Toronto Heart Attack Collaborative: an administrative model that facilitated a successful city-wide integration initiative.

This article provides a description of the administrative model that enabled a city-wide integration effort between Greater Toronto Area hospitals and Toronto Emergency Medical Services in the care of patients within the city of Toronto with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This administrative structure, known as the Toronto Heart Attack Collaborative (THAC), enabled universal 24/7 access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention within Toronto, improving patient efficacy and outcomes. The lessons and administrative enablers from this experience may be useful for regions that are embarking on multi-centre integration efforts. This article presents a five-year perspective on the THAC integration effort.

A population-based analysis of the discrepancy between potential and realized access to trauma center care.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether a discrepancy between the availability of trauma services (potential access) and trauma center utilization rates (realized access) exists, with the aim of informing strategies to improve access. BACKGROUND: Lack of access to trauma center care has frequently been attributed to the geographic distribution of trauma centers. Alternatively, impeded access to trauma center care might be due to suboptimal triage practices in the setting of appropriate resources. METHODS: Population-based retrospective cohort study of severely injured adult patients (2002-2010). Potential access to trauma center care was evaluated using network-based spatial analysis of census data and was defined as residing within 1 hour of a trauma center. Realized access to trauma center care was evaluated using population-based data sources and was defined as direct transport from the scene of injury to a trauma center. Concordance between potential and realized access (high, moderate, or low) was evaluated at the county level. RESULTS: Of the population in the study region, 7,340,711 persons (60%) had potential access to trauma center care; persons in 11 counties (22%) had high potential access. Of 26,861 severely injured patients, 10,237 (38%) had realized access to trauma center care; patients in only 4 counties (8%) had high realized access. The concordance between potential and realized access was moderate (weighted κ = 0.49); 63% of counties (n = 7) with high potential access performed worse than expected and had moderate or low realized access. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited concordance between potential and realized access. Regions with high potential access had low realized access, and vice versa. This evaluation suggests that strategies to improve access must be based on understanding the distribution of centers and the triage practices used to access trauma care.

Bicyclist deaths and striking vehicles in the USA.

OBJECTIVES: Bicycling is a popular means of transportation that is sometimes associated with injury from collisions. The authors analysed national data for the USA to evaluate bicyclist deaths associated with motor vehicle impacts. METHODS: The authors conducted a population-based case-control analysis of road deaths reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The authors included bicyclist deaths from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 (cases), along with the non-bicyclist road deaths immediately before and after the bicyclist death in the same state (controls). Analyses also included linkages to auto appraisal websites to estimate type, size and cost of the motor vehicle involved in each death. RESULTS: A total of 711 bicyclist deaths were included, equivalent to a rate of 2 deaths per million population annually. No state had a rate statistically significantly below the national average whereas Florida was a high outlier with three times the national rate (p<0.001). The typical bicyclist who died was a man travelling in the afternoon or evening. The average estimated resale value of the involved motor vehicle was about one-third higher for bicyclist deaths than control deaths (US$10 603 vs US$8118, p<0.001). Analyses based on median estimated resale value and luxury resale value yielded similar findings. Stratified analyses based on demographics, time and posted speed limits yielded similar discrepancies. Larger motor vehicles were particularly common in bicyclist deaths compared to control deaths, especially freight trucks (11% vs 8%, p=0.008) and large automobiles (43% vs 37%, p=0.004). Conversely, motorcycles were distinctly infrequent in bicyclist deaths compared to control deaths (1% vs 14%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Large expensive motor vehicles account for a disproportionate share of bicyclist deaths. Bicyclists, motorists, policy-makers and vehicle manufacturers need to consider more imaginative solutions to help prevent future deaths.

Using geographical information systems mapping to identify areas presenting high risk for traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to show how geographical information systems (GIS) can be used to track and compare hospitalization rates for traumatic brain injury (TBI) over time and across a large geographical area using population based data. RESULTS & DISCUSSION: Data on TBI hospitalizations, and geographic and demographic variables, came from the Ontario Trauma Registry Minimum Data Set for the fiscal years 1993-1994 and 2001-2002. Various visualization techniques, exploratory data analysis and spatial analysis were employed to map and analyze these data. Both the raw and standardized rates by age/gender of the geographical unit were studied. Data analyses revealed persistent high rates of hospitalization for TBI resulting from any injury mechanism between two time periods in specific geographic locations. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows how geographic information systems can be successfully used to investigate hospitalizaton rates for traumatic brain injury using a range of tools and techniques; findings can be used for local planning of both injury prevention and post discharge services, including rehabilitation.

Pediatric blunt and penetrating trauma deaths in Ontario: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe the mechanisms of injury and causes of death in children dying in a modern, integrated trauma system. METHOD: Records of all children (<16 years of age) who died in Ontario from 2001 through 2003 after blunt or penetrating trauma were obtained from the Chief Coroner. Demographics and the nature and causes of injury and the causes of death were recorded. Estimates of the mortality rate were determined using census data. RESULTS: There were 234 injury deaths (222 blunt, 12 penetrating) over the 3 years. Thirty (13%) resulted from intentional injury. The median age was 10 (range, 0-15.9) years; 62% were male. Sixty-eight percent resulted from incidents involving motor vehicles (passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist). Most (74%) died at the scene; only 5% survived for more than 24 hours. Devastating craniocervical injury (Abbreviated Injury Scale 5 or 6) was present in 84% and was the only life-threatening injury in 40%. The annual mortality rate averaged 3.2 per 100,000 children. CONCLUSIONS: In a modern, integrated trauma system, most pediatric injury deaths occur at the scene from severe head injuries. In this population, strategies to reduce the death rate from pediatric trauma must focus on primary and secondary injury prevention.

Preventable pediatric trauma deaths in Ontario: a comparative population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Previously, we demonstrated that 21% of pediatric (<16 years) trauma deaths in the Province of Ontario during the period 1985 to 1987 were potentially preventable. Since then many trauma system changes have occurred including field triage, designation of trauma centers, and improved injury prevention. This study aims to examine the current preventable trauma death rate in our system using identical methodology to our previous study. METHOD: The records of all children (<16 years) who died in Ontario from 2001 to 2003 after blunt or penetrating trauma were obtained from the Chief Coroner and compared with those in our previous report. In both series, we excluded cases where care was not sought and all deaths due to asphyxia. Deaths were considered unpreventable if the Injury Severity Score, based on Abbreviated Injury Scale 1985, was >59; or if there was a head injury that received an Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 5 with the exception of isolated extra-axial hematomas. RESULTS: Eleven preventable deaths were identified. The preventable death rate was 7%, a significant decline from the 21% previously identified (p < 0.001; relative risk reduction for preventable death, 68% [95% confidence interval, 42-83%]; number needed to treat, 7). CONCLUSION: There has been a threefold decline in the preventable death rate, which we believe is related to improvements in the trauma system. We estimated that, for every seven deaths from fatal injuries, system changes between the two study periods eliminated one preventable death.

Predictors of postacute mortality following traumatic brain injury in a seriously injured population.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a primary cause of injury mortality in developed countries but less is known about the impact of TBI on postacute mortality in large study populations. This study investigates the rate and predictors of postacute mortality (1-9 years after the initial injury) of severely injured persons with TBI in the Province of Ontario from April 1, 1993 to March 31, 1995. METHOD: Cases were identified (n = 2,721) from the Ontario Trauma Registry Comprehensive Data Set based on lead trauma hospitals in the province which also provided data on predictors. Severely injured patients (n = 557) who had lower extremity injuries during the sample time period formed a control population. RESULTS: Poisson regression modeling showed that having a TBI was a significant predictor of premature death controlling for age and injury severity. Age, the number of comorbidities, injury severity, mechanism of injury, and discharge destination were significant predictors in the multivariate analyses for the TBI population. CONCLUSIONS: This research quantifies the elevated risk of premature death in the postacute period for seriously injured adults with TBI and identifies factors most associated with highest mortality rates in this population.

Oral abuse of fentanyl patches (Duragesic): seven case reports.

In order to increase the understanding regarding the oral abuse and potential toxicity of fentanyl patches seven cases were identified over a 3-year period where fentanyl, either alone or in combination with other factors, contributed to death following the oral abuse of Duragesic patches. The decedents comprised three females and four males with ages ranging from 20 to 51 years. Postmortem blood fentanyl concentrations were determined in all cases and ranged from 7 to 97 ng/mL. Two deaths were classified as a fentanyl overdose, three deaths were classified as a fentanyl and ethanol overdose, one death was considered a mixed drug intoxication and the remaining death was determined to be a combination of fentanyl and medical causes. These cases represent the largest reported series of deaths following the oral administration of transdermal fentanyl patches and provide detailed information on the potential for the abuse of transdermal Duragesic patches via this route. The postmortem blood fentanyl concentrations detected for each of the decedents demonstrate the potentially fatal blood concentrations that can arise after this relatively rare route of administration.

Fentanyl-related deaths in Ontario, Canada: toxicological findings and circumstances of death in 112 cases (2002-2004).

In order to characterize fentanyl-related deaths in the province of Ontario, Canada, a retrospective study of all cases in which fentanyl was quantitated in blood was conducted for the time period between 2002 and 2004. A total of 112 fentanyl-related deaths were identified. Decedents ranged in age from 4 to 93 years and comprised 63 men and 49 women. A variety of routes of administration of the drug were identified: transdermal application of Duragesic patches, intravenous injection of patch contents or fentanyl citrate solution, oral/transmucosal administration, and volatilization and inhalation of Duragesic systems. Blood fentanyl concentrations were determined for all modes of drug administration and are provided. There were 54 cases in which death was attributed solely to fentanyl intoxication; the mean blood concentration was 25 microg/L (range: 3.0-383 microg/L). This concentration range overlapped with blood fentanyl concentrations measured among cases where the presence of the drug was considered incidental. For example, a mean blood concentration of 12 microg/L was observed among 12 cases of natural death (range: 2.7-33 microg/L). Detailed case reports of six individuals are also included and provide additional insight into the use of this drug for both therapeutic and illicit means.

Work-related deaths and traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the workplace is a significant contributor to the number of work-related deaths that occur per year. This study aimed to quantify and characterize these deaths in Ontario. METHODS: The study design was a case series with analytic and surveillance components. Data was obtained from the Chief Coroner's Office of Ontario from 1996-2000. RESULTS: A total of 488 work-related injury fatalities were identified. Evidence of TBI was apparent in 45% of these cases (n = 211). Industries with the highest rate of work-related TBI mortality expressed per 100,000 working population included primary industry (59.1), agriculture (24.5), construction (20.0) and transportation/communications/utilities industries (13.9). Deaths involving TBI were more likely to be due to falls than non-TBI-related deaths among workers (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Results from this research indicate that prevention programmes should focus on decreasing falls at all ages and increasing the use of personal protective equipment.

Etiology of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by coroner's diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine etiology of pediatric OHCA in a population-based sample from autopsy and coroner's diagnosis. DESIGN: As part of the Ontario Pre-hospital Advanced Life Support (OPALS) study, we conducted a prospective cohort study including children below age 19 years with OHCA in an 11-year period. Deaths were matched with provincial coroner's office records and autopsies and investigation notes were reviewed. RESULTS: From 1992 to 2002, there were 474 cardiac arrests in children below 19 years of age giving an annual incidence of 59.7 per million children. Mean age was 5.8 (S.D. 6.3), 43.0% were <1 year of age, males were 59.1%. 25.1% were bystander witnessed and 20.3% received bystander CPR. 1.9% survived to discharge. Four hundred and thirty nine matched to coroner's office records. Annual incidence rates per million by age groups were: 175.0 (age 1-4 years), 33.0 (age 5-14 years) and 61.6 (age 15-18). Annual incidence rates per million according to coroner's cause of death were: natural (26.2), accidental (17.4), suicide (3.7) and homicide (1.9). Post-mortem rate was 84.3% and Mean Injury Severity Score was 31.4 (S.D. 16.5). The commonest causes of natural death were SIDS (30.3%), cardiovascular (19.2) and respiratory (18.3%). The commonest causes of accidental death were drowning (27.5%), residential accidents (18.8%), fire (13.0%) and motor vehicle collisions (12.3%). CONCLUSION: The highest mortality rates were among children age <4 years. 52.6% of deaths were from 'unnatural' causes (accidental, suicide, homicide, undetermined). Our findings will be useful for planning prevention, treatment and future research of pediatric OHCA.