Articles: trauma.
-
Trauma care frequently happens in emergency departments (ED) outside of major trauma centers. Many injuries often exceed the specialty capabilities of referring hospitals, requiring transfer to larger trauma centers. However, the proportion of patients discharged home without admission from receiving facilities remains unclear, suggesting potential overutilization of transfers. We sought to determine the proportion of transfer patients that are discharged home from the receiving ED. ⋯ We found that approximately 1 in 9 patients transferred to a higher level of care are discharged home from the ED, with most requiring neurosurgical, ophthalmologic, dental and craniomaxillofacial services. These findings suggest that virtual communication technology could reduce unnecessary transfers and associated costs.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2025
Highlights From the 2023 Revision of Pediatric Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Guidelines.
In 2023 the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (C-TECC) issued updated Pediatric Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) Guidelines ( Guidelines ) that focus on the delivery of stabilizing care of children who are the victims of high-threat incidents such as an active shooter event. The Guidelines provide evidence-based and best practice recommendations to those individuals and departments that specifically provide operational medical support to law enforcement agencies caring for children in this uniquely dangerous environment where traditional resources may not be available. This article highlights key takeaway points from the Guidelines , including several updates since the first version was released in 2013. ⋯ The high-threat environment is dynamic and there is competing safety, tactical/operational, and patient care priorities for responders when infants and children are injured. The Guidelines provide recommendations on the type of medical and psychological care that should be considered under each phase of threat and establishes the context for how and why to deliver (or potentially defer) certain interventions under some circumstances in order the maximize the opportunity for a good outcome for an injured pediatric patient. The Guidelines also emphasize the importance of synergizing hospital-based pediatric trauma care with those law enforcement and fire/emergency medical services that may provide field care to children under high-threat circumstances.
-
Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2025
Novel application of latent class analysis to outcome assessment in traumatic brain injury with multiple injury subtypes or poly-TBI.
The aim of this study was to stratify poly-traumatic brain injury (poly-TBI) patterns into discrete classes and to determine the association of these classes with mortality and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST). ⋯ Distinct poly-TBI classes were associated with increased in-hospital mortality and WLST. Further research with larger datasets will allow for more comprehensive poly-TBI class definitions and outcomes analysis.
-
Assessing the impact of perioperative anticoagulant continuation on DVT/PE rates in trauma patients.
In the United States, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) ranked high in terms of possibly preventable hospital deaths. Victims of trauma were at a higher risk of developing thromboembolic complications, and thus various agents were used for prophylaxis. Multiple studies recommended holding these agents in the perioperative period to decrease the potential complications of additional bleeding, wound issues, hematoma etc. However, the data regarding the timing and duration of withholding these agents was not consistent and at times surgeon specific. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT/PE in trauma patients before and after a June 2022 policy intervention to operate through prophylactic anticoagulation at an academic trauma center. ⋯ Findings suggested that DVT/PE rates have significantly decreased post policy change without a significant increase in mortality and bleeding risk.
-
Multicenter Study Observational Study
Tranexamic Acid in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.
Tranexamic acid (TXA) can be used after trauma to prevent bleeding. Our goal was to examine the influence of TXA on morbidity and mortality for children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ TXA administration was not associated with either death or poor neurologic outcome. Prospective clinical trials of TXA usage in children with severe TBI are needed.