Does time to angiography affect the survival of trauma patients with embolization to the pelvis? A retrospective study across trauma centers in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic pelvic injuries can result in rapid exsanguination. Bleeding control interventions include stabilization, angiography, and possible embolization. Previous studies yielded conflicting results regarding the benefit of a shorter time to embolization. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the time to angioembolization on the survival of patients presenting with pelvic injuries using a national database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational retrospective study that used the National Trauma Data Bank 2017 dataset. Adult patients with pelvic injuries and who received angiography with embolization to the pelvis were included. Univariate and bivariate analyses (survival to hospital discharge yes/no) were done. This was followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the impact of time to angiography on survival to hospital discharge after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 1,057 patients were included. They were predominantly of male gender (69.3 %) with a median age of 50 years (IQR = [31-64]). The mean time to pelvic angiography was 264.0 ± 204.4 min. The overall survival rate at hospital discharge was 72.0 %. Time to angiography was not significantly associated with survival to hospital discharge before and after adjusting for clinically and statistically significant confounders (aOR = 1.000; 95 %CI=[0.999 - 1.001]; p = 0.866). CONCLUSION: Time to angiography was not associated with survival to hospital discharge of patients with pelvic injuries who required embolization. Further research examining specific patterns of injuries and assessing the impact of early angioembolization is needed.

Factors associated with survival in adult trauma patients undergoing angiography with and without embolization across trauma centers in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Interventional angiography is increasingly utilized in trauma management for various injuries. Despite published guidelines by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma on the use of angiography, limited data exist on factors associated with outcomes in angiography procedures. This study examines factors associated with survival to hospital discharge in trauma patients undergoing angiography with or without embolization across US trauma centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study used the National Trauma Data Bank 2017 dataset and included adult trauma patients who underwent conventional angiography with or without embolization. A bivariate analysis was done to compare patients' characteristics by outcome (survived/died), followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with survival to hospital discharge after adjusting for important confounders. RESULTS: In the included sample of 4242 patients, median age was 41 years and male gender was predominant (72.6%). Overall mean time to angiography was 263.77 ± 750.19 min. Factors positively associated with survival included treatment at large facilities with over 401 beds (OR = 2.170; 95% CI, [1.277-3.685]), helicopter ambulance/fixed-wing transport (OR = 1.736; 95% CI, [1.325-2.275]), mild Glasgow Coma Scale (OR = 7.621; 95% CI, [5.868-9.898]) and moderate Glasgow Coma Scale (OR = 3.127; 95% CI, [2.080-4.701]), SBP ≥ 90 (OR = 1.516; 95% CI [1.199-1.916]), and spleen as embolization site (OR = 1.647; 95% CI [1.119-2.423]). CONCLUSION: This nationwide study identified variables associated with survival in trauma patients who underwent angiography. These variables can serve in creating standardized risk stratification tools that could be incorporated into evidence-based guidelines for angiography candidates.

Interventional angiography utilization for adult trauma patients in Trauma Centers across the United States: An observational study using the National Trauma Data Bank.

Angiography and embolization are part of trauma management protocols for various injuries. This study examines the use of angiography and embolization use in trauma care across Trauma Centers in the United States. We used the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) 2017 dataset in this retrospective observational study. Adult trauma patients (≥16 years) who underwent conventional angiography with or without embolization were included. A univariate analysis was carried out to describe patients' demographic and injury characteristics as well as the time to angiography, angiography details, complications, and outcome (survival to hospital discharge: yes/no). One-year period prevalence proportion of angiography procedure was determined. A total of 4242 patients were included. The 1-year period prevalence proportion of angiography procedure with or without embolization was 0.53% (95% confidence intervals: 0.527-0.529). The median age was 41 years (interquartile range: 27-58) with most patients being in the age group 16 to 64 (83.8%) and males (72.6%). Over half of the patients, 55.4% had an embolization procedure performed in addition to angiography. The mean time to angiography was 263.77 ±â€…750.19 minutes. The most common embolization sites were the pelvis (24.9%), spleen (11.8%), and liver (9%). This study described angiography and embolization utilization in adult trauma patients in Trauma Centers in the US. Its findings provide the basis for future studies to examine more closely angiography/embolization utilization in specific subpopulations, and to create standardized risk stratification tools for trauma patients who are candidates for this procedure.