Use of artificial intelligence to support prehospital traumatic injury care: A scoping review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformative potential to support prehospital clinicians, emergency physicians, and trauma surgeons in acute traumatic injury care. This scoping review examines the literature evaluating AI models using prehospital features to support early traumatic injury care.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in August 2023 of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Building Geriatric Trauma Programs in Resource-Constrained Environments: Trauma Quality Improvement Program Guideline Implementation at Two Safety Net Hospitals in Southern California.

To improve care of geriatric trauma patients, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) updated guidelines in 2021. Amid geriatrician shortages in Southern California, 2 Los Angeles County safety net hospitals were tasked with creating a strategy to meet geriatric trauma guidelines despite constrained resources. All trauma patients ≥ 60 years admitted to a safety net hospital in Southern California were enrolled without exclusions (August 2022-April 2023).

Short Courses of Antibiotics Are Safe in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections.

Introduction: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) carry high morbidity and mortality. While early aggressive surgical debridement is well-accepted treatment for NSTIs, the optimum duration of adjunct antibiotic therapy is unclear. An increasing focus on safety and evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship suggests a value in addressing this knowledge gap.

Recovery of Pediatric Patients After Firearm Injury: Can Health Systems Do More?

Background: Firearm injuries are the second leading cause of death among youth in the United States. Nonfatal firearm injuries far outnumber fatalities, yet data detailing the recovery and post-injury needs of pediatric patients after hospital discharge are limited. This study evaluated health system support of pediatric patients after firearm injury, from acute hospitalization to outpatient follow-up.

Trauma patients returning to the emergency department after discharge.

Background: While readmission rates of trauma patients are well described, little has been reported on rates of re-presentation to the emergency department (ED) after discharge. This study aimed to determine rates and contributing factors of re-presentation of trauma patients to the ED.

Methods: One-year retrospective analysis of discharged adult trauma patients at a county-funded safety-net level one trauma center.

Implementation of a multidisciplinary perinatal emergency response team improves time to definitive obstetrical evaluation and fetal assessment.

Background: Trauma is the leading cause of nonobstetric death during pregnancy and is associated with an increased risk of maternal and fetal mortality. In an effort to improve the delivery of care to pregnant trauma patients, we developed an institutional multidisciplinary quality initiative designed to improve response times of nontrauma specialists and ensure immediate availability of resources. We hypothesized that implementation of a perinatal emergency response team (PERT) would improve time to patient and fetal evaluation and monitoring by the obstetrics (OB) team and improve both maternal and fetal outcomes.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Is Safe in Emergency General Surgery Patients with Cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is associated with adverse outcomes after emergency general surgery (EGS). The objective of this study was to determine the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in EGS patients with cirrhosis. We performed a two-year retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients who underwent LC for symptomatic gallstones.

Primary Skin Closure after Repair of Hollow Viscus Injuries.

Decisions regarding whether to close the skin in trauma patients with hollow viscus injuries (HVIs) are based on surgeon discretion and the perceived risk for an SSI. We hypothesized that leaving the skin open would result in fewer wound complications in patients with HVIs. We performed a retrospective analysis of all adult patients who underwent operative repair of an HVI.

Narrowed pulse pressure predicts massive transfusion and emergent operative intervention following penetrating trauma.

Introduction: The early identification of hemorrhagic shock may be challenging. The objective of this study was to examine the utility of a narrowed pulse pressure in identifying the need for emergent interventions following penetrating trauma.

Methods: In this 2.

Chance to cut: defining a negative exploration rate in patients with suspected necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are aggressive infections associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite multiple predictive models for the identification of NSTI, a subset of patients will not have an NSTI at the time of surgical exploration. We hypothesized there is a subset of patients without NSTI who are clinically indistinguishable from those with NSTI.

Evaluation of Trauma Triage Criteria Performance in a Regional Trauma System.

We evaluated the performance of individual trauma triage criteria using data from a regional trauma registry. Los Angeles County (LAC) paramedics use triage criteria adapted from the 2011 Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to triage injured patients to Trauma Centers (TCs). TCs report outcomes to a LAC EMS registry.

Current Burden of Gunshot Wound Injuries at Two Los Angeles County Level I Trauma Centers.

Background: Gunshot wound (GSW) injuries present a unique surgical challenge. This study explored the financial and clinical burdens of GSW patients across 2 Los Angeles County Level I trauma centers over the last 12 years, and compared them with other forms of interpersonal injury (OIPI).

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of patients presenting as those with GSW and OIPI (defined as combined stab wound or blunt assault), between January 1, 2006 and March 30, 2018, at LAC+USC Medical Center (LAC+USC) and Harbor UCLA Medical Center (HUCLA).

Utility of Repeat Head CT in Patients on Preinjury Antithrombotic Medications.

Presently, there are no standardized guidelines regarding the necessity or timing of repeat head imaging in patients on antithrombotics (antiplatelet agents, warfarin, or novel oral anticoagulants) with suspected traumatic brain injury. This is a two-year single institutional retrospective analysis of patients with suspected traumatic brain injury on antithrombotic medications. Patients with a stable or negative repeat head CT were compared with patients who developed a new bleed or demonstrated progression of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

Mandatory Operative Re-Exploration after Initial Debridement of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: Is it Mandatory?

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are aggressive infections requiring prompt diagnosis and extensive surgical debridement. Traditionally, patients undergo mandatory re-exploration to ensure adequacy of source control. The purpose of this study is to determine if re-exploration in the operating room is mandatory for all patients with NSTIs.

Patient Outcomes at Urban and Suburban Level I Versus Level II Trauma Centers.

Study Objective: Regionalized systems of trauma care and level verification are promulgated by the American College of Surgeons. Whether patient outcomes differ between the 2 highest verifications, Levels I and II, is unknown. In contrast to Level II centers, Level I centers are required to care for a minimum number of severely injured patients, have immediate availability of subspecialty services and equipment, and demonstrate research, substance abuse screening, and injury prevention.

Clinical predictors of early acute respiratory distress syndrome in trauma patients.

Background: The objectives of this study were to examine the incidence and severity of early acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) according to the Berlin Definition and to identify risk factors associated with the development of early post-traumatic ARDS.

Methods: A 2.5-year retrospective database of adult trauma patients who required mechanical ventilation for greater than 48 hours at a level 1 trauma center was analyzed for variables predictive of early (<48 hours after injury), mild, moderate, and severe ARDS and in-hospital mortality.

Predictors of Mortality in Trauma Patients Aged 80 years or Older.

The population of the United States is predicted to age dramatically over the next few decades; as such older patients will comprise an increasing proportion of the injured populations. Due to multiple comorbidities and frailty, the old and very old are at greater risk for mortality than younger patients. To identify predictors of inhospital mortality in these patients, we performed a retrospective cohort study at our Level 1 trauma center.

Admission Variables Associated with a Favorable Outcome after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Consensus is lacking for ideal management of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Patients are often monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) without additional interventions. We sought to identify admission variables associated with a favorable outcome (ICU admission for 24 hours, no neurosurgical interventions, no complications or mortality) to divert these patients to a non-ICU setting in the future.

Factors Associated with Amputation after Popliteal Vascular Injuries.

Background: Popliteal artery trauma has the highest rate of limb loss of all peripheral vascular injuries. The objectives of this study were to evaluate outcomes after popliteal vascular injury and to identify predictors of amputation.

Methods: Retrospective data over a 14-year period were collected for patients with popliteal artery with or without vein injuries.

Outcomes after External Iliac and Femoral Vascular Injuries.

Background: Vascular injuries occurring at the junction of the trunk and lower extremity are uncommon yet challenging because of their location and potential for associated truncal injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare outcomes among patients sustaining external iliac and femoral vascular injuries.

Methods: We performed a 13-year retrospective analysis of our level 1 trauma center database to identify and compare patients with external iliac and femoral vessel injuries.

The impact of intracranial pressure monitoring on mortality after severe traumatic brain injury.

Background: The effect of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring on mortality after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) remains unclear. We hypothesized that ICP monitoring would not be associated with improved survival in patients with sTBI.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on sTBI patients, defined as admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less with intracranial hemorrhage.

Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Penetrating Inferior Vena Cava Injuries Surviving to the Operating Room.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To identify clinical factors associated with mortality in patients undergoing operative intervention for penetrating IVC injuries, a retrospective review of 98 patients was performed, excluding blunt injuries (n = 20) and deaths before surgery (n = 16). The overall mortality was 58 per cent.

Utility of Chest Computed Tomography after a "Normal" Chest Radiograph in Patients with Thoracic Stab Wounds.

Chest computed tomography (CCT) is used to screen for injuries in hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating injury. We aim to determine the incidence of missed injuries detected on CCT after a negative chest radiograph (CXR) in patients with thoracic stab wounds. A 10-year retrospective review of a Level I trauma center registry was performed on patients with thoracic stab wounds.

Nutritional Status Does Not Correlate with Stump Complications in Two-stage Lower Extremity Amputations.

Unsalvageable foot infections require a two-staged amputation: an initial guillotine below-knee amputation (BKA) followed by formalization. No literature exists regarding the optimal timing to formalization, and the role of nutrition on outcomes remains unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate whether timing to formalization or nutritional markers correlate with stump complications.

The impact of a massive transfusion protocol on outcomes among patients with abdominal aortic injuries.

Background: Injuries of the abdominal aorta are uncommon and associated with a high mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an institutional massive transfusion protocol (MTP) on outcomes in patients with injuries of the abdominal aorta.

Methods: A 12.