Resource utilization and outcomes of intoxicated drivers.

Background: The high risk behavior of intoxicated drivers, impaired reaction time, lack of seat belt use, and increased incidence of head injury raises questions of whether pre-hospital use of alcohol leads to a higher injury severity score and worse clinical outcomes. We therefore compared intoxicated and non-intoxicated drivers of motor vehicle crashes with respect to outcome measurements and also describe the resources utilized to achieve those outcomes at our Level 1 trauma center.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study (Jan 2002-June 2007) of our trauma registry and financial database comparing intoxicated drivers with blood alcohol levels (BAC) > 80 mg/dl (ETOH > 80) with drivers who had a BAC of 0 mg/dl (ETOH = 0).

Outcome assessment of blunt trauma patients who are undertriaged.

Background: We investigated the outcomes of injured patients who were undertriaged and compared them with those meeting full trauma team activation (TTA) criteria.

Methods: Blunt trauma patients (July 2002-January 2008) meeting full TTA criteria and had a partial TTA were in the undertriage group (UTG). Data was collected on demographics, injury severity, OR delays, resource utilization, and outcomes.

Prophylactic inferior vena cava filters: do they make a difference in trauma patients?

Background: Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) are used in trauma patients to reduce the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE). This study investigates the efficacy of prophylactic IVCF (PIVCF) placement from implantation through outpatient follow-up.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected on PIVCF placed in trauma patients > or =18-years old from 2004 to 2006.