"Blunt adrenal injury does not affect outcomes in adult patients with isolated abdominal injury - A National Trauma Data Bank review®".

Introduction: Traumatic blunt adrenal injury (BAI) has been an area of debate, with conflicting data on its impact. BAI from blunt abdominal injury is challenging to diagnose early due to retroperitoneal gland location and minimal clinical signs. The incidence of BAI ranges from 0.

Changes in Patterns of Trauma Injuries in the Dakotas Region During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The aim of this study is to compare impact of COVID-19 on trauma volume and characteristics on a set of trauma centers with a rural catchment area. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected different parts of the country quite differently, both in case volume and in local responses. State-wide responses have varied considerably, including variations in local mask mandates, school closures, and social distancing measures.

Inhaled Nitroglycerin for Pulmonary Edema in Air Medical Services: A Retrospective Pilot Study.

Objective: The use of traditional inhaled pulmonary vasodilators, such as nitric oxide, to treat symptomatic pulmonary edema is not practical in the air medical or prehospital environment because of difficulty with administration. A hospital-based critical care air medical transport service initiated a pilot study to investigate the use of inhaled nitroglycerin (iNTG) as an alternative pulmonary vasodilator.

Methods: For this pilot study, iNTG was administered using a jet nebulizer setup and concentrated nitroglycerin, both of which are widely available in acute care settings.

Optimal Timing of Tracheostomy in the Setting of COVID-19 and Associated Pneumothorax.

Introduction At the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, no criteria were in place regarding the timing of tracheostomy placement in intubated COVID-19 patients, nor were there any data pertaining to pneumothorax incidence in this population. This study examines the timing of tracheostomy placement and its correlation with patient outcomes, along with pneumothorax incidence in COVID-19 patients who underwent a tracheostomy.  Methods We performed a multi-institutional retrospective study of intubated COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in North and South Dakota between April 2020 and December 2020.

"Blunt adrenal injury does not affect outcomes in the pediatric population with isolated abdominal injury- a National Trauma Data Bank Review®.".

Background: The incidence of blunt abdominal injury (BAI) in the adult population has been estimated to be between 0.03% and 4.95%.

Tractor Injuries in the Upper Midwestern United States: a retrospective analysis of four trauma centers.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to characterize the incidence, injury characteristics, and outcomes of patients presented to four trauma facilities located in the upper Midwest with tractor-related agricultural injuries.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the facility level trauma registries of four trauma centers located in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2021. We characterized the incidence, severity and outcomes of traumatic tractor-related agricultural injuries for pediatric and adult patients.

Using Partnerships and Multiple Data Sources to Surveil Agricultural Injuries: Considerations and Recommendations.

This article describes an interprofessional collaboration between Sanford Health and North Dakota State University that strengthens agricultural injury surveillance in the upper Midwest by using multiple sources of health data and geographic information systems (GIS) technology. We provide methodological insights and considerations for using and combining facility-level trauma registry (FLTR) data, national data sets, and GIS to identify areas with disproportionate agricultural injury prevalence. Additionally, we discuss the benefits of FLTR data, how and why it is collected, the data it contains, and how it can be combined with national datasets to fill-in surveillance gaps.

Benefits of Early Utilization of Palliative Care Consultation in Trauma Patients.

Objectives: To determine the effects of palliative care consultation if performed within 72 hours of admission on length of stay (LOS), mortality, and invasive procedures.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Single-center level 1 trauma center.

Children and youth agricultural injuries: A retrospective analysis of pediatric trauma admissions in North Dakota.

Introduction: Farm children and youths face unique health risks, including increased risk of agricultural injuries (AI), due to the hazardous machinery, structures and animals on their residential environment. As a result, they experience more severe and complex polytraumatic injuries and longer hospital stays compared to those children injured in homes or residences. A major barrier to the prevention of AI among children and youth residing on farms is a lack of analytic studies about the magnitude and characteristics of these injuries, especially in North Dakota.

Consistency is Key: Additional Education and Outreach in a Rural Trauma System Reduces Excess Imaging Studies.

Background: Repeat imaging for trauma patients is common in rural health care systems after transfer to a tertiary trauma center which subjects patients to increased radiation, excess costs, and delays to definitive care. A previous retrospective review at our regional trauma center found that pre-transfer CT scans were frequently performed with little change in management. To improve this rate, additional emphasis was placed on (1) best imaging practices during Rural Trauma Team Development Courses (RTTDC), (2) management feedback during regional trauma case reviews, and (3) implementation of practice management guidelines for an inter-provider telehealth system.

Farm Machinery Injuries: A Retrospective Analysis of Admissions at a Level I Trauma Center in North Dakota.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to characterize the incidence, injury characteristics, and outcomes of patients presented to a Level I adult trauma center in Fargo, North Dakota, with farm machinery injuries (FMI).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the trauma registry of Sanford Medical Center Fargo (SMCF) between January 2010 and December 2020. We compared admission characteristics of FMI admissions to non-FMI admissions, identified the types of machinery that are most commonly associated with FMI, and described the nature of these injuries by severity, anatomical site, type, age, sex, and length of stay (LoS).

Stapling Common Enterotomy Does Not Increase Leak Rates in Stapled Anastomoses.

Background: Stapled vs handsewn methods of bowel anastomosis have been extensively studied, however, no study has compared the handsewn vs stapled technique of closing the common enterotomy. Anecdotal concerns of higher leak rates due to crossing staple lines has led some to prefer a handsewn technique for closing the common enterotomy.

Methods: Patients undergoing stapled side-to-side enteroenteric and enterocolonic anastomoses in both emergent and elective settings at 1 tertiary center from 2016 to 2020 were studied.