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Background: Although surgical stabilization for rib fractures (SSRF) has been adopted widely over the past decade, little information is available regarding the prevalence and outcomes of post-operative surgical site infection (SSI). We hypothesized that SSI after SSRF is uncommon but morbid. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing SSRF at a level 1 trauma center from 2010-2020 were reviewed. The primary outcome was the prevalence of SSI, documented by clinical examination, radiography, systemic markers of infection, and microbiology. Results: Of 228 patients undergoing SSRF, 167 (73.2%) were male, the median age was 53 years (P25-P75; 41-63 years), injury severity score (ISS) was 19 (P25-P75, 13-26), with a median of eight fractured ribs (P25-P75, 6-11). All stabilization plates were titanium. SSRF was typically performed on post-injury day one (P25-P75, 0-2 days) after trauma. All patients received antibiotic agents within 30 minutes of incision, and a median of four ribs (P25-P75, 3-6) were repaired. Four (1.8%) patients developed an SSI and all underwent implant removal. Two patients required implant removal within 30 days (on post-operative day seven and 17) and two for chronic infection at seven and 17 months after SSRF. The causative organism was methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteria in all patients. After implant removal, three patients received intravenous and oral antibiotic agents, ranging from two to six weeks, without recurrent infection. No patient required additional SSRF. Conclusions: Surgical site infection after SSRF is rare but morbid and can become symptomatic within one week to 17 months. Implant removal results in complete recovery.

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is advocated for hemorrhage control in pelvic fracture patients in shock. We evaluated REBOA in patients undergoing preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) for pelvic fracture-related hemorrhage.Retrospective, single-institution study of unstable pelvic fractures (hemodynamic instability despite 2 units of red blood cells (RBCs) and fracture identified on x-ray). Management included the placement of a Zone III REBOA in the emergency department (ED) for systolic blood pressure80 mmHg. All PPP patients were included and analyzed for injury characteristics, transfusion requirements, outcomes and complications. Additionally, patients who received REBOA (REBOA+) were compared to those that did not (REBOA-).During the study period (January 2015 - January 2019), 652 pelvic fracture patients were admitted; 78 consecutive patients underwent PPP. Median RBCs at PPP completion compared to 24 h post-packing were 11 versus 3 units (p0.05). Median time to operation was 45 min. After PPP, 7 (9%) patients underwent angioembolization. Mortality was 14%. No mortalities were due to ongoing pelvic fracture hemorrhage or physiologic exhaustion; all were a withdrawal of life sustaining support, most commonly due to neurologic insults (TBI/fat emboli = 6, stroke/spinal cord injury = 3). REBOA+ patients (n = 31) had a significantly higher injury severity score (45 vs 38, p0.01) and higher heart rate (130 vs 118 beats per minute, p = 0.04) than REBOA-. The systolic blood pressure, base deficit, and number of RBCs transfused in the ED, and time spent in the ED were similar between groups. REBOA+ had a higher median transfusion of RBCs at PPP completion (11 units vs 5 units, p0.01) but similar RBC transfusion in the 24 h after PPP (2 vs 1 units, p = 0.27). Mortality, pelvic infection, and ICU length of stay was not different between these cohorts.PPP with REBOA was utilized in more severely injured patients with greater physiologic derangements. Although REBOA patients required greater transfusion requirements, there were no deaths due to acute pelvic hemorrhage. This suggests the combination of REBOA with PPP provides life-saving hemorrhage control in otherwise devastating injuries.

Objective(s): Understanding patient goals of care is essential in any setting, and especially so in an urban, safety net trauma centers’ Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICU). This underscores the need for implementation of palliative care principles and practices, such as identification of surrogate decision makers, goals-of-care discussions, and CPR directives, in the SICU. Methods: A pragmatic, quality improvement study utilizing a retrospective, pre- and post-intervention continuum analysis. Interventions included a surgeon champion, resident education, and an electronic medical record template, called the Advanced Care Planning (ACP) Note, for use on daily rounds. We reviewed the charts of all adults admitted to the SICU before, during, and after these interventions to identify the incidence of surrogate decision maker documentation by SICU residents. Results: There was an early and enthusiastic adoption in ACP note utilization by SICU residents over the study period. Rates of documenting surrogate decision makers increased throughout the study period ( p