Chest trauma clinical practice guideline protects against delirium in patients with rib fractures.

Introduction: Traumatic rib fractures present a considerable risk to patient well-being, contributing to morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. To address the risks associated with rib fractures, evidence-based interventions have been implemented, including effective pain management, pulmonary hygiene, and early walking. Vancouver General Hospital, a level 1 trauma center in British Columbia, Canada, developed a comprehensive multidisciplinary chest trauma clinical practice guideline (CTCPG) to optimize the management of patients with rib fractures. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the impact of the CTCPG on pain management interventions and patient outcomes. Methods: The study involved patients admitted between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 (post-CTCPG cohort) and a historical control group admitted between November 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 (pre-CTCPG cohort). Patient data were collected from patient charts and the British Columbia Trauma Registry, including demographics, injury characteristics, pain management interventions, and relevant outcomes. Results: Implementation of the CTCPG resulted in an increased use of multimodal pain therapy (99.4% vs 96.1%; p=0.03) and a significant reduction in the incidence of delirium in the post-CTCPG cohort (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.80, p=0.0099). There were no significant differences in hospital length of stay, ICU (intensive care unit) days, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation requirement, ventilator days, pneumonia incidence, or mortality between the two cohorts. Discussion: Adoption of a CTCPG improved chest trauma management by enhancing pain management and reducing the incidence of delirium. Further research, including multicenter studies, is warranted to validate these findings and explore additional potential benefits of the CTCPG in the management of chest trauma patients. Level of evidence: IIb.

Prognostic factors associated with risk of stroke following blunt cerebrovascular injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) includes carotid and/or vertebral artery injury following trauma, and conveys an increased stroke risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive summary of prognostic factors associated with risk of stroke following BCVI. METHODS: We searched the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases from January 1946 to June 2023. We identified studies reporting associations between patient or injury factors and risk of stroke following BCVI. We performed meta-analyses of odds ratios (ORs) using the random effects method and assessed individual study risk of bias using the QUIPS tool. We separately pooled adjusted and unadjusted analyses, highlighting the estimate with the higher certainty. RESULTS: We included 26 cohort studies, involving 20,458 patients with blunt trauma. The overall incidence of stroke following BCVI was 7.7 %. Studies were predominantly retrospective cohorts from North America and included both carotid and vertebral artery injuries. Diagnosis of BCVI was most commonly confirmed with CT angiography. We demonstrated with moderate to high certainty that factors associated with increased risk of stroke included carotid artery injury (as compared to vertebral artery injury, unadjusted odds ratio [uOR] 1.94, 95 % CI 1.62 to 2.32), Grade III Injury (as compared to grade I or II) (uOR 2.45, 95 % CI 1.88 to 3.20), Grade IV injury (uOR 3.09, 95 % CI 2.20 to 4.35), polyarterial injury (uOR 3.11 (95 % CI 2.05 to 4.72), occurrence of hypotension at the time of hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.32, 95 % CI 0.87 to 2.03) and higher total body injury severity (aOR 5.91, 95 % CI 1.90 to 18.39). CONCLUSION: Local anatomical injury pattern, overall burden of injury and flow dynamics contribute to BCVI-related stroke risk. These findings provide the foundational evidence base for risk stratification to support clinical decision making and further research.

Defining a Framework and Evaluation Metrics for Sustainable Global Surgical Partnerships: A Modified Delphi Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to use expert consensus to build a concrete and realistic framework and checklist to evaluate sustainability in global surgery partnerships (GSPs). BACKGROUND: Partnerships between high-resourced and low-resourced settings are often created to address the burden of unmet surgical need. Reflecting on the negative, unintended consequences of asymmetrical partnerships, global surgery community members have proposed frameworks and best practices to promote sustainable engagement between partners, though these frameworks lack consensus. This project proposes a cohesive, consensus-driven framework with accompanying evaluation metrics to guide sustainability in GSPs. METHODS: A modified Delphi technique with purposive sampling was used to build consensus on the definitions and associated evaluation metrics of previously proposed pillars (Stakeholder Engagement, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Context-Relevant Education and Training, Bilateral Authorship, Multisource Funding, Outcome Measurement) of sustainable GSPs. RESULTS: Fifty global surgery experts from 34 countries with a median of 9.5 years of experience in the field of global surgery participated in 3 Delphi rounds. Consensus was achieved on the identity, definitions, and a 47-item checklist for the evaluation of the 6 pillars of sustainability in GSPs. In all, 29% of items achieved consensus in the first round, whereas 100% achieved consensus in the second and third rounds. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first framework for building sustainable GSPs using the input of experts from all World Health Organization regions. We hope this tool will help the global surgery community to find noncolonial solutions to addressing the gap in access to quality surgical care in low-resource settings.

Barriers to Accessing Congenital Heart Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common major congenital anomaly. Ninety percent of children with CHD are born in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where over 90% of patients lack access to necessary treatments. Reports on barriers to accessing CHD care are limited. Accordingly, it is difficult to design evidence-based interventions to increase access to congenital cardiac surgical care in LMICs. OBJECTIVE: We performed a qualitative systematic review to understand barriers to accessing congenital cardiac surgical care in LMICs. METHODS: We conducted a search of Ovid MEDLINE and CINAHL databases to identify relevant articles from January 2000 to May 2021. We then used a thematic analysis to summarize qualitative data into a framework of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative barriers. RESULTS: Our search yielded 1,585 articles, of which 67 satisfied the inclusion criteria. Notable preoperative barriers included delayed diagnosis, insufficient caregiver education, financial constraints, difficulty reaching treatment centers, sociocultural stigma of CHD, sex-based discrimination of patients with CHD, and Indigeneity. Perioperative barriers included lack of hospital resources and workforce, need for prolonged hospitalization, and strained physician-patient relationships. Many patients faced barriers postoperatively and into adulthood due to a shortage of critical care resources, inadequate caregiver counseling and patient education, lack of follow-up, and debt from hospital bills and missed work. CONCLUSION: Reducing neonatal and childhood mortality begins with recognizing barriers to accessing health care. Our systematic review identifies and classifies challenges in accessing CHD in LMICs and suggests solutions to major barriers.

Extracorporeal life support in trauma: Indications and techniques.

BACKGROUND: Clarity about indications and techniques in extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in trauma is essential for timely and effective deployment, and to ensure good stewardship of an important resource. Extracorporeal life support deployments in a tertiary trauma center were reviewed to understand the indications, strategies, and tactics of ECLS in trauma. METHODS: The provincial trauma registry was used to identify patients who received ECLS at a Level I trauma center and ECLS organization-accredited site between January 2014 and February 2021. Charts were reviewed for indications, technical factors, and outcomes following ECLS deployment. Based on this data, consensus around indications and techniques for ECLS in trauma was reached and refined by a multidisciplinary team discussion. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients underwent ECLS as part of a comprehensive trauma resuscitation strategy. Eighteen patients underwent venovenous ECLS and seven received venoarterial ECLS. Nineteen patients survived the ECLS run, of which 15 survived to discharge. Four patients developed vascular injuries secondary to cannula insertion while four patients developed circuit clots. On multidisciplinary consensus, three broad indications for ECLS and their respective techniques were described: gas exchange for lung injury, extended damage control for severe injuries associated with the lethal triad, and circulatory support for cardiogenic shock or hypothermia. CONCLUSION: The three broad indications for ECLS in trauma (gas exchange, extended damage control and circulatory support) require specific advanced planning and standardization of corresponding techniques (cannulation, circuit configuration, anticoagulation, and duration). When appropriately and effectively integrated into the trauma response, ECLS can extend the damage control paradigm to enable the management of complex multisystem injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Use of Innovative Technology in Surgical Training in Resource-Limited Settings: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: There has been a rapid growth in interest in global surgery. This increased commitment to improving global surgical care, however, has not translated into an equal exchange of surgical information between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LMICs). In recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on training local medical personnel in order to increase surgical capacity while simultaneously decreasing reliance on expatriate visitors. Virtual curricular models, simulators, and immersive technologies have been developed and implemented in order to maximize training opportunities in low-resource settings. This study aims to assess and summarize innovative technologies used for surgical training in low-resource settings. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature from 2000 to 2021. We included both academic and grey literature on surgical education technologies. Searches were performed on Medline and Embase as well as on Google, iOS, and Android app stores. RESULTS: Four main categories of surgical training platforms were identified: web-based platforms, app-based platforms, virtual and augmented reality, and simulation. The platforms were analyzed based on their content, effectiveness, cost, accessibility, and barriers to use. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual learning platforms show potential in surgical training as they are easily accessible, not limited by geography, continuously updated, and evaluated for effectiveness. In order to provide access to educational resources for surgical trainees all around the world, particularly in low-resource settings, increased effort and resources should be dedicated to developing free, open-access surgical training programs . Doing so will promote sustainable and equitable development in global surgical care.

Post-operative outcomes in Indigenous patients in North America and Oceania: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Indigenous Peoples across North America and Oceania experience worse health outcomes compared to non-Indigenous people, including increased post-operative mortality. Several gaps in data exist regarding global differences in surgical morbidity and mortality for Indigenous populations based on geographic locations and across surgical specialties. The aim of this study is to evaluate disparities in post-operative outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Eight electronic databases were searched with no language restriction. Studies reporting on Indigenous populations outside of Canada, the USA, New Zealand, or Australia, or on interventional procedures were excluded. Primary outcomes were post-operative morbidity and mortality. Secondary outcomes included reoperations, readmission rates, and length of hospital stay. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Eighty-four unique observational studies were included in this review. Of these, 67 studies were included in the meta-analysis (Oceania n = 31, North America n = 36). Extensive heterogeneity existed among studies and 50% were of poor quality. Indigenous patients had 1.26 times odds of post-operative morbidity (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.10-1.44, p<0.01) and 1.34 times odds of post-operative infection (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-1.59, p<0.01) than non-Indigenous patients. Indigenous patients also had 1.33 times odds of reoperation (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02-1.74, p = 0.04). In conclusion, we found that Indigenous patients in North American and Oceania experience significantly poorer surgical outcomes than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Additionally, there is a low proportion of high-quality research focusing on assessing surgical equity for Indigenous patients in these regions, despite multiple international and national calls to action for reconciliation and decolonization to improve quality surgical care for Indigenous populations.

Efficacy of Antithrombotic Therapy and Risk of Hemorrhagic Complication in Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury Patients with Concomitant Injury: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The risk-benefit balance of antithrombotic therapy administration for blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) patients with concomitant injuries at high risk for bleeding is an ongoing therapeutic conundrum for trauma clinicians. We performed a systematic review to assess the reported efficacy and safety of treatment in this population with respect to prevention of ischemic stroke and risk of hemorrhagic complications. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic electronic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2021. Studies were included if they reported treatment-stratified clinical outcomes after antithrombotic therapy in BCVI patients with concomitant injuries at high risk of bleeding into a critical site. Data were extracted from selected studies by two independent reviewers, including the main outcomes of interest were BCVI-related ischemic stroke rates and rates of hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS: Of the 5,999 studies reviewed, 10 reported on the effects of treating BCVI patients with concurrent traumatic injuries and were included for review. In the pooled data, among patients with BCVI and concomitant injury who received any form of antithrombotic therapy, the BCVI-related stroke rate was 7.6%. The subgroup of patients who did not receive therapy had an overall BCVI-related stroke rate of 34%. The total rate of hemorrhagic complications in the treated population was 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In BCVI patients with concomitant injuries at high risk for bleeding, antithrombotic use reduces the risk of ischemic strokes with a low reported risk of serious hemorrhagic complications.

Postoperative morbidity and mortality in pediatric indigenous populations: a scoping review and meta-analysis.

Mounting evidence suggests that childhood health is an important predictor of wellness as an adult. Indigenous peoples worldwide suffer worse health outcomes compared to settler populations. No study comprehensively evaluates surgical outcomes for Indigenous pediatric patients. This review evaluates inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children globally for postoperative complications, morbidities, and mortality. Nine databases were searched for relevant subject headings including "pediatric", "Indigenous", "postoperative", "complications", and related terms. Main outcomes included postoperative complications, mortality, reoperations, and hospital readmission. A random-effects model was used for statistical analysis. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Fourteen studies were included in this review, and 12 met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis, representing 4793 Indigenous and 83,592 non-Indigenous patients. Indigenous pediatric patients had a greater than twofold overall (OR 2.0.6, 95% CI 1.23-3.46) and 30-day postoperative mortality (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.23-4.05) than non-Indigenous populations. Surgical site infections (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.73-1.50), reoperations (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.51-1.11), and length of hospital stay (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI - 0.55-1.65) were similar between the two groups. There was a non-significant increase in hospital readmissions (OR 6.09, 95% CI 0.32-116.41, p = 0.23) and overall morbidity (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.40) for Indigenous children. Indigenous children worldwide experience increased postoperative mortality. It is necessary to collaborate with Indigenous communities to promote solutions for more equitable and culturally appropriate pediatric surgical care.

Operating room use for emergency general surgery cases: analysis of the Patterns of Complex Emergency General Surgery in Canada study.

BACKGROUND: Access to the operating room (OR) is variable among emergency general surgery (EGS) services, with some having dedicated EGS ORs, and others only a shared queue. Currently in Canada, only a limited number of acute care surgery services have dedicated daytime operating room (OR) access; hence, we aimed to describe the burden of after-hours EGS operating in Canada and differences associated with OR access. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, we used data from a previously conducted study designed to evaluate nonappendiceal, nonbiliary disease across 8 Canadian hospitals. We performed a secondary analysis to describe booking priorities and timing of operative interventions, compare sites with and without access to a dedicated EGS daytime OR, and identify differences in morbidity and mortality based on timing of operative intervention. RESULTS: Among 1244 patients, operations were performed during weekday daytime in 521 cases (41.9%), in the evening in 279 (22.4%), on the weekend in 293 (23.6%) and overnight in 151 (12.1%). Operating room booking priority was more than 2 hours to 8 hours in 657 cases (52.8%), more than 8 hours to 24 hours in 334 (26.9%) and more than 24 hours to 48 hours in 253 (20.3%). Substantial variation in booking priority was observed for the same preoperative diagnoses. Sites with dedicated EGS ORs performed a greater proportion of cases during daytime versus overnight compared to sites without dedicated EGS ORs (198/237 [83.5%] v. 323/435 [74.2%], p = 0.006). No significant differences in outcome were found between cases performed during the daytime, evening and overnight. CONCLUSION: We found considerable variation in OR booking priority within the same preoperative diagnoses among EGS patients in Canada. Sites with dedicated EGS ORs performed more cases during weekday daytime compared to sites without dedicated EGS ORs; however, this study showed no evidence of compromised outcomes based on OR timing.

Diagnosis and management of bile leaks after severe liver injury: A Trauma Association of Canada multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of bile leaks (BLs) after severe liver injury is unknown. Study objectives were to define current practices in diagnosis and management of BL to determine which patients may benefit from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade ≥III liver injuries from 10 North American trauma centers were included in this retrospective study (February 2011 to January 2021). Groups were defined as patients who developed BL versus those who did not. Subgroup analysis of BL patients was performed by management strategy. Bivariate analysis compared demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves were performed to investigate the relationship between bilious drain output and ERCP. RESULTS: A total of 2,225 patients with severe liver injury met the study criteria, with 108 BLs (5%). Bile leak patients had higher American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade of liver injury ( p < 0.001) and were more likely to have been managed operatively from the outset (69% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). Bile leak was typically diagnosed on hospital day 6 [4-10] via surgical drain output (n = 37 [39%]) and computed tomography scan (n = 34 [36%]). On the BL diagnosis day, drain output was 270 [125-555] mL. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was the most frequent management strategy (n = 59 [55%]), although 32 patients (30%) were managed with external drains alone. Bile leak patients who underwent ERCP, surgery, or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain had higher drain output than BL patients who were managed with external drains alone (320 [180-720] vs. 138 [85-330] mL, p = 0.010). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of BL demonstrated moderate accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.636) for ERCP at a cutoff point of 390 mL of bilious output on the day of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Patients with BL >300 to 400 mL were most likely to undergo ERCP, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain, or surgical management. Once external drainage of BL has been established, we recommend ERCP be reserved for patients with BL >300 mL of daily output. Prospective multicenter examination will be required to validate these retrospective data. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic and Care Management; Level IV.

Complications Following Temporary Bilateral Internal Iliac Artery Ligation for Pelvic Hemorrhage Control in Trauma.

Background: Temporary bilateral internal iliac artery ligation (TBIIAL) is an option for surgical control of pelvic hemorrhage after trauma. Concerns persist that complications, particularly gluteal necrosis, following TBIIAL should preclude its use, despite a lack of formal research on TBIIAL complications. This study aimed to define complications following TBIIAL for emergent control of traumatic pelvic bleeding.Study Design: Patients undergoing TBIIAL after blunt trauma (2008-2020) at our level 1 trauma center were included without exclusions. Demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics summarized study variables. Multivariable analysis of factors independently associated with mortality after TBIIAL was performed.Results: In total, 77 patients undergoing emergent TBIIAL after blunt trauma were identified. Median age was 46 [IQR 29-63] years. Most patients (n = 70, 91%) were severely injured (ISS ≥16), with 43% undergoing resuscitative thoracotomy prior to TBIIAL. No local complications (gluteal necrosis, iatrogenic injury, fascial dehiscence, surgical site infection) after TBIIAL occurred over the 13-year study period. In the first 28 days after injury, median hospital-, ICU-, and ventilator-free days were 0. Mortality was 70% (n = 54). On multivariable analysis, older age was the only variable independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.081, P = .028).Conclusion: Zero cases of gluteal necrosis, iatrogenic injury to surrounding structures, or surgical site infection/fascial dehiscence of the exploratory laparotomy occurred over the study period. High concern for gluteal necrosis after TBIIAL in severely injured trauma patients is unfounded and should not prevent a surgeon from obtaining prompt pelvic hemorrhage control with this technique among patients in extremis.

Management of blunt cerebrovascular injuries at a Canadian level 1 trauma centre: Are we meeting the grade?

BACKGROUND: Untreated blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) are associated with high rates of death and disability due to stroke. We assessed alignment of clinical practice at our centre with current recommendations for management of BCVIs and examined rates of new and recurrent in-hospital stroke. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the BC Trauma Registry to identify all adult (age > 18 yr) patients with trauma with BCVIs at the largest level 1 trauma centre in British Columbia, Canada, from Apr. 1, 2013, to Mar. 31, 2018. We evaluated the registry, hospital databases and patient charts to assess alignment with guidelines for early initiation of appropriate antithrombotic therapy and follow-up imaging, and to ascertain short-term outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients met the inclusion criteria. Just over half of BCVIs (97 [52.2%]) were Biffl grade 1-2. The majority of patients were treated with acetylsalicylic acid monotherapy (144/162 [88.9%]) or low-molecular-weight heparin (2/162 [1.2%]). Although guidelines recommend repeat imaging at 7-10 days to reassess the injury and guide duration of therapy, only 61/171 patients (35.7%) underwent repeat imaging within 7 days. Neuroimaging within 3 months after injury showed brain infarction in 29 patients (15.6%). CONCLUSION: Antithrombotic therapy was initiated in the majority of eligible patients with BCVIs, but completion of follow-up imaging and documentation of clear outpatient care plans were suboptimal. This finding shows the need for routine multidisciplinary management to facilitate standardization of care for this complex population.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in Canada: a context-specific position paper from the Canadian Collaborative for Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS).

SummaryResuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a well-described intervention for noncompressible torso hemorrhage. Several Canadian centres have included REBOA in their hemorrhagic shock protocols. However, REBOA has known complications and equipoise regarding its use persists. The Canadian Collaborative on Urgent Care Surgery (CANUCS) comprises surgeons who provide acute trauma care and leadership in Canada, with experience in REBOA implementation, use, education and research. Our goal is to provide evidence- and experience-based recommendations regarding institutional implementation of a REBOA program, including multidisciplinary educational programs, attention to device and care pathway logistics, and a robust quality assurance program. This will allow Canadian trauma centres to maximize patient benefits and minimize risks of this potentially life-saving technology.

Socioeconomic status does not influence the presentation of patients with inguinal hernia at an urban Canadian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to influence the outcomes of surgical pathologies in areas with unequal access to health care. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of SES on the urgency for inguinal hernia repair in an area with purported equitable access to health care in the context of a universal health care system. METHODS: We included all adult patients who underwent surgical management of an inguinal hernia between 2012 and 2016 at 2 urban academic centres. We measured the SES using the Vancouver Area Neighbourhood Deprivation Index (VANDIX) score. RESULTS: We included 2336 patients: 98 emergency surgery and 294 elective surgery cases. We matched patients without replacement on age, sex and American Society of Anesthesiology score, using optimized propensity score matching at a ratio of 1 case to 3 controls. We found no significant correlation between lower SES and emergency surgical management (p = 0.122). Secondary analysis assessed the impact of SES on morbidity and length of stay. We found no significant difference in the rate of complications, length of stay and recurrence by SES category. Patients from lower SES brackets had increased odds for readmission (odds ratio 1.979; 95% confidence interval 1.111-4.318). CONCLUSION: We found no correlation between a low SES and the need for emergency inguinal hernia repair, but found an increased rate of readmission in patients from lower SES brackets. This finding should be further scrutinized through a deeper dive into the barriers to access to nonacute care settings, such as home care.

Failure to rescue in emergency general surgery in Canada.

BACKGROUND: The risk of death after a postoperative complication - known as failure to rescue (FTR) - has been proposed to be superior to traditional benchmarking outcomes, such as complication and mortality rates, as a measure of system quality. The purpose of this study was to identify the current FTR rate in emergency general surgery (EGS) centres across Canada. We hypothesized that substantial variability exists in FTR rates across centres. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, we performed a secondary analysis of data from a previous study designed to evaluate operative intervention for nonappendiceal, nonbiliary disease by 6 EGS services across Canada (1 in British Columbia, 1 in Alberta, 3 in Ontario and 1 in Nova Scotia). Patients underwent surgery between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014. We conducted univariate analyses to compare patients with and without complications. We performed a sensitivity analysis examining the mortality rate after serious complications (Clavien-Dindo score 3 or 4) that required a surgical intervention or specialized care (e.g., admission to intensive care unit). RESULTS: A total of 2595 patients were included in the study cohort. Of the 206 patients who died within 30 days, 145 (70.4%) experienced a complication before their death. Overall, the mortality rate after any surgical complication (i.e., FTR) was 16.0%. Ranking of sites by the traditional outcomes of complication and mortality rates differed from the ranking when FTR rate was included in the assessment. CONCLUSION: There was variability in FTR rates across EGS services in Canada, which suggests that there is opportunity for ongoing quality-improvement efforts. This study provides FTR benchmarking data for Canadian EGS services.

Management of vascular trauma across Canada: A cohort study with implications for practice.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to provide a description of vascular trauma and its management at trauma centers across Canada. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients from 8 Canadian level 1 trauma centers (2011-2015). Medical records were queried to identify adult patients who survived to hospital with major vascular injury. Major vascular injury was defined as injury to named arterial or venous vessels in the legs, arms torso, and neck. Data collected included patient demographics, injury mechanism, injury details, management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1330 patients were included. Patients were 76% male with a mean age of 43 (SD 18.8). Reported injuries were 63% blunt, 36% penetrating, and the remainder mixed. The most common specific mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collision (36%), stabbing (26%), and falls (16%), with gunshot injuries accounting for <5%. Pre-hospital tourniquets were applied in 27 patients (2%). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24 (SD 14.5). We identified injuries to named vessels of the neck (32%), thorax (23%), abdomen and pelvis (27%), upper extremity (14%) and lower extremity (10%). Specific vascular injuries included transection (50%), complete occlusion (11%), partial occlusion (39%), and pseudoaneurysm formation (11%). Injuries were managed non-operatively in 32%, with definitive open surgical management (24%), endovascular management (9%) and with damage control techniques in the operating room (3%). Amputation occurred in 10% of lower extremity and 5% of upper extremity injuries. Responsibility for vascular injury management was undertaken by a wide variety of specialists (n = 17). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 13%, and 2% of patients underwent amputation. CONCLUSION: This study describes the nature and management of vascular injuries across Canada. The variability in injury mechanisms, management strategies, specialty responsible for management, and outcomes have important implications for practice change and knowledge translation.

Trauma Training Courses and Programs in Low- and Lower Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and lower middle-income countries (LMICs). Trauma training is a cost-effective way to improve injury outcomes. Several trauma programs have been implemented in LMICs; however, their scope and effectiveness remain unclear. In this review, we sought to describe and assess the current state of trauma training in LMICs. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global for trauma training courses in LMICs. An additional gray literature search was conducted on university, governmental, and non- governmental organizations' websites to identify trauma-related postgraduate medical education (PGME) opportunities. RESULTS: Most studies occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and participants were primarily physicians/surgeons, medical students/residents, and nurses. General and surgical trauma management courses were most common, followed by orthopedic trauma or plastic surgery trauma/burn care courses. 32/45 studies reported on participant knowledge and skills, 27 of which had minimal follow-up. Of the four studies commenting on cost of courses, only one demonstrated cost-effectiveness. Three articles evaluated post-course effects on patient outcomes, two of which failed to demonstrate significant improvements. Overall, 43.0% of LMICs have PGME programs with defined trauma competency requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Current studies on trauma training in LMICs do not clearly demonstrate sustainability, cost-effectiveness, nor improved outcomes. Trauma training programs should be in response to a need, championed locally, and work within a cohesive system to demonstrate concrete benefits. We recommend standardized and contextualized trauma training with recertifications in LMICs for lasting and improved trauma care.