Integrated vascular training may not prepare graduates to care for vascular trauma patients.

Background: Vascular surgery board eligibility may be secured through 5+0 integrated programs (IV) as well as 5+2 general surgery/vascular fellowship pathway (VF). We hypothesized that IV graduates accrue less experience relevant to vascular trauma than VF graduates. We assessed the first decade of IV graduate experience and compared it to contemporaneous VF graduates.

Main versus segmental hepatic artery angioembolization in patients with traumatic liver injuries: A Western Trauma Association multicenter study.

Introduction: Hepatic angioembolization is highly effective for hemorrhage control in hemodynamically stable patients with traumatic liver injuries and contrast extravasation. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the specific location of angioembolization within the hepatic arterial vasculature and its implications on patient outcomes.

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study across 23 centers was performed.

Observation-first versus angioembolization-first approach in stable patients with blunt liver trauma: A WTA multicenter study.

Background: Prior studies evaluating observation versus angioembolization (AE) for blunt liver injuries (BLT) with contrast extravasation (CE) on computed tomography imaging have yielded inconsistent conclusions, primarily due to limitations in single-center and/or retrospective study design. Therefore, this multicenter study aims to compare an observation versus AE-first approach for BLT, hypothesizing decreased liver-related complications (LRCs) with observation.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study (2019-2021) across 23 centers.

The incidence and risk factors of proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis without pharmacologic prophylaxis in critically ill surgical Taiwanese patients: A prospective study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in critically ill patients has been well-studied in Western countries. Many studies have developed risk assessments and established pharmacological protocols to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT). However, the DVT rate and need for pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in critically ill Taiwanese patients are limited.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma/American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma clinical protocol for postdischarge venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after trauma.

Trauma patients are at an elevated risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. In the inpatient setting, prompt pharmacologic prophylaxis is utilized to prevent VTE. For patients with lower extremity fractures or limited mobility, VTE risk does not return to baseline levels postdischarge.

Predictors of fetal delivery in pregnant trauma patients: A multicenter study.

Background: Pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) undergo observation and fetal monitoring following trauma due to possible fetal delivery (FD) or adverse outcome. There is a paucity of data on PTP outcomes, especially related to risk factors for FD. We aimed to identify predictors of posttraumatic FD in potentially viable pregnancies.

Antithrombin III levels in critically ill surgical patients: do they correlate with VTE?

Objective: Antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency may result from hereditary or acquired reduction in ATIII levels and is associated with an increase in venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the general population. VTE is a potentially preventable complication in the critically ill surgical patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between ATIII levels and VTE in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients.

Pediatric emergency resuscitative thoracotomy: A Western Trauma Association, Pediatric Trauma Society, and Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma collaborative critical decisions algorithm.

Literature synthesis and expert opinion, Level V.

Creatinine clearance predicts the goal enoxaparin dose in traumatic brain injury.

Background: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recent guidelines recommend starting TBI patients on enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily and then considering weight-based dosing. Creatinine clearance may be better than weight for patients when considering high and low enoxaparin dose requirements.

Inadequate Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis Is Associated With Higher Venous Thromboembolism Rates Among Trauma Patients With Epidurals.

Introduction: Guidelines encourage higher doses of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for prophylaxis in trauma patients. The risks of LMWH must be considered for patients who require an epidural catheter. We compared adequate and inadequate prophylaxis to determine if venous thromboembolism (VTE) and complication rates differed among patients with epidural catheters.

Creatinine Clearance May Predict Goal Enoxaparin Dose in Trauma.

Background: Guidelines for enoxaparin dosing after trauma recommend an initial dose of 40 mg twice daily for most patients and then adjusting by anti-Xa levels. Previous studies indicated higher enoxaparin doses are necessary with higher levels of creatinine clearance (CrCl). We sought to determine if the goal enoxaparin dose correlates with the admission CrCl to reduce the reliance on measuring anti-Xa levels.

Approaches for optimizing venous thromboembolism prevention in injured patients: Findings from the consensus conference to implement optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in trauma.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major issue in trauma patients. Without prophylaxis, the rate of deep venous thrombosis approaches 60% and even with chemoprophylaxis may be nearly 30%. Advances in VTE reduction are imperative to reduce the burden of this issue in the trauma population.

Novel therapeutic medications for venous thromboembolism prevention in trauma patients: Findings from the Consensus Conference to Implement Optimal Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Trauma.

Trauma patients are at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Despite evidence-based guidelines and concerted efforts in trauma centers to implement optimal chemoprophylaxis strategies, VTE remains a frequent diagnosis in trauma patients. Current chemoprophylaxis strategies largely focus on the subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin, which is administered twice daily.

Blunt pancreatic trauma: A Western Trauma Association critical decisions algorithm.

Background: The Western Trauma Association (WTA) has undertaken publication of best practice clinical practice guidelines on multiple trauma topics. These guidelines are based on scientific evidence, case reports, and best practices per expert opinion. Some of the topics covered by this consensus group do not have the ability to have randomized controlled studies completed because of complexity, ethical issues, financial considerations, or scarcity of experience and cases.