Articles: trauma.
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To characterize hospital-level professional networks of physicians caring for older trauma patients as a function of trauma patient age distribution. ⋯ Characteristics of professional networks among physicians caring for injured older adults are associated with the hospital-level proportion of trauma patients who are older, indicating differences in practice patterns at hospitals with older trauma populations. Associations between interspecialty collaboration and patient outcomes should be explored as an opportunity to improve the treatment of injured older adults.
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Although blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) are relatively common in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), uncertainty remains regarding optimal management strategies to prevent neurological complications, morbidity, and mortality. Our objectives were to characterize common care patterns; assess the prevalence of adverse outcomes, including stroke, functional deficits, and death, by BCVI grade; and evaluate therapeutic approaches to treatment in patients with BCVI and TBI. ⋯ In patients with TBI, BCVIs impart greater risk for stroke and other associated morbidities as their severity increases. It may prove difficult to mitigate high-grade BCVI-related stroke, considering most events occur in the acute window. The paucity of late time frame strokes suggest that current management strategies do help mitigate risks.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2024
Outcomes of resuscitative and emergent thoracotomies following injury at the largest trauma center in Estonia.
An emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is performed in critically injured patients after a recent or in an imminent cardiac arrest following trauma. Emergent thoracotomy (ET) or operation room thoracotomy is reserved for more stable patients. However, the number of these interventions performed in an European settings is limited. Thus, we initiated the current study to investigate outcomes and risk factors for mortality of patients required EDT or ET at the largest trauma center in Estonia. ⋯ EDT and ET outcomes in Estonian trauma system are comparable to similar advanced trauma systems in Europe. Patients with GCS > 8, signs of life in the ED and with isolated penetrating chest injury had the most favorable outcomes.
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Most major trauma admissions are older adults, many of whom are living with frailty - a recognised risk factor for post-injury mortality. ⋯ Frailty predicts long-term mortality in older trauma. Our findings have implications for clinician-patient discussions of prognosis and therapy goals. Furthermore, our results lend support to the routine provision of geriatrician input in trauma pathways.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Feb 2024
Venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis in geriatric trauma patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury.
Low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and mortality compared to unfractionated heparin (UH) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to see if this association persists among a subset of patients, namely elderly patients with isolated TBI. ⋯ LMWH was associated with a decreased risk of overall mortality and reduced risk of PE compared to UH among geriatric patients with a severe head injury.