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Background: A rhabdomyolysis protocol (RP) with mannitol and bicarbonate to prevent acute renal dysfunction (ARD, creatinine >2.0 mg/dL) remains controversial., Methods: Patients with creatine kinase (CK) greater than 2,000 U/L over a 10-year period were identified. Shock, Injury Severity Score, massive transfusion, intravenous contrast exposure, and RP use were evaluated. RP was initiated for a CK greater than 10,000 U/L (first half of the study) or greater than 20,000 U/L (second half). Multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of ARD and the independent effect of the RP., Results: Seventy-seven patients were identified, 24 (31%) developed ARD, and 4 (5%) required hemodialysis. After controlling for other risk factors, peak CK greater than 10,000 U/L (odds ratio 8.6, P = .016) and failure to implement RP (odds ratio 5.7, P = .030) were independent predictors of ARD. Among patients with CK greater than 10,000, ARD developed in 26% of patients with the RP versus 70% without it (P = .008)., Conclusion: Reduced ARD was noted with RP. A prospective controlled study is still warranted., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Cirrhosis is known to be a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality following trauma such that its presence is a requirement for trauma center transfer. The impact of trauma center level on post-injury survival in cirrhotic patients has not been well studied., Methods: The National Trauma Databank (version 7) was used to identify patients admitted with cirrhosis as a preexisting comorbidity. Patients who were dead on arrival, died in the emergency department, or had missing trauma center information were excluded. Our primary outcome measure was overall mortality stratified by admission trauma center level. Logistic regression analysis was used to derive adjusted mortality results., Results: A total of 3,395 patients met inclusion criteria (0.16% of all National Trauma Databank patients). Patients admitted to a Level I center were more likely to be younger and minorities, experience penetrating injuries, and require immediate operative intervention despite similar Injury Severity Scores (ISS). Overall mortality was lower at Level I centers compared with other centers (10.3% vs. 14.0%, p = 0.001). After logistic regression, Level I centers were associated with significantly lower mortality compared with non-Level I centers (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.89; p = 0.004)., Conclusion: The mortality for cirrhotic patients admitted to a Level I trauma center was significantly less compared with those admitted to non-Level I centers. The etiology of this improved outcome needs to be identified and transmitted to non-Level I centers., Level of Evidence: Epidemiologic study, level III.

Background: Alcohol intoxication in pediatric trauma is underappreciated. The aim of this study was to characterize alcohol screening rates in pediatric trauma., Methods: The Los Angeles County Trauma System Database was queried for all patients aged ≤ 18 years who required admission between 2003 and 2008. Patients were compared by age and gender., Results: A total of 18,598 patients met the inclusion criteria; 4,899 (26.3%) underwent blood alcohol screening, and 2,797 (57.1%) of those screened positive. Screening increased with age (3.3% for 0-9 years, 15.1% for 10-14 years, and 45.4% for 15-18 years; P < .01), as did alcohol intoxication (1.9% for 0-9 years, 5.8% 10-14 years, and 27.3% for 15-18 years; P < .01). Male gender predicted higher mortality in those aged 15 to 18 years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; P < .01), while alcohol intoxication did not (adjusted odds ratio, .97; P = .84)., Conclusions: Alcohol intoxication is common in adolescent trauma patients. Screening is encouraged for pediatric trauma patients aged ≥10 years who require admission., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hypothesis: Discrepancies exist in complications and outcomes at teaching trauma centers (TTCs) vs nonteaching TCs (NTCs)., Design: Retrospective review of the National Trauma Data Bank research data sets (January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008)., Setting: Level II TCs., Patients: Patients at TTCs were compared with patients at NTCs using demographic, clinical, and outcome data. Regression modeling was used to adjust for confounding factors to determine the effect of house staff presence on failure to rescue, defined as mortality after an in-house complication., Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures were major complications, in-hospital mortality, and failure to rescue., Results: In total, 162 687 patients were available for analysis, 36 713 of whom (22.6%) were admitted to NTCs. Compared with patients admitted to TTCs, patients admitted to NTCs were older (52.8 vs 50.7 years), had more severe head injuries (8.3% vs 7.8%), and were more likely to undergo immediate operation (15.0% vs 13.2%) or ICU admission (28.1% vs 22.8%) (P < .01 for all). The mean Injury Severity Scores were similar between the groups (10.1 for patients admitted to NTCs vs 10.4 for patients admitted to TTCs, P < .01). Compared with patients admitted to TTCs, patients admitted to NTCs experienced fewer complications (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.63; P < .01), had a lower adjusted mortality rate (aOR, 0.87; P = .01), and were less likely to experience failure to rescue (aOR, 0.81; P = .01)., Conclusions: Admission to level II TTCs is associated with an increased risk for major complications and a higher rate of failure to rescue compared with admission to level II NTCs. Further investigation of the differences in care provided by level II TTCs vs NTCs may identify areas for improvement in residency training and processes of care.

Background: The natural history and optimal treatment of upper extremity (UE) deep venous thromboses (DVT's) remains uncertain as does the clinical significance of catheter-associated (CA) UE DVT's. We sought to analyze predictors of UE DVT resolution and hypothesized that anticoagulation will be associated with quicker UE DVT clot resolution and that CA UE DVT's whose catheters are removed will resolve more often than non-CA UE DVT's., Methods: All patients on the surgical intensive care unit service were prospectively followed from January 2008 to May 2010. A standardized DVT prevention protocol was used and screening bilateral UE and lower extremity duplex examinations were obtained within 48 hours of admission and then weekly. Computed tomography angiography for pulmonary embolism was obtained if clinically indicated. Patients with UE DVT were treated according to attending discretion. Data regarding patient demographics and UE DVT characteristics were recorded: DVT location, catheter association, occlusive status, treatment, and resolution. The primary outcome measure was UE DVT resolution before hospital discharge. Interval decrease in size on the subsequent duplex after UE DVT detection was also noted. UE DVTs without a follow-up duplex were excluded from the final analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify independent predictors of UE DVT resolution., Results: There were 201 UE DVT's in 129 patients; 123 DVTs had a follow-up duplex and were included. Fifty-four percent of UEDVTs improved on the next duplex, 60% resolved before discharge, and 2% embolized. The internal jugular was the most common site (52%) and 72% were nonocclusive. Sixty-four percent were CAUEDVT's and line removal was associated with more frequent improvement on the next duplex (55% vs. 17%, p = 0.047, mid-P exact). Sixty-eight percent of UEDVTs were treated with some form of anticoagulation, but this was not associated with improved UE DVT resolution (61% vs. 60%). Independent predictors of clot resolution were location in the arm (odds ratio = 4.1 compared with the internal jugular, p = 0.031) and time from clot detection until final duplex (odds ratio =1.052 per day, p = 0.032)., Conclusion: A majority of UE DVT's are CA, more than half resolve before discharge, and 2% embolize. Anticoagulation does not appear to affect outcomes, but line removal does result in a quicker decrease in clot size.

Background: Data regarding pre-existing comorbidities is often poorly recorded in trauma registries, and reports of their impact on outcomes are conflicting. Additionally, many previous reports, when conducting data analysis, do not reliably account for differences in case and control cohorts. Our objective was to identify a subset of patients with reliable comorbidity and complication data in the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) in order to determine the impact of select chronic organ system dysfunction on morbidity and mortality using case-control methodology., Study Design: We analyzed a refined dataset from NTDB 7.1 (2002 to 2006) containing admissions to Level 1 and 2 trauma centers, which specified using chart abstraction to document comorbidities and complications. Patients with a history of cirrhosis, dialysis, HIV, and warfarin therapy were compared with a 2:1 case-matched control group. Data regarding age; Injury Severity Score (ISS); ventilator, ICU, and hospital lengths of stay; complications; and mortality were obtained. Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and the t-test were used to compare demographics and outcomes of each comorbidity group. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant., Results: After case-control matching, pre-existing cirrhosis, dialysis, and warfarin therapy were found to be risk factors for both complications and mortality; HIV/AIDS was found to be a risk factor only for complications., Conclusions: Chronic hepatic failure, end-stage renal disease, immunodeficiency, and acquired coagulopathy are associated with higher resource use, complication rates, and mortality in a refined subset of NTDB patients., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intraluminal pancreatic enzymes have been shown in animal models to be associated with multiple organ failure after hemorrhagic shock, independent of pancreatitis. The translocation of these enzymes into the circulation may serve as a marker of hemorrhagic shock-induced gut ischemia in critically injured trauma patients. We hypothesized that serum amylase and lipase would be significantly elevated in patients presenting in hemorrhagic shock and in those who develop organ failure., Methods: : Review of a prospective database at a level-1 trauma center from 2000 to 2005. Two thousand seven hundred eleven critically injured trauma patients without pancreatic injuries were evaluated for shock (systolic pressure <90 mm Hg in the emergency department), massive transfusion (10 units of packed red blood cells within the first 24 hours), and organ failure (standard criteria for acute pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic system failure were used). Serum levels >2 times the upper limit of normal for amylase (30-130 U/L) and lipase (7-60 U/L) were defined as elevated. Univariate analyses were performed with the Pearson's chi, and binary logistic regression was used to determine significant risk factors for organ failure. Results with a p value <0.05 were considered significant and are reported., Results: : Patients with elevated amylase (n = 481, 18%) were more likely to present in shock (16% vs. 8%), require massive transfusion (19% vs. 9%), develop organ failure (34% vs. 16%), and die (23% vs. 13%). Patients with elevated lipase (n = 288, 11%) were more likely to require massive transfusion (18% vs. 10%) and develop organ failure (43% vs. 16%). Independent predictors of organ failure were age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.016), Injury Severity Score (OR = 1.02), massive transfusion (OR = 3.1), elevated amylase (OR = 1.9), and elevated lipase (OR = 3.2). Elevated amylase was also an independent predictor of mortality (OR = 1.3)., Conclusions: : Serum levels of pancreatic enzymes are elevated in patients who present in shock or require a massive transfusion and are independent predictors of organ failure. Whether these elevations are caused by ischemic pancreatitis or the translocation of intraluminal enteric pancreatic enzymes is uncertain and future studies are needed. Trauma patients with elevated pancreatic enzymes in the absence of a pancreatic injury have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality.

Hypothesis: Central venous blood gas (VBG) measurements of pH, PCO2, and base excess can be substituted for the same values obtained from an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis in mechanically ventilated trauma patients, obviating the need for arterial puncture., Design and Setting: Prospective comparison of 99 sets of VBGs and ABGs at a level 1 academic trauma center., Patients: A consecutive sample of 25 trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit who required mechanical ventilation and had both central venous and arterial catheters., Main Outcome Measures: Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LOAs) for pH, PCO2, and base excess values from each set of VBGs and ABGs., Results: When VBG and ABG values were compared, pH had R = 0.92, P<.001, and 95% LOAs of -0.09 to 0.03; PCO2, R = 0.88, P<.001, and 95% LOAs of -2.2 to 10.9; and base excess, R = 0.96, P<.001, and 95% LOAs of -2.2 to 1.8. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed that a central venous PCO2 of 50 mm Hg had 100% sensitivity and 84% specificity for determining significant hypercarbia (arterial PCO2 > 50 mm Hg)., Conclusions: Central venous and arterial PCO2, pH, and base excess values correlate well, but their LOAs represent clinically significant ranges that could affect management. Although VBGs cannot be substituted for ABGs in mechanically ventilated trauma patients during the initial phases of resuscitation, clinically reliable conclusions can be reached with VBG analysis.