Use of Low-Cost Task Trainer for Emergency Department Thoracotomy Training in General Surgery Residency Program.

Objective: Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is an uncommon but potentially lifesaving procedure that warrants familiarity with anatomy, instruments, and indications necessary for completion. To address this need, we developed a low-cost EDT trainer. The primary objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a low-cost EDT trainer to teach emergency department thoracotomy with a discussion-based teaching session.

Analysis of an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) Approved Pilot Project: Increasing Provider Communication During Interhospital Transfer.

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma requires physician-to-physician communication prior to interhospital transfer. This requirement can be difficult to achieve in high-volume trauma centers. This pilot project utilizes trauma advanced practice providers (APPs) as the primary communicator, in lieu of the trauma surgeon, prior to interhospital transfer.

End-of-Life Decision-Making for Patients With Geriatric Trauma Cared for in a Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

Background: The geriatric trauma population is growing and fraught with poor physiological response to injury and high mortality rates. Our primary hypothesis analyzed how prehospital and in-hospital characteristics affect decision-making regarding continued life support (CLS) versus withdrawal of care (WOC). Our secondary hypothesis analyzed adherence to end-of-life decisions regarding code status, living wills, and advanced directives.

Perceived value of trauma autopsy among trauma medical directors and coroners.

Introduction: Although autopsy is acknowledged as essential for improving quality of medical care of trauma patients and accuracy of injury surveillance systems, the autopsy rate has remained well below 100% for certain categories of trauma. We obtained recent documentation of the frequency of autopsy among trauma-related deaths in Ohio, and surveyed coroners and trauma program medical directors (TMDs) about the perceived benefits and challenges of performing autopsy.

Materials And Methods: Copies of death certificates were obtained for the years 1996-2001.