, without a difference in the rate of the traumatic brain injury. High AASI was associated with in-hospital mortality (survivors, 6.5% vs. non-survivors, 29.2%; P = 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio, 6.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-29.82). The other predictors were Glasgow Coma Scale (for increment of 1 point; 0.62; 0.53-0.72) and age (for increment of 1 year; 0.84; 0.73-0.97). High AASI showed a 29.2% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity for the mortality. @*Conclusion@#High AASI is associated with mortality, and have a high specificity but low sensitivity in Korean children with trauma. This predictor of mortality can be used prior to obtaining the results of laboratory markers of shock.
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Purpose@#This study was performed to investigate the association of high age-adjusted shock index (AASI) with mortality in Korean children with trauma. @*Methods@#The data of children (aged < 15 years) with trauma who visited an university hospital in Korea from 2010 through 2018 were reviewed. High AASI was defined by age groups as follows: < 12 months, ≥ 2.7; 12-23 months, ≥ 2.1; 2-4 years, ≥ 1.9; 5-11 years, ≥ 1.5; and 12-14 years, ≥ 1.1. Age, sex, transfer status, injury mechanism, hypotension, tachycardia, base deficit, hemoglobin concentration, trauma scores, hemorrhage-related procedures (transfusion and surgical interventions), and severe traumatic brain injury were compared according to high AASI and in-hospital mortality. The association of high AASI with the mortality was analyzed using logistic regression. @*Results@#Of the 363 enrolled children, 29 (8.0%) had high AASI and 24 (6.6%) died. The children with high AASI showed worse trauma scores and underwent hemorrhage-related procedures more frequently, without a difference in the rate of the traumatic brain injury. High AASI was associated with in-hospital mortality (survivors, 6.5% vs. non-survivors, 29.2%; P = 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio, 6.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-29.82). The other predictors were Glasgow Coma Scale (for increment of 1 point; 0.62; 0.53-0.72) and age (for increment of 1 year; 0.84; 0.73-0.97). High AASI showed a 29.2% sensitivity and 93.5% specificity for the mortality. @*Conclusion@#High AASI is associated with mortality, and have a high specificity but low sensitivity in Korean children with trauma. This predictor of mortality can be used prior to obtaining the results of laboratory markers of shock.
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BACKGROUND: Whether there is a difference in outcomes for trauma patients transferring to the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) according to their previous team composition is controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of trauma team-staffed-HEMS (TTS-HEMS) when transferring to a trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective comparison was conducted on patients transported to a trauma center over a 6-year period by the TTS-HEMS and paramedic-staffed-HEMS (119-HEMS). Inclusion criteria were blunt trauma with age ≥15 years. Patient outcomes were compared with the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) (30-day mortality) and the Cox proportional hazard ratio of mortality (in hospital). RESULTS: There were 321 patients of TTS-HEMS and 92 patients of 119-HEMS. The TTS-HEMS group had a higher Injury Severity Score and longer transport time but a significantly shorter time to emergency surgery. The prehospital data showed that the trauma team performed more aggressive interventions during transport. An additional 7.6 lives were saved per 100 TTS-HEMS deployments. However, the TRISS results in the 119-HEMS group were not significant. In addition, after adjusting for confounders, the hazard ratio of mortality in the 119-HEMS group was 2.83 times higher than that in the TTS-HEMS group. CONCLUSION: HEMS was likely to improve the survival rate of injured patients when physicians were involved in TTS-HEMS. Survival benefits in the TTS-HEMS group appeared to be related to the fact that the trauma team performed both more aggressive prehospital resuscitation and clinical decision making during transportation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aircraft , Clinical Decision-Making , Emergencies , Emergency Medical Services , Injury Severity Score , Mortality , Resuscitation , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Transportation , Trauma CentersABSTRACT
A new blood bank system was established in our trauma bay, which allowed immediate utilization of uncross-matched type O packed red blood cells (UORBCs). We investigated the efficacy of UORBC compared to that of the ABO type-specific packed red blood cells (ABO RBCs) from before the bank was installed. From March 2016 to February 2017, data from trauma patients who received UORBCs in the trauma bay were compared with those of trauma patients who received ABO RBCs from January 2013 to December 2015. Propensity matching was used to overcome retrospective bias. The primary outcome was 24-hour mortality, while the secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Data from 252 patients were reviewed and UORBCs were administered to 64 patients. The time to transfusion from emergency room admission was shorter in the UORBC group (11 [7–16] minutes vs. 44 [29–72] minutes, P < 0.001). After propensity matching, 47 patients were included in each group. The 24-hour mortality (4 [8.5%] vs. 9 [13.8%], P = 0.135), in-hospital mortality (14 [29.8%] vs. 18 [38.3%], P = 0.384), and ICU LOS (9 [4–19] days vs. 5 [0–19] days, P = 0.155) did not differ significantly between groups. The utilization of UORBCs resulted in a faster transfusion but did not significantly improve the clinical outcomes in traumatic shock patients in this study. However, the tendency for lower mortality in the UORBC group suggested the need for a large study.
Subject(s)
Humans , Bays , Bias , Blood Banks , Emergency Service, Hospital , Erythrocyte Transfusion , Erythrocytes , Hospital Mortality , Intensive Care Units , Length of Stay , Mortality , Propensity Score , Retrospective Studies , Shock , Shock, Traumatic , Trauma Centers , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Injury severity scoring systems that quantify and predict trauma outcomes have not been established in Korea. This study was designed to determine the best system for use in the Korean trauma population. METHODS: We collected and analyzed the data from trauma patients admitted to our institution from January 2010 to December 2014. Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) were calculated based on the data from the enrolled patients. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the prediction ability of each scoring system was obtained, and a pairwise comparison of ROC curves was performed. Additionally, the cut-off values were estimated to predict mortality, and the corresponding accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 7,120 trauma patients (6,668 blunt and 452 penetrating injuries) were enrolled in this study. The AUCs of ISS, RTS, and TRISS were 0.866, 0.894, and 0.942, respectively, and the prediction ability of the TRISS was significantly better than the others (p < 0.001, respectively). The cut-off value of the TRISS was 0.9082, with a sensitivity of 81.9% and specificity of 92.0%; mortality was predicted with an accuracy of 91.2%; its positive predictive value was the highest at 46.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study were based on the data from one institution and suggest that the TRISS is the best prediction model of trauma outcomes in the current Korean population. Further study is needed with more data from multiple centers in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Area Under Curve , Injury Severity Score , Korea , Mortality , ROC Curve , Sensitivity and Specificity , Trauma CentersABSTRACT
For trauma patients with severe shock, massive fluid resuscitation is necessary. However, shock and a large amount of fluid can cause bowel and retroperitoneal edema, which sometimes leads to abdominal compartment syndrome in patients without abdomino-pelvic injury. If other emergent operations except intraabdomen are needed, a distended abdomen is likely to be recognized late, leading to multiple organ dysfunction. Herein, we report two cases of a 23-year-old woman who was in a car accident and a 53-year old man who was pressed on his leg by a pressing machine; severe brain swelling and popliteal vessel injury were diagnosed, respectively. They were both in severe shock and massive fluid resuscitation was required in the emergency department. Distended abdomen was recognized in both the female and male patients immediately after neurosurgical operation and immediately before orthopaedic operation in the operating room, respectively. Decompressive laparotomy revealed massive ascites with retroperitoneal edema.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Abdomen , Ascites , Brain Edema , Edema , Emergency Service, Hospital , Intra-Abdominal Hypertension , Laparotomy , Leg , Operating Rooms , Resuscitation , ShockABSTRACT
For trauma patients with severe shock, massive fluid resuscitation is necessary. However, shock and a large amount of fluid can cause bowel and retroperitoneal edema, which sometimes leads to abdominal compartment syndrome in patients without abdomino-pelvic injury. If other emergent operations except intraabdomen are needed, a distended abdomen is likely to be recognized late, leading to multiple organ dysfunction. Herein, we report two cases of a 23-year-old woman who was in a car accident and a 53-year old man who was pressed on his leg by a pressing machine; severe brain swelling and popliteal vessel injury were diagnosed, respectively. They were both in severe shock and massive fluid resuscitation was required in the emergency department. Distended abdomen was recognized in both the female and male patients immediately after neurosurgical operation and immediately before orthopaedic operation in the operating room, respectively. Decompressive laparotomy revealed massive ascites with retroperitoneal edema.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Abdomen , Ascites , Brain Edema , Edema , Emergency Service, Hospital , Intra-Abdominal Hypertension , Laparotomy , Leg , Operating Rooms , Resuscitation , ShockABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the utility of existing Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) coefficients and to propose a new prediction model with a new set of TRISS coefficients or predictors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the blunt adult trauma patients who were admitted to our hospital in 2014, those eligible for Korea Trauma Data Bank entry were selected to collect the TRISS predictors. The study data were input into the TRISS formula to obtain "probability of survival" values, which were examined for consistency with actual patient survival status. For TRISS coefficients, Major Trauma Outcome Study-derived values revised in 1995 and National Trauma Data Bank-derived and National Sample Project-derived coefficients revised in 2009 were used. Additionally, using a logistic regression method, a new set of coefficients was derived from our medical center's database. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for each prediction ability were obtained, and a pairwise comparison of ROC curves was performed. RESULTS: In the statistical analysis, the AUCs (0.879-0.899) for predicting outcomes were lower than those of other countries. However, by adjusting the TRISS score using a continuous variable rather than a code for age, we were able to achieve higher AUCs [0.913 (95% confidence interval, 0.899 to 0.926)]. CONCLUSION: These results support further studies that will allow a more accurate prediction of prognosis for trauma patients. Furthermore, Korean TRISS coefficients or a new prediction model suited for Korea needs to be developed using a sufficiently sized sample.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Databases, Factual , Injury Severity Score , Logistic Models , Predictive Value of Tests , Probability , Prognosis , ROC Curve , Republic of Korea , Trauma Centers/statistics & numerical data , Trauma Severity Indices , Wounds, Nonpenetrating/diagnosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Injury severity scoring systems that quantify and predict trauma outcomes have not been established in Korea. This study was designed to determine the best system for use in the Korean trauma population. METHODS: We collected and analyzed the data from trauma patients admitted to our institution from January 2010 to December 2014. Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) were calculated based on the data from the enrolled patients. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the prediction ability of each scoring system was obtained, and a pairwise comparison of ROC curves was performed. Additionally, the cut-off values were estimated to predict mortality, and the corresponding accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 7,120 trauma patients (6,668 blunt and 452 penetrating injuries) were enrolled in this study. The AUCs of ISS, RTS, and TRISS were 0.866, 0.894, and 0.942, respectively, and the prediction ability of the TRISS was significantly better than the others (p < 0.001, respectively). The cut-off value of the TRISS was 0.9082, with a sensitivity of 81.9% and specificity of 92.0%; mortality was predicted with an accuracy of 91.2%; its positive predictive value was the highest at 46.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study were based on the data from one institution and suggest that the TRISS is the best prediction model of trauma outcomes in the current Korean population. Further study is needed with more data from multiple centers in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Area Under Curve , Injury Severity Score , Korea , Mortality , ROC Curve , Sensitivity and Specificity , Trauma CentersABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of domestic physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for the transport of patients with severe trauma to a hospital. The study included patients with blunt trauma who were transported to our hospital by physician-staffed HEMS (Group P; n = 100) or nonphysician-staffed HEMS (Group NP; n = 80). Basic patient characteristics, transport time, treatment procedures, and medical treatment outcomes assessed using the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) were compared between groups. We also assessed patients who were transported to the hospital within 3 h of injury in Groups P (Group P3; n = 50) and NP (Group NP3; n = 74). The severity of injury was higher, transport time was longer, and time from hospital arrival to operation room transfer was shorter for Group P than for Group NP (P < 0.001). Although Group P patients exhibited better medical treatment outcomes compared with Group NP, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.134 vs. 0.730). However, the difference in outcomes was statistically significant between Groups P3 and NP3 (P = 0.035 vs. 0.546). Under the current domestic trauma patient transport system in South Korea, physician-staffed HEMS are expected to increase the survival of patients with severe trauma. In particular, better treatment outcomes are expected if dedicated trauma resuscitation teams actively intervene in the medical treatment process from the transport stage and if patients are transported to a hospital to receive definitive care within 3 hours of injury.