Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Despite growing interest in quality improvement, uncertainty remains about which procedures offer the most room for improvement in general surgery. In this context, we sought to describe the relative contribution of different procedures to overall morbidity, mortality, and excess length of stay in general surgery. ⋯ A relatively small number of procedures account for a disproportionate share of the morbidity, mortality, and excess hospital days in general surgery. Focusing quality improvement efforts on these procedures may be an effective strategy for improving patient care and reducing cost.
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This study attempts to validate the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Organ Injury Scale (OIS) for spleen, liver, and kidney injuries using the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). ⋯ This study validates and quantifies outcomes reflective of increasing injury severity associated with increasing OIS grades for specific solid organ injuries alone, and in combination with other abdominal injuries.