Consequences of anemia in geriatric hip fractures: how low is too low?

Background: The transfusion threshold for low hemoglobin (Hgb) in geriatric patients with hip fractures is widely debated. In certain populations, low Hgb is associated with poor outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between lowest Hgb and outcome to identify the Hgb threshold where poor outcomes were more prevalent.

The safety of continuous fascia iliaca block in patients with hip fracture taking pre-injury anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet medications.

Background: Fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is an effective method to treat pain in adult trauma patients with hip fracture. Of importance is the high prevalence of preinjury anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications in this population. To date, we have not identified any literature that has specifically evaluated the safety of FICB with continuous catheter infusion in patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy.

N -acetylcysteine is associated with reduction of postconcussive symptoms in elderly patients: A pilot study.

Introduction: N -acetylcysteine (NAC) may be neuroprotective by minimizing postconcussion symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), but limited data exist. This study evaluated the effects of NAC on postconcussion symptoms in elderly patients diagnosed with mild TBI.

Methods: This prospective, quasirandomized, controlled trial enrolled patients 60 years or older who suffered mild TBI.

The Role of Desmopressin on Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Prescribed Pre-injury Antiplatelet Medications.

Background/objective: Desmopressin (DDAVP) has been suggested for antiplatelet medication reversal in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) but there are limited data describing its effect on clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of DDAVP on hematoma expansion and thrombosis in patients with TBI who were prescribed pre-injury antiplatelet medications.

Methods: Consecutive adult patients who were admitted to our level I trauma center and prescribed pre-injury antiplatelet medications between July, 2012, and May, 2018, were retrospectively identified.

Utilization of Augmented Renal Clearance in Trauma Intensive Care Scoring System to Improve Vancomycin Dosing in Trauma Patients at Risk for Augmented Renal Clearance.

The Augmented Renal Clearance in Trauma Intensive Care (ARCTIC) scoring system is a validated system to predict augmented renal clearance in trauma patients. This study examined the ability of the ARCTIC score to identify patients at risk for subtherapeutic vancomycin trough concentrations relative to estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) alone. Trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit from September 2012 to December 2017 who received vancomycin and had a vancomycin trough concentration recorded were included.

Lacosamide versus phenytoin for the prevention of early post traumatic seizures.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of lacosamide versus phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis following TBI.

Materials And Methods: All TBI patients who received prophylaxis with either phenytoin or lacosamide were retrospectively identified. The incidence of seizures within the first 7 days of injury were compared along with adverse effects requiring drug discontinuation.

Utilization of Geriatric Consultation and Team-Based Care.

Geriatric surgical patients experience higher mortality and morbidity rates than their younger counterparts. Three models of geriatric surgical care are described, with a focus on people, plans, and evaluation. These models include geriatric consultation services, geriatric wards, and geriatric multidisciplinary teams.

Geriatric (G60) trauma patients with severe rib fractures: Is muscle sparing minimally invasive thoracotomy rib fixation safe and does it improve post-operative pulmonary function?

Background: Patient outcomes after muscle sparing minimally invasive thoracotomy rib fixation (MSMIT-ORF) in geriatric G60 trauma patients remain poorly studied. This study determined the effect of MSMIT-ORF on pulmonary function (PFT). Non-operatively managed (NOM) patients were also described.

Bilateral Pneumothoraces in a Trauma Patient After Dobhoff Tube Insertion.

BACKGROUND Dobhoff tube insertion is a common procedure used in the clinical setting to deliver enteral nutrition. Although it is often viewed as an innocuous bedside procedure, there are risks for numerous complications such as tracheobronchial insertion, which could lead to deleterious consequences. We present to our knowledge the first reported case of bilateral pneumothoraces caused by the insertion of a Dobhoff tube.

Identifying augmented renal clearance in trauma patients: Validation of the Augmented Renal Clearance in Trauma Intensive Care scoring system.

Background: Augmented renal clearance (ARC) is common in trauma patients and associated with subtherapeutic antimicrobial concentrations. This study reported the incidence of ARC, identified ARC risk factors, and described a model to predict ARC (i.e.

The importance of empiric antibiotic dosing in critically ill trauma patients: Are we under-dosing based on augmented renal clearance and inaccurate renal clearance estimates?

Background: An accurate assessment of creatinine clearance (CrCl) is essential when dosing medications in critically ill trauma patients. Trauma patients are known to experience augmented renal clearance (i.e.

Is there a difference in efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness between 3-factor and 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrates among trauma patients on oral anticoagulants?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (3F-PCC) vs 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate PCC (4F-PCC) in trauma patients requiring reversal of oral anticoagulants.

Materials And Methods: All consecutive trauma patients with coagulopathy (international normalized ratio [INR] ≥1.5) secondary to oral anticoagulants who received either 3F-PCC or 4F-PCC from 2010 to 2014 at 2 trauma centers were reviewed.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report.

Background: Traumatic brain injury remains a challenging and complicated disease process to care for, despite the advance of technology used to monitor and guide treatment. Currently, the mainstay of treatment is aimed at limiting secondary brain injury, with the help of multiple specialties in a critical care setting. Prognosis after TBI is often even more challenging than the treatment itself, although there are various exam and imaging findings that are associated with poor outcome.

Geriatric trauma G-60 falls with hip fractures: A pilot study of acute pain management using femoral nerve fascia iliac blocks.

Background: Hip fractures due to falls cause significant morbidity and mortality among geriatric patients. A significant unmet need is an optimal pain management strategy. Consequently, patients are treated with standard analgesic care (SAC) regimens, which deliver high narcotic doses.

Trauma-associated pneumonia: time to redefine ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients.

Background: The high prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in trauma patients has been reported in the literature, but the reasons for this observation remain unclear. We hypothesize that trauma factors play critical roles in VAP etiology.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 1,044 ventilated trauma patients were identified from December 2010 to December 2013.

Preperitoneal surgery using a self-adhesive mesh for inguinal hernia repair.

Background And Objectives: Laparoscopic preperitoneal hernia repair with mesh has been reported to result in improved patient outcomes. However, there are few published data on the use of a totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. The purpose of this study was to present our experience and evaluate early outcomes of TEP inguinal hernia repair with self-adhesive mesh.

Geriatric trauma hip fractures: is there a difference in outcomes based on fracture patterns?

Background: Annually in the US, there are over 300,000 hospital admissions due to hip fractures in geriatric patients. Consequently, there have been several large observational studies, which continue to provide new insights into differences in outcomes among hip fracture patients. However, few hip fracture studies have specifically examined the relationship between hip fracture patterns, sex, and short-term outcomes including hospital length of stay and discharge disposition in geriatric trauma patients.

Role of STAT3 and GATA-1 interactions in gamma-globin gene expression.

Objective: We previously demonstrated a silencing role for signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in gamma-globin gene regulation in primary erythroid cells. Recently, GATA-1, a key transcription factor involved in hematopoietic cell development, was shown to directly inhibit STAT3 activity in vivo. Therefore, we completed studies to determine if interactions between these two factors influence gamma-globin gene expression.