Stop the Bleed-Wait for the Ambulance or Get in the Car and Drive? A Post Hoc Analysis of an EAST Multicenter Trial.

The Stop the Bleed campaign gives bystanders an active role in prehospital hemorrhage control. Whether extending bystanders' role to private vehicle transport (PVT) for urban penetrating trauma improves survival is unknown, but past research has found benefit to police and PVT. We hypothesized that for penetrating trauma in an urban environment, where prehospital procedures have been proven harmful, PVT improves outcomes compared to any EMS or advanced life support (ALS) transport.

Tranexamic Acid and Pulmonary Complications: A Secondary Analysis of an EAST Multicenter Trial.

Background: Anti-inflammatory effects of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing trauma endotheliopathy may protect from acute lung injury. Clinical data showing this benefit in trauma patients is lacking. We hypothesized that TXA administration mitigates pulmonary complications in penetrating trauma patients.

The effect of circle of willis anatomy and scanning practices on outcomes for blunt cerebrovascular injuries.

Background: Limited research has explored the effect of Circle of Willis (CoW) anatomy among blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) on outcomes. It remains unclear if current BCVI screening and scanning practices are sufficient in identification of concomitant COW anomalies and how they affect outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult traumatic BCVIs at 17 level I-IV trauma centers (08/01/2017-07/31/2021).

Hospice and palliative care utilization in 16 004 232 medicare claims: comparing trauma to surgical and medical inpatients.

Background: Hospice and palliative care (PC) utilization is increasing in geriatric inpatients, but limited research exists comparing rates among trauma, surgical and medical specialties. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences among these three groups in rates of hospice and PC utilization.

Methods: Patients from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Inpatient Standard Analytical Files for 2016-2020 aged ≥65 years were analyzed.

Outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury after stress ulcer prophylaxis: a retrospective multicenter study.

Background: Stress ulcers in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) present significant morbidity and mortality risks. Despite the low reported stress ulcer rates, stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is widely administered in neurocritical care. It was hypothesized that universal SUP administration may not be associated with reduced rates of complications across all neurocritical care patients.

Association of sex and aspirin use with postoperative bleeding in patients with lower extremity long bone fractures.

Objective: The perioperative management of patients on antiplatelet drugs is a rising challenge in orthopedic trauma because antiplatelet drugs are frequently encountered and carry an increased risk of hemorrhagic consequences. The study objective was to examine the effect of aspirin on bleeding outcomes for patients with lower extremity fractures.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients requiring surgical fixation of traumatic hip, femur, and tibia fractures from January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2020.

Proposed revision of the American Association for Surgery of Trauma Renal Organ Injury Scale: Secondary analysis of the Multi-institutional Genitourinary Trauma Study.

Background: This study updates the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Organ Injury Scale (OIS) for renal trauma using evidence-based criteria for bleeding control intervention.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter retrospective study including patients with high-grade renal trauma from seven level 1 trauma centers from 2013 to 2018. All eligible patients were assigned new renal trauma grades based on revised criteria.

Grade V renal trauma management: results from the multi-institutional genito-urinary trauma study.

Purpose: To investigate management trends for American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade V renal trauma with focus on non-operative management.

Methods: We used prospectively collected data as part of the Multi-institutional Genito-Urinary Trauma Study (MiGUTS). We included patients with grade V renal trauma according to the AAST Injury Scoring Scale 2018 update.

Significant National Declines in Neurosurgical Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury with Intracranial Hemorrhage: A 13-Year Review of the National Trauma Data Bank.

There have been large changes over the past several decades to patient demographics in those presenting with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; complicated mTBI) with the potential to affect the use of neurosurgical interventions. The objective of this study was to characterize long-term trends of neurosurgical interventions in patients with complicated mTBI using 13 years of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). This was a retrospective cohort study of adult (≥18 years) trauma patients included in the NTDB from 2007 to 2019 who had an emergency department Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15, an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and no skull fracture.

Characterizing Interhospital Variability in Neurosurgical Interventions for Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Intracranial Hemorrhage.

The objective of this study was to quantify nation-wide interhospital variation in neurosurgical intervention risk by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) type in the setting of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This was a retrospective cohort study of adult (≥18 years) trauma patients included in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2019 with an emergency department Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15, diagnosed ICH, no skull fracture. The primary outcome was neurosurgical intervention.

Survey of Diagnostic and Management Practices in Small Bowel Obstruction: Individual and Generational Variation Despite Practice Guidelines.

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common disorder managed by surgeons. Despite extensive publications and management guidelines, there is no universally accepted approach to its diagnosis and management. We conducted a survey of acute care surgeons to elucidate their SBO practice patterns.

Adherence to Antibiotic Recommendations and Infection Among Patients With Open Long-Bone Fractures: An Examination of Antibiotic Prioritization in Fracture Management.

Open fractures are at high risk of infection because of exposure of bone and tissue to the environment. Initiation of intravenous antibiotics is recommended within 1 hour of hospital arrival, although the presence of other severe injuries may lead to delays in fracture management. This retrospective study of adult patients with open long-bone fractures admitted to six level 1 trauma centers between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, aimed to examine adherence to antibiotic recommendations.

Low Prevalence but High Impact of COVID-19 Positive Status in Adult Trauma Patients: A Multi-institutional Analysis of 28 904 Patients.

Background: Few large investigations have addressed the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among trauma patients and impact on providers. The purpose of this study was to quantify the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among trauma patients by timing of diagnosis, assess nosocomial exposure risk, and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 positive status on morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Registry data from adults admitted 4/1/2020-10/31/2020 from 46 level I/II trauma centers were grouped by: timing of first positive status (Day 1, Day 2-6, or Day ≥ 7); overall Positive/Negative status; or Unknown if test results were unavailable.

Timing of venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis with major surgery of lower-extremity long bone fractures.

Background: There is debate on the need to withhold chemical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients requiring major orthopedic surgery. We hypothesized that the incidence of clinically significant hemorrhage (CSH) does not differ by the timing of prophylaxis in such patients.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study conducted at five US trauma centers that included trauma patients admitted between January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2020, requiring surgical fixation of the femoral shaft, hip, or tibia and received VTE chemoprophylaxis during the hospitalization.

Validity between self-report and biochemical testing of cannabis and drugs among patients with traumatic injury: brief report.

Background: The relationship between drug use and traumatic injury is well documented, yet only a small proportion of patients are biochemically tested for cannabis and other substances. The study objective was to determine whether patient self-report can be used as a proxy for biochemical drug testing following traumatic injury.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis that included 320 patients admitted to four level I trauma centers in Colorado and Texas, primarily involved in motor vehicle crash (89%).

Impact of time to surgery on mortality in hypotensive patients with noncompressible torso hemorrhage: An AAST multicenter, prospective study.

Background: Death from noncompressible torso hemorrhage (NCTH) may be preventable with improved prehospital care and shorter in-hospital times to hemorrhage control. We hypothesized that shorter times to surgical intervention for hemorrhage control would decrease mortality in hypotensive patients with NCTH.

Methods: This was an AAST-sponsored multicenter, prospective analysis of hypotensive patients aged 15+ years who presented with NCTH from May 2018 to December 2020.

An analysis of police transport in an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial examining prehospital procedures in penetrating trauma patients.

Background: Police transport (PT) of penetrating trauma patients in urban locations has become routine in certain metropolitan areas; however, whether it results in improved outcomes over prehospital Advanced life support (ALS) transport has not been determined in a multicenter study. We hypothesized that PT would not result in improved outcomes.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adults (18+ years) with penetrating trauma to the torso and/or proximal extremity presenting at 25 urban trauma centers.

Examining trends in gun violence injuries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic across six trauma centers.

Objectives: The onset of the national stay-at-home orders accompanied by a surge in firearm sales has elevated the concerns of clinicians and public health authorities. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the stay-at-home orders among gunshot wound (GSW) trauma admissions.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study at six level I trauma centers across four states.

Prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide is predictive of death and massive transfusion in injured patients: An Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial.

Background: Prehospital identification of the injured patient likely to require emergent care remains a challenge. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) has been used in the prehospital setting to monitor respiratory physiology and confirmation of endotracheal tube placement. Low levels of ETCO2 have been demonstrated to correlate with injury severity and mortality in a number of in-hospital studies.

Are trauma research programs in academic and non-academic centers measured by equal standards? A survey of 137 level I trauma centers in the United States.

Background: American College of Surgeons level I trauma center verification requires an active research program. This study investigated differences in the research programs of academic and non-academic trauma centers.

Methods: A 28-question survey was administered to ACS-verified level I trauma centers in 11/12/2020-1/7/2021.

Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multicenter Trial: Comparison of pre-injury antithrombotic use and reversal strategies among severe traumatic brain injury patients.

Background: Trauma teams are often faced with patients on antithrombotic (AT) drugs, which is challenging when bleeding occurs. We sought to compare the effects of different AT medications on head injury severity and hypothesized that AT reversal would not improve mortality in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.

Methods: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma-sponsored prospective, multicentered, observational study of 15 trauma centers was performed.

Nephrectomy After High-Grade Renal Trauma is Associated With Higher Mortality: Results From the Multi-Institutional Genitourinary Trauma Study (MiGUTS).

Objective: To test the hypothesis that undergoing nephrectomy after high-grade renal trauma is associated with higher mortality rates.

Methods: We gathered data from 21 Level-1 trauma centers through the Multi-institutional Genito-Urinary Trauma Study. Patients with high-grade renal trauma were included.

The Impact of Nursing on Trauma Patient Satisfaction: An Analysis of HCAHPS From 112,283 Patients.

Background: Assessment of patient satisfaction is central to understanding and improving system performance with the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) national standard survey. However, no large, multi-institutional study exists, which examines the role of nurses in trauma patient satisfaction.

Objective: To assess the impact of nurses on trauma patient satisfaction.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of level 1 trauma centers to meet American College of Surgeons research requirements.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had major effects on hospitals' ability to perform scientific research while providing patient care and minimizing virus exposure and spread. Many non-COVID-19 research has been halted, and funding has been diverted to COVID-19 research and away from other areas.

Methods: A 28-question survey was administered to all level 1 trauma centers in the USA that included questions about how the pandemic affected the trauma centers' ability to fulfill the volume and research requirements of level 1 verification by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

COVID-19 and trauma: how social distancing orders altered the patient population using trauma services during the 2020 pandemic.

Background: Recent studies have reported changes in trauma volumes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing orders (SDOs) implemented by federal and state governments. However, literature is lacking on demographic, injury and outcome patterns.

Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients aged ≥18 years at six US level 1 trauma centers.