Management of adult blunt splenic injuries: comparison between level i and level ii trauma centers

: BackgroundThe factors important in determining outcome when managing adult blunt splenic injuries continue to be debated. Whether trauma center level designation (Level I versus Level II) affects patient management has not been evaluated.: Study designWe conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database that collected information from 27 statewide trauma centers (Level I [15], Level II [17]). Adult patients (ages ≥ 16 years) with blunt splenic injuries (ICD-9-CM 865) were evaluated. Demographic data, injury data, and trauma center level designation were collected, and patient management, length of stay, and mortality were analyzed.: ResultsThere were 2,138 adult patients who suffered blunt splenic injuries during the study period (1998–2000). Patients treated at Level II trauma centers (n = 772) had a higher rate of operative treatment (38.2% versus 30.7%) (p < 0.001), but a shorter mean length of stay (10.1 ± 0.4 versus 12.0 ± 0.4 days) (p < 0.01) compared with patients in Level I trauma centers (n = 1,366). The rate of failure of nonoperative treatment was lower at Level II trauma centers (13.0% versus 17.6%) (p < 0.05), but the mortality for patients managed nonoperatively was higher (8.4% versus 4.5%) (p < 0.05). Splenorrhaphy was performed more frequently in Level I trauma centers.: ConclusionsManagement differences exist in the treatment of adult blunt splenic injuries between institutions of different trauma center level designation. Multicenter studies should account for this finding in design and implementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]