Choosing wisely: A prospective study of direct to operating room trauma resuscitation including real-time trauma surgeon after-action review.

INTRODUCTION: Although several centers have direct to operating room (DOR) resuscitation programs, there are no published prospective studies on optimal patient selection, interventions, outcomes, or real-time surgeon assessments. METHODS: Direct to operating room cases for 1 year were prospectively enrolled. Demographics, injury types/severity, triage criteria, interventions, and outcomes including Glasgow Outcome Scale score were collected. Detailed time-to-event and sequence data on initial lifesaving interventions (LSIs) or emergent surgeries were analyzed. A structured real-time attending surgeon assessment tool for each case was collected. Direct to operating room activation criteria were grouped into categories: mechanism, physiology, injury pattern, or emergency medical services (EMS) suspicion. RESULTS: There were 104 DOR cases: male, 84%; penetrating, 80%; and severely injured (Injury Severity Score, >15), 39%. The majority (65%) required at least one LSI (median of 7 minutes from arrival), and 41% underwent immediate emergent surgery (median, 26 minutes). Blunt patients were more severely injured and more likely to undergo LSI (86% vs. 59%) but less likely to require emergent surgery (19% vs. 47%, all p < 0.05). Analysis of DOR criteria categories showed unique patterns in each group for interventions and outcomes, with EMS suspicion associated with the lowest need for DOR. Surgeon assessment tool results found that DOR was indicated in 84% and improved care in 63%, with a small subset identified (9%) where DOR had a negative impact. CONCLUSION: Direct to operating room resuscitation facilitated timely emergent interventions in penetrating truncal trauma and a select subset of critically ill blunt patients. Unique intervention/outcome profiles were identified by activation criteria groups, with little utility among activations for EMS suspicion. Real-time surgeon assessment tool identified high- and low-yield DOR groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective observational study, level III.

Traumatic thoracic rib cage and chest wall hernias: A review and discussion of management principles.

Traumatic thoracic or chest wall hernias are relatively uncommon but highly challenging injuries that can be seen after a variety of injury mechanisms. Despite their description throughout history there remains scant literature on this topic that is primarily limited to case reports or series. Until recently, there also has been no effort to create a reliable grading system that can assess severity, predict outcomes, and guide the choice of surgical repair. The purpose of this article is to review the reported literature on this topic and to analyze the history, common injury mechanisms, likely presentations, and optimal management strategies to guide clinicians who are faced with these challenging cases. We also report a modified and updated version of our previously developed grading system for traumatic chest wall hernias that can be utilized to guide surgical management techniques and approaches.

Rotational thromboelastometry predicts transfusion and disability in pediatric trauma.

BACKGROUND: Trauma-induced coagulopathy seen on rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is associated with poor outcomes in adults; however, this relationship is poorly understood in the pediatric population. We sought to define thresholds for product-specific transfusion and evaluate the prognostic efficacy of ROTEM in injured children. METHODS: Demographics, ROTEM, and clinical outcomes from severely injured children (age, < 18 years) admitted to a Level I trauma center between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and Youden indexes were calculated against the endpoint of packed red blood cell transfusion to identify thresholds for intervention. The ROTEM parameters were compared against the clinical outcomes of mortality or disability at discharge. RESULTS: Ninety subjects were reviewed. Increased tissue factor-triggered extrinsic pathway (EXTEM) clotting time (CT) >84.5 sec (p = 0.049), decreased EXTEM amplitude at 10 minutes (A10) <43.5 mm (p = 0.025), and decreased EXTEM maximal clot firmness (MCF) <64.5 mm (p = 0.026) were associated with need for blood product transfusion. Additionally, EXTEM CT longer than 68.5 seconds was associated with mortality or disability at discharge. CONCLUSION: Coagulation dysregulation on thromboelastometry is associated with disability and mortality in children. Based on our findings, we propose ROTEM thresholds: plasma transfusion for EXTEM CT longer than 84.5 seconds, fibrinogen replacement for EXTEM A10 less than 43.5 mm, and platelet transfusion for EXTEM MCF less than 64.5 mm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic, Level III; Therapeutic, Level IV.

Injury to the conduction system: management of life-threatening arrhythmias after penetrating cardiac trauma.

BACKGROUND: Life-threatening conduction abnormalities after penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) are rare, and rapid identification and treatment of these arrhythmias are critical to survival. This study highlights diagnosis and management strategies for conduction abnormalities after PCI. METHODS: Patients with life-threatening arrhythmias after PCI were identified at an urban, level I trauma center registry. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients survived to reach the hospital after PCI. Of these, 3 (4%) survivors (male = 3, mean age 41.3, median injury severity score = 25) had critical conduction abnormalities after cardiorrhaphy. All patients had multichamber and atrioventricular nodal injury. After initial cardiorrhaphy and control of hemorrhage, all patients had sustained hypotension with bradycardia from complete heart block. Two patients had ventricular septal defects requiring repair. All 3 patients survived. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid recognition of injury to the cardiac conduction system after PCI as a source of sustained hypotension is essential to early restoration of cardiac function and survival.

Model for Team Training Using the Advanced Trauma Operative Management Course: Pilot Study Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Education and training of surgeons has traditionally focused on the development of individual knowledge, technical skills, and decision making. Team training with the surgeon's operating room staff has not been prioritized in existing educational paradigms, particularly in trauma surgery. We aimed to determine whether a pilot curriculum for surgical technicians and nurses, based on the American College of Surgeons' Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) course, would improve staff knowledge if conducted in a team-training environment. METHODS: Between December 2012 and December 2014, 22 surgical technicians and nurses participated in a curriculum complementary to the ATOM course, consisting of 8 individual 8-hour training sessions designed by and conducted at our institution. Didactic and practical sessions included educational content, hands-on instruction, and alternating role play during 5 system-specific injury scenarios in a simulated operating room environment. A pre- and postcourse examination was administered to participants to assess for improvements in team members' didactic knowledge. RESULTS: Course participants displayed a significant improvement in didactic knowledge after working in a team setting with trauma surgeons during the ATOM course, with a 9-point improvement on the postcourse examination (83%-92%, p = 0.0008). Most participants (90.5%) completing postcourse surveys reported being "highly satisfied" with course content and quality after working in our simulated team-training setting. CONCLUSIONS: Team training is critical to improving the knowledge base of surgical technicians and nurses in the trauma operative setting. Improved communication, efficiency, appropriate equipment use, and staff awareness are the desired outcomes when shifting the paradigm from individual to surgical team training so that improved patient outcomes, decreased risk, and cost savings can be achieved. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether a pilot curriculum for surgical technicians and nurses, based on the American College of Surgeons' ATOM course, improves staff knowledge if conducted in a team-training environment. DESIGN: Surgical technicians and nurses participated in a curriculum complementary to the ATOM course. In all, 8 individual 8-hour training sessions were conducted at our institution and contained both didactic and practical content, as well as alternating role play during 5 system-specific injury scenarios. A pre- and postcourse examination was administered to assess for improvements in didactic knowledge. SETTING: The course was conducted in a simulated team-training setting at the Legacy Institute for Surgical Education and Innovation (Portland, OR), an American College of Surgeons Accredited Educational Institute. PARTICIPANTS: In all, 22 surgical technicians and operating room nurses participated in 8 separate ATOM(s) courses and had at least 1 year of surgical scrubbing experience in general surgery with little or no exposure to Level I trauma surgical care. Of these participants, 16 completed the postcourse examination. RESULTS: Participants displayed a significant improvement in didactic knowledge (83%-92%, p = 0.0008) after the ATOM(s) course. Of the 14 participants who completed postcourse surveys, 90.5% were "highly satisfied" with the course content and quality. CONCLUSIONS: Team training is critical to improving the knowledge base of surgical technicians and nurses in the trauma operative setting and may contribute to improved patient outcomes, decreased risk, and hospital cost savings.

Low-Velocity Nail-Gun Injuries to the Interventricular Septum: Report of Two Cases, One in a Child.

Nail-gun injury to the heart is rare. Nail-gun injury to the interventricular septum is rarer: we could find only 5 reported cases, and none involving a child. We report 2 additional cases, in which nails penetrated the interventricular septum without causing acute pericardial tamponade, heart block, or shunt across the septum. Transesophageal echocardiography provides a dynamic way to evaluate the patient preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. In the cases reported here, both the adult with multiple interventricular nails and the child with a single nail underwent foreign-object removal via median sternotomy. The child needed cardiopulmonary bypass for removal of the nail. There were no short-term or long-term sequelae from these interventricular septal injuries.

Use of HFPV for adults with ARDS: the protocolized use of high-frequency percussive ventilation for adults with acute respiratory failure treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Historically, patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory distress syndrome have received ventilatory "lung rest" with conventional or high-frequency oscillating ventilators. We present a series of adults treated with high-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) to enhance recovery and recruitment during ECMO. Adult respiratory patients, treated between January 2009 and December 2012 were cared for with a combination of standard ECMO practices and a protocol of recruitment strategies, including HFPV. Data are reported as mean ± standard error of the mean, percentage, or median. Comparisons are made by χ for categorical variables and by t-test and Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Significance is noted at the 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). There were 39 HFPV patients. They were 39.9 ± 2.2 years of age and had 3.0 ± 0.37 days of mechanical ventilation before the initiation of ECMO. Their pre-ECMO PaO2 to FiO2 ratio (PF ratio) was 52.3 ± 3.0 and their pCO2 was 50.22 ± 2.4. HFPV patients required a mean of 143.1 ± 17.6 hours and a median of 106 hours (range 45.75-350.25) of ECMO support and had a 62% survival to discharge. The post-ECMO PF ratio in the HFPV cohort was 301.8 ± 16.7. A protocolized practice of active recruitment that includes HFPV is associated with reduced duration of ECMO support in adults with respiratory failure.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can provide cardiopulmonary support during bronchoscopic clearance of airways after sand aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Sand aspiration occurs in situations of cave-in burial and near-drowning. Sand in the tracheobronchial airways adheres to the mucosa and can cause tracheal and bronchial obstruction, which can be life-threatening even with intensive management. In previous case reports of airway obstruction caused by sand aspiration, fiber optic or rigid bronchoscopy has been effective in removing loose sand, but removal of sand particles lodged in smaller airways has proven challenging and time-consuming. CASE REPORT: In this case report of sand aspiration with acute pulmonary failure, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory support allowed more effective removal of sand particles by rigid bronchoscopy and lavage with less patient compromise. CONCLUSION: Our case of sand aspiration is unique in that the patient presents with complex medical problems (mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis), hypothermia, hypoxemia, and neoplastic conditions. The fact that she survived the sand aspiration and a long inter-hospital transport time (90 min) with inadequate ventilation and oxygenation without apparent ill effects suggests that the measures we took to resuscitate her and extract the sand from her airways were reasonable and appropriate.

Pandemic flu and the sudden demand for ECMO resources: a mature trauma program can provide surge capacity in acute critical care crises.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia created a sudden demand for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) capacity. In a single referral center, the established procedures, protocols, and staff of the Level I trauma service were adapted to help manage this nontrauma critical care crisis. METHODS: When airway pressure release ventilation and high-frequency oscillator ventilation failed, we used standard ECMO circuits and the VDR-4 critical care ventilator. We cannulated patients percutaneously in the intensive care unit and transported them on ECMO. Trauma service resources included a mobile surgical transport team, direct to OR resuscitations, massive transfusion protocols, trauma performance improvement processes, trauma resuscitation nurses, in-house attending doctors, and experienced staff familiar with protocol-driven care. RESULTS: During an 84-day period, 15 patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia were treated with ECMO. All patients were referred; 10 were transported on ECMO. Patients were aged 34.4 ± 4.1 years (6-58 years); 47% were male, and they had been ventilated 3.5 ± 0.8 days. Pre-ECMO PaO2/FIO2 ratios were 62.3 ± 6.1; ECMO duration was 9.4 ± 1.3 days for survivors; and post-ECMO PaO2/FIO2 ratio was 295.0 ± 35.1. Recovery occurred in 67% and 60% survived to discharge. No patient died of lung failure. Surviving patients were discharged at their neurologic baseline. CONCLUSION: H1N1 created a severe public health challenge for referral centers with ECMO capability. The resources of our trauma service were adapted to this nontrauma critical care crisis without disruption of other hospital services. These H1N1 patients treated with ECMO had a 67% recovery rate and a 60% survival rate. All survivors were discharged to home. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/epidemiologic study, level V.

Adult refractory hypoxemic acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: the role of a regional referral center.

BACKGROUND: The investigators present a series of adults with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at a regional referral center. METHODS: Patients with refractory hypoxic ARDS received ECMO until they recovered lung function or demonstrated futility. ECMO was initiated at the referring facility if necessary, and aggressive critical care was maintained throughout. RESULTS: ARDS due to multiple etiologies was managed with ECMO in 36 adults. The pre-ECMO ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen was 48.3 ± 2.2. Regional facilities referred 89% of these patients, and 69% required ECMO for transport. The mean duration of ECMO was 7.1 ± .9 days for survivors, and the mean post-ECMO ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen was 281.2 ± 11. ECMO was successfully weaned in 67% of patients, and 60% survived to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: ECMO provides support that prevents ventilator-induced lung injury while the lungs heal. The investigators present a series of 36 adults with refractory hypoxemic ARDS (ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen <50) from 17 different facilities who, treated with ECMO at a single referral center, had a 60% survival rate.

Reducing time on for extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation for adults with H1N1 pneumonia with the use of the Volume Diffusive Respirator.

BACKGROUND: The investigators compared a series of adult survivors of severe H1N1 pneumonia treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with members of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry for patients with H1N1 with regard to ventilator management while on ECMO. METHODS: Adults who survived ECMO were compared regarding time on ECMO for those treated with the Volume Diffusive Respirator (VDR) or with conventional "lung rest." The VDR delivered 500 percussions/min, with tidal pressures of 24/12 cm H2O and a fraction of inspired oxygen of .4 at 15 beats/min. RESULTS: There were no differences between the study patients (n = 7) and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization cohort (n = 150) regarding age, pre-ECMO ventilator days, pre-ECMO ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen, or survival after lung recovery. Patients treated with VDR required ECMO support for a shorter duration (mean, 193.29 ± 35.71 vs 296.63 ± 18.17 hours; P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the VDR enhanced pulmonary recovery from severe H1N1 pneumonia in adults. Shorter times on ECMO may improve the risk/benefit and cost/benefit ratios associated with ECMO care.

Surgical stabilization of flail chest injuries with MatrixRIB implants: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical stabilization of flail chest injury with generic osteosynthesis implants remains challenging. A novel implant system comprising anatomic rib plates and intramedullary splints may improve surgical stabilization of flail chest injuries. This observational study evaluated our early clinical experience with this novel implant system to document if it can simplify the surgical procedure while providing reliable stabilization. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients that underwent stabilization of flail chest injury with anatomic plates and intramedullary splints were prospectively enrolled at two Level I trauma centres. Data collection included patient demographics, injury characterization, surgical procedure details and post-operative recovery. Follow-up was performed at three and six months to assess pulmonary function, durability of implants and fixation and patient health. RESULTS: Patients had an Injury Severity Score of 28±10, a chest Abbreviated Injury Score of 4.2±0.4 and 8.5±2.9 fractured ribs. Surgical stabilization was achieved on average with five plates and one splint. Intra-operative contouring was required in 14% of plates. Post-operative duration of ventilation was 6.4±8.6 days. Total hospitalization was 15±10 days. At three months, patients had regained 84% of their expected forced vital capacity (%FVC). At six months, 7 of 15 patients that completed follow-up had returned to work. There was no mortality. Among the 91 rib plates, 15 splints and 605 screws in this study there was no hardware failure and no loss of initial fixation. There was one incidence of wound infection. Implants were removed in one patient after fractures had healed. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomic plates eliminated the need for extensive intraoperative plate contouring. Intramedullary rib splints provided a less-invasive fixation alternative for single, non-comminuted fractures. These early clinical results indicate that the novel implant system provides reliable fixation and accommodates the wide range of fractures encountered in flail chest injury.

Successful resuscitation after multiple injuries in the wilderness.

BACKGROUND: Survival of blunt trauma associated with hypothermic and hemorrhagic cardiac arrest in wilderness areas is extremely rare. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of a 19-year-old female college sophomore who, while glissading down Mt. Adams, had a 400-pound boulder strike her back and left pelvis, propelling her 40 feet down the mountain to land face down in the snow at 7000 feet. It took 4 h from the time of injury until the arrival of the helicopter at our Emergency Department and Trauma Center. The patient lost vital signs en route and had no CO(2) production. A cardiothoracic surgeon was the trauma surgeon on call. The patient was taken directly from the helipad to the operating room, where cutdowns enabled initial intravenous access, median sternotomy and pericardiotomy open heart massage, massive transfusion, chest and abdominal cavity irrigations with warm saline, correction of acid base imbalances and coagulopathies, and epicardial pacing that led to a successful reanimation of the patient. The patient was rewarmed without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or heat exchangers. The ensuing multiple organ failures (heart, lungs, kidneys, intestines, brain, and immune system) and rhabdomyolysis led to a 2-month intensive care unit stay. She received over 120 units of blood and blood products. The patient regained cognitive function, mobility, and overcame multiple organ failure. CONCLUSION: This report is presented to increase awareness of the potential survivability in hypothermia, and to recognize the heroic efforts of the emergency services personnel whose efforts saved the patient's life.

Poor discriminatory function for endoscopic skills on a computer-based simulator.

BACKGROUND: Computer-based endoscopy simulators may enable trainees to learn and develop technical skills before performing on patients. Simulators require validation as adequate models of live endoscopy before being used for training or assessment purposes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate content and criterion validity of the CAE EndoscopyVR Simulator colonoscopy and EGD modules as predictors of clinical endoscopic skills. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, non-randomized, parallel cohort study. SETTING: Single academic center with accredited gastroenterology training program. PARTICIPANTS: Five novice first-year gastroenterology fellows and 6 expert gastroenterology attending physicians. INTERVENTION: Participants performed 18 simulated colonoscopies and 6 simulated EGDs. The simulator recorded objective performance parameters. Participants then completed feedback surveys. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The 57 objective performance parameters measured by the endoscopy simulator were compared between the two study groups. Novice and expert survey responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Significant differences between novice and expert performance were detected in only 19 of 57 (33%) performance metrics. Eight of these 19 (42%) were time-related metrics, such as total procedure time, time to anatomic landmarks, and time spent in contact with GI mucosa. Of 49 non-time related measures, the few additional statistically significant differences between novices and experts involved air insufflation, sedation management, endoscope force, and patient comfort. These findings are of uncertain clinical significance. Survey data found multiple aspects of the simulation to be unrealistic compared with human endoscopy. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size. CONCLUSION: The CAE EndoscopyVR Simulator displays poor content and criterion validity and is thereby incapable of predicting skill during in vivo endoscopy.

Endovascular repair compared with operative repair of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: a nonsystematic review and a plea for trauma-specific reporting guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the preferred intervention for managing traumatic thoracic aortic injury. The literature suggests that TEVAR is associated with reduced mortality and paraplegia compared with open repair (OR). The lack of guidelines for reporting results and the paucity of patient follow-up make interpretation of the literature difficult. METHODS: A literature review of English language papers on thoracic aortic trauma published between 2005 and 2010 was performed. Papers were analyzed to determine how many commented on injury data known to affect outcome (age, hemodynamic stability, injury severity, degree of aortic injury, etc.). RESULTS: Sixty-two retrospective reviews and six meta-analysis papers were identified. Of the review papers, only 6.4% described aortic anatomy using standard criteria, only 25.8% reported the degree of aortic injury, only 19.4% defined early or emergent intervention, only 32.3% provided details regarding hemodynamic stability, and only 56.5% described injury severity by Injury Severity Score. In a subset analysis of papers containing trauma relevant data, comparing TEVAR with OR, the TEVAR population was older, whereas the OR group was more often unstable. TEVAR had a significantly lower mortality, a trend to reduction in paralysis, but a significantly increased stroke rate. Follow-up was minimal in both groups. CONCLUSION: The lack of reporting guidelines coupled with a paucity of follow-up data weakens any recommendation regarding the optimal choice of intervention. To address these deficiencies, we recommend reporting guidelines specific to the trauma population that will allow better risk adjustment and improve the quality of the evidence base.