Impact of level III verification on trauma admissions and transfer: comparisons of two rural hospitals.

PURPOSE: To study the impact of Level III verification and other changes in rural hospitals on trauma delivery and to examine factors affecting transfer to a Level I trauma center. SETTING: Two rural Kentucky hospitals and a Level I trauma center. METHOD OF REVIEW: Concurrent review of all trauma patients in 1988 and re-review of the same parameters in 1995. FINDINGS: In 1988, both hospitals had similar management practices in trauma care. A significant number of patients were transferred for (a) patient choice, (b) serious and/or multiple trauma, (c) specialty care in non-life threatening situations, and (d) to exclude a potentially serious problem seen on radiologic evaluation (usually questionable cervical spine or widened mediastinum). Both hospitals had major changes in trauma delivery. One hospital received Level III verification, and the other had changes that lessened the general surgeon's involvement with initial evaluation and treatment. A re-review in 1995 disclosed major changes at both institutions. Transfers to exclude radiologic abnormalities had virtually disappeared. The Level III status had increased the surgical involvement in that hospital; there was actually an increase in patients transferred to the Level I hospital and an increase in patient acuity. More operations were performed locally, and the care was more efficiently delivered. The other hospital had a large increase in transfers and decreased admissions locally as general surgical involvement decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The factors related to patient transfer for trauma care are complex and require careful elucidation to improve care. The development of a Level III trauma service appeared to increase the number of seriously injured patients treated in the rural hospital and the efficiency of the care delivered.

Operative cholangiography.

The value of operative cholangiography in the management of biliary tract disease has been questioned. To better define the role of cholangiography, we reviewed 579 consecutive cholecystectomies done by 1 group of surgeons in a small rural practice over 8 years. Cholangiography demonstrated unsuspected common bile duct disease in 5% of the procedures, while 12% of the patients were spared an unnecessary choledochotomy after a normal cholangiogram was obtained. There was no morbidity, mortality, or prolongation of the hospital stay attributed to the cholangiographic procedure. These findings bolster the argument for routine cholangiography as a safe, effective, and helpful screening examination for patients who are at risk for having common bile duct disease.

Postoperative percutaneous choledochoscopy.

Postoperative percutaneous choledochoscopy (PC) is becoming an important aid to surgeons in the diagnosis and treatment of complex biliary tract disease. The authors retrospectively examined the results of 27 PCs performed on 22 patients at the University of Louisville Affiliated Hospitals from 1980 to 1987. Indications for PC included: suspected choledocholithiasis stricture, sclerosing cholangitis, and cholangiocarcinoma. The biliary tree was accessed through a T-tube tract in 18 patients, and through a biliary-enterocutaneous fistula in four patients. The patient population included 11 men and 11 women with a mean age of 62 years. T-tubes varied in size from #16F to #24F. The time allowed for T-tube tract maturation ranged from four weeks to five months. Percutaneous choledochoscopy was performed 16 times in 13 patients for possible choledocholithiasis. Stones were present in 13, and 11 of 13 attempted extractions were successful. Two patients underwent PC for stent placement. Nine procedures were performed on eight patients to obtain biopsies or to evaluate possible strictures. Four studies were normal, two patients had sclerosing cholangitis, one had a stricture of the Sphincter of Oddi, and one patient had benign ductal tissue on biopsy after an iridium implantation for cholangiocarcinoma. Two minor complications occurred in this series. The authors conclude that by using PC the surgeon may safely manage complicated biliary problems and avoid re-operation in selected cases.

Management of malignant ascites.

The management of malignant ascites is a significant clinical problem. Although most of the patients who have this complication develop have rather significantly limited life expectancy rates, they may be successfully palliated if appropriate steps are taken to provide them with the proper therapy. All of the aforementioned treatment modalities, specifically intracavitary radiotherapy, radioactive colloids, intracavitary chemotherapy, peritoneovenous shunting and immunotherapy have distinct advantages and limitations. With the proper selection of the modality to fit the individual patient, a relatively good result can be obtained, providing, of course, that proper care is taken to anticipate the potential complications, which occur frequently in the treatment of malignant effusion.

Responsiveness of metastatic basal-cell carcinoma to chemotherapy. A case report.

Basal cell carcinoma normally causes major morbidity only by direct extension of the tumor into adjacent tissues. Occasionally the tumor will metastasize to distant sites such as the lungs, the bones, regional lymph nodes, and the abdominal viscera. Over 100 cases of this disseminated disease are reported in the literature. Once a tumor has metastasized beyond the regional lymph nodes it is uniformly fatal. This article reports a case of basal cell carcinoma, metastatic to the lung, which was successfully treated with cisplatin. Three other cases treated similarly are reviewed, and the prospects for treatment of advanced basal cell carcinomas with chemotherapy are discussed.

Evaluation of management of the emergency right hemicolectomy.

To evaluate the morbidity and mortality attending emergency resection of the right colon, we studied retrospectively 119 consecutive patients from two major centers, particularly examining the role of delayed anastomosis (initial ileostomy with subsequent ileocolic anastomosis). Emergency right colectomy was defined as an operative procedure in which partial resection of the terminal ileum and total or partial resection of the cecum and/or ascending colon were necessary before the colon could be evacuated and prepared as might be the case in elective resection. Ninety patients underwent primary anastomosis; hospital mortality and morbidity were 26 and 11%, respectively. Among 29 patients who underwent ileostomy, hospital mortality was 38%; hospital morbidity was 10%. In general, the patients selected for ileostomy were somewhat more ill or had more severe injury. only 17% of all deaths and 8% of all serious complications could be attributed to the anastomosis, leaving little statistical opportunity for improvement by deleting it. The data indicate that a very high mortality (29%) attends emergency right hemicolectomy. Our study indicates that ileostomy in lieu of anastomosis does not reduce this high mortality.

Post-traumatic intestinal obstruction.

The roentgenographic and pathologic findings in three patients with delayed post-traumatic intestinal obstruction are described. The pertinent literature also is reviewed to delineate the variable pathophysiology of the clinical phenomenon. As a result of the increasing incidence of blunt trauma in our society, the problem of occult intra-abdominal injury resulting in subsequent clinical disease always should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting later with intestinal complaints. Once considered, routine roentgenologic evaluation usually is diagnostic, and arteriographic evaluation should be considered if the diagnosis is strongly suspected in the face of normal contrast studies. If intestinal obstruction is diagnosed, operative treatment is indicated, simple, and effective.