Practice variation in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in adolescent trauma patients: A comparative analysis of pediatric, adult, and mixed trauma centers.

Introduction: Adolescent trauma patients are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is unclear whether VTE prophylaxis practice patterns differ across trauma center types.

Methods: The ACS-TQP database was queried for patients aged 12-17 admitted to a pediatric, adult, or mixed level I/II trauma center.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: A Review.

Importance: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are severe life- and limb-threatening infections with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, there has been minimal improvement in outcomes over time.

Observations: NSTIs are characterized by their heterogeneity in microbiology, risk factors, and anatomical involvement.

Interhospital variation in the nonoperative management of acute cholecystitis.

Background: Cholecystectomy remains the standard management for acute cholecystitis. Given that rates of nonoperative management have increased, we hypothesize the existence of significant hospital-level variability in operative rates. Thus, we characterized patients who were managed nonoperatively at normal and lower operative hospitals (>90th percentile).

An Abdominal Seat Belt Sign is Associated With Similar Incidence of Hollow Viscus Injury but Increased In-Hospital Mortality in Older Adult Trauma Patients: A PCSA Multicenter Study.

Background: The abdominal seat belt sign (SBS) is associated with an increased risk of hollow viscus injury (HVI). Older age is associated with worse outcomes in trauma patients. Thus, older trauma patients ≥65 years of age (OTPs) may be at an increased risk of HVI with abdominal SBS.

Management of Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Review.

Importance: Gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis, accounting for approximately 50% of cases. Without appropriate and timely treatment, patients are at increased risk of disease progression and recurrence. While there is increasing consensus among guidelines for the management of mild GSP, adherence to these guidelines remains poor.

The Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Pediatric Trauma.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created difficulties in access to care. There was also increased penetrating trauma in adults, which has been attributed to factors including increased firearm sales and social isolation. However, less is known about the relationship between the pandemic and pediatric trauma patients (PTPs).

When is it safe to start venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after blunt solid organ injury? A prospective American Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional trial.

Background: The optimal time to initiate venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis (VTEp) after blunt solid organ injury remains controversial, as VTE mitigation must be balanced against bleeding promulgation. Evidence from primarily small, retrospective, single-center work suggests that VTEp ≤48 hours is safe and effective. This study was undertaken to validate this clinical practice.

Development and Validation of a Novel Hollow Viscus Injury Prediction Score for Abdominal Seatbelt Sign: A Pacific Coast Surgical Association Multicenter Study.

Background: High-quality CT can exclude hollow viscus injury (HVI) in patients with abdominal seatbelt sign (SBS) but performs poorly at identifying HVI. Delay in diagnosis of HVI has significant consequences necessitating timely identification.

Study Design: This multicenter, prospective observational study conducted at 9 trauma centers between August 2020 and October 2021 included adult trauma patients with abdominal SBS who underwent abdominal CT before surgery.

Outcomes Following Below Knee Arterial Trauma.

Introduction: Lower extremity vascular injuries have significant implications for trauma patients with regards to morbidity from limb loss. There is limited evidence on outcomes for patients with injuries to tibial arteries. Our study focuses on defining outcomes of traumatic vascular injury to vessels below the knee.

Early Outcomes of Subtotal vs Total Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis.

This cohort study compares outcomes including hospital length of stay and 30-day rates of complications after nonelective subtotal cholecystectomy vs total cholecystectomy among patients with cholecystitis.

Excluding Hollow Viscus Injury for Abdominal Seat Belt Sign Using Computed Tomography.

Importance: Abdominal seat belt sign (SBS) has historically entailed admission and observation because of the diagnostic limitations of computed tomography (CT) imaging and high rates of hollow viscus injury (HVI). Recent single-institution, observational studies have questioned the utility of this practice.

Objective: To evaluate whether a negative CT scan can safely predict the absence of HVI in the setting of an abdominal SBS.

Outcomes of Highest Grade (IV and V) Liver Injuries in Blunt and Penetrating Trauma.

Background: High-grade hepatic trauma can be devastating, with complications being common if patients survive. Studies comparing outcome differences between blunt and penetrating mechanism are lacking. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the association of traumatic mechanism with complications in patients sustaining grades IV and V liver injuries.

Factors that Predict the Need for Subtotal Cholecystectomy.

Background: Subtotal cholecystectomy is a "damage control" or "bailout procedure" that is used in difficult gallbladder cases when severe inflammation distorts the local anatomy resulting in increased risk in damage to surrounding structures. Subtotal cholecystectomy rates increased nationally over the past decade. We aimed to determine provider experience and patient factors associated with the performance of subtotal cholecystectomies.

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.

Wound Culture Utility in Negative Surgical Exploration for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection.

Early surgical intervention decreases mortality in necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs). Yet, a subset of patients will not have NSTIs (non-NSTIs) at the time of exploration. We hypothesized that NSTI and non-NSTI patients had similar causative organisms and that intraoperative wound cultures could help guide management.

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.

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 Ischemic Bowel in Patients with Small Bowel Obstruction.

Preoperative diagnosis of ischemic bowel in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative variables associated with ischemic bowel found at operative exploration. We performed a 5-year retrospective review of patients admitted to a university affiliated, county funded hospital who underwent exploratory laparoscopy or laparotomy for SBO.