[Quality management in early clinical treatment of severely injured patients].
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
D Nast-Kolb
Publications and source records attributed to D Nast-Kolb.
[Quality management of early clinical treatment of severely injured patients].
The early clinical treatment of severely injured patients of today is based on modern technical resources as well as on refined therapeutic strategies involving a multidisciplinary team. In the meantime the requirements for and expectations towards best major trauma care have both increased considerably. In spite of a decline in mortality after major trauma during the last two decades still clinical deviations from actual treatment guidelines with proven influence on negative outcome are to be found. In order to improve the therapeutic process it proved effective to introduce the main principles of quality assurance (QA) and quality management (QM) that were used successfully in industry into major trauma treatment. In QA an analysis of 'process', 'structure' and 'outcome' of the clinical treatment is performed. For these components of QA important tools such as treatment-guidelines (polytrauma-algorithms), guidelines by the German Society of Trauma Surgery for the equipment of a trauma center and score systems for the classification of injury severity were elaborated and implemented in major trauma care. Further optimization of outcome quality may be achieved by integrating the QA- components in a QM-system. QM means introducing relevant feed-back-pathways of procedural data for the improvement of the (treatment-) process and of outcome data for decisions about structural (and organizational) changements. The presented clinical QM-system is based on adequate documentation, analysis and assessment of treatment data within a quality committee. The treatment of severely injured patients was significantly improved by implementation of the QM-system in clinical routine with respect to the effectivity of the treatment process. Furthermore, by transferring the QM-system to another trauma center, we were able to show that the effects of the system in major trauma care are reproducible. Besides the internal efforts for quality optimization an external quality assessment comparing the own treatment results with other trauma centers should take place. For this purpose joining a multicentered trauma registry (i.e. the trauma registry of the German Society of Trauma Surgery for the German speaking countries) is recommended.
Germany↗
[Intensive care for patients with multiple injuries].
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Critical Care↗
[Malignant bone tumors. Epidemiology, classification, diagnosis and multimodality treatment concepts].
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Bone Neoplasms↗
Relation of a TNF gene polymorphism to severe sepsis in trauma patients.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of the biallelic Nco1 restriction fragment length polymorphism in the first intron of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) beta gene with the development of severe sepsis in multiply injured patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The biallelic Nco1 polymorphism of the TNFbeta gene has been described to be associated with autoimmune diseases and with the mortality rate in severe sepsis. Therefore, the Nco1 polymorphism may be associated with the clinical finding that despite comparable risk factors, posttraumatic sepsis develops in some patients but not others. METHODS: The study group consisted of 110 patients with severe blunt trauma (Injury Severity Score > or = 17). Typing of each patient for the biallelic Nco1 polymorphism was performed by analyzing restriction fragments of an Nco1-digested DNA fragment obtained using polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes were then related to the occurrence of severe posttraumatic sepsis and TNFalpha serum concentrations. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients showed an uncomplicated posttraumatic recovery, and severe sepsis developed in 53 patients. The overall allele frequency (TNFB1 0.29, TNFB2 0.71) and genotype distribution (TNFB1 homozygous 7.3%, TNFB1/TNFB2 42.7%, TNFB2 homozygous 50%) were in agreement with the distribution in healthy volunteers. Genotype distribution in patients with an uncomplicated clinical course was significantly different from that in patients with severe posttraumatic sepsis. Development of severe posttraumatic sepsis was significantly increased in patients homozygous for the allele TNFB2. In patients with severe posttraumatic sepsis, TNFalpha serum concentrations were significantly higher in TNFB2-homozygous individuals compared with heterozygous and TNFB1 -homozygous individuals. The age- and injury-matched odds ratio for the homozygous TNFB2 genotype compared with the heterozygous genotype was 5.22 (p = 0.007, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 17.9). CONCLUSIONS: In multiply injured patients, the Nco1 polymorphism within the TNFbeta gene is associated with the development of severe posttraumatic sepsis and with increased TNFalpha serum levels when severe sepsis has occurred. This suggests a genetic determination of the individual inflammatory response after infection or tissue damage, which significantly influences susceptibility to severe nosocomial infections.
Adult↗
Long-term results and quality of life after parasuicidal multiple blunt trauma.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the somatic, socioeconomic, and psychiatric long-term results, as well as the factors for adverse outcome, in a significant subset of patients with severe multiple injuries resulting from attempted suicide. DESIGN: The follow-up study 6.1 +/- 3 (SD) yrs after trauma was based on prospectively documented data of patients with multiple injuries. SETTING: Level I university trauma center in a major German city. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data derived from thorough physical and psychiatric evaluations. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale served to describe psychiatric outcome. PATIENTS: In a series of 539 severely injured patients (Abbreviated Injury Score in two regions > or = 3), 65 (12%) attempted suicides were reported (Injury Severity Score, 40 +/- 15; age, 38 +/- 18 yrs). Twenty-one patients of the study cohort died during the hospital stay, and six subjects died thereafter, none because of suicide. Three patients were lost to follow-up, resulting in 35 individuals eligible for examination. None of the latter had reattempted suicide. Seventeen (48%) had good or satisfactory outcomes reflected by absent or ambulatory psychiatric treatment, employment, normal psychiatric findings (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), and good psychosocial ability (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale). For eight patients (24%), the result was indeterminate. The adverse outcomes in ten patients (28%) were mainly influenced by the presence of chronic schizophrenia (n = 4), affective disorder (n = 2), or severe traumatic brain injury (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the parasuicidal origin, the long-term results after severe trauma were good or satisfactory in approximately half the cases and without further suicide attempts in any of the patients. Good recovery of the parasuicidal patients in our study is approximately 20% lower than in an unselected group of patients with multiple injuries and may be attributed mainly to the underlying chronic psychiatric disease.
Adult↗
Influence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on whole blood endotoxin responsiveness following trauma, cardiopulmonary bypass, and severe sepsis.
Major surgery, multiple injury, and severe sepsis lead to an impaired immune response. The suppressed status of the immune system is reflected by a reduced TNFalpha production of whole blood after stimulation with endotoxin in vitro and by a decreased HLA-DR expression on monocytes. In the present study, the effect of the immunostimulating hematopoetic growth factor GM-CSF on whole blood cultures of multiple injury, cardiac surgery, and severe sepsis patients was investigated. Endotoxin-induced TNFalpha production and HLA-DR expression was reduced in blood cultures of these patients compared to healthy donors. Preincubation with GM-CSF in vitro increased cytokine production in volunteers' and all patients' blood specimens in a dose-dependent manner. The elevation of cytokine response in cardiopulmonary bypass patients' blood, caused by in vitro preincubation with GM-CSF, equaled that of normal patients, whereas GM-CSF caused a lower rise of TNFalpha-producing capacity in blood of multiple-injury and sepsis patients. Further, GM-CSF treatment in vitro increased the down-regulated HLA-DR expression on monocytes prepared after cardiac surgery to a degree comparable to preoperative levels. Finally, GM-CSF incubation in vitro elevated TNFalpha synthesis in normal monocytes and in cells treated with a combination of the anti-inflammatory mediators IL-10, TGFbeta, and PGE2. These experiments show that hyporesponsiveness of whole blood induced by trauma, sepsis, or cardiac surgery is not irreversible but can be, at least in vitro, overridden by the immunostimulating compound GM-CSF.
Adolescent↗
[The polytrauma patient, triage and priorities in early treatment].
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Emergency Medical Services↗
[Abdominal trauma].
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Abdominal Injuries↗
[Abdominal trauma].
While a great part of the Anglo-American medical literature addresses the topic of penetrating trauma the German speaking countries rather publish on blunt abdominal injury. The presented paper discusses the strategic principles of acute clinical management of abdominal trauma on the combined basis of own research results and a comprehensive review of the literature. Blunt abdominal injuries in most cases from a part in the pattern of multiple trauma. The early, first-hours mortality is most often caused by severe traumatic brain injury or abdominal trauma with massive hemorrhage. The prehospital management of penetrating injuries is characterized rather by the concept of 'load and go', whereas the onscene stabilization of the patient with blunt abdominal injury should precede transport to the adequate hospital. On arrival in the accident and emergency room an immediate blood transfusion is recommended for hemodynamically unstable patients. If then a stabilization is not achieved, an emergency laparotomy should follow. Abdominal stab injuries should be explored by laparoscopy if an intraperitoneal lesion is suspected. If then the possibility of an intestinal lesion is present a laparotomy should be performed directly thereafter. Firearm injuries require open revision in almost all cases. The standard diagnostic technique in blunt abdominal trauma is sonography, assisted by computed tomography and, if indicated, angiography in hemodynamically stable patients. Isolated abdominal injuries without hemodynamic or coagulation disorders allow conservative treatment in the intensive care setting. In severe multiple trauma as well as in manifest shock even the smallest fluid detection should lead to laparotomy. The surgical treatment of splenic rupture is still a matter of discussion. Splenectomy is indicated in patients with severe concomitating injuries or shock whereas in the remainder of cases the total or partial preservation of the spleen should be pursued. Hepatic injuries offer a broad spectrum of operative interventions, ranging from superficial hemostatic measures over compression techniques like 'packing' and 'mesh-wrapping' to atypical and anatomical resections and to liver transplantation in exceptional cases. Lesions of tubular organs and the pancreas pose especially difficult diagnostical problems but regularly allow a rather easy operative treatment.
Abdominal Injuries↗
[Thoracic trauma].
Blunt chest trauma is the leading cause of thoracic injuries in Germany, penetrating chest injuries are rare. Hereby, single or multiple rib fractures, hemato-pneumothorax and pulmonary contusion represent the most common injuries. The early management of thoracic injuries consists of detection and sufficient therapy of acute life threatening situations like tension pneumothorax, acute respiratory insufficiency or severe intrathoracic bleeding. Most of the isolated thoracic injuries are adequately treated by conservative means, sufficient analgesia, drainage of intrapleural air or blood, physiotherapy and clearance of bronchial secretions provided; operative intervention is rarely indicated. In multiple injured patients however, severe blunt chest trauma and especially pulmonary contusion negatively affects outcome with a significant increase of morbidity and mortality. Hence, patients with this combination of pulmonary injuries, such as lung contusion and associated severe injuries, carry a particular high risk of respiratory failure, ARDS and MOF with a considerable mortality. Therefore, early exact diagnosis of all thoracic injuries is essential and can be achieved by thoracic computed tomography, which becomes more and more popular in this setting. Early intubation and PEEP-ventilation, alternate prone and supine positioning of multiple injured patients with lung contusion and differentiated concepts of volume- and catecholamine therapy represent the basic therapeutic principles. Additionally, the entire early trauma management of multiple injured patients must focus on the presence of pulmonary contusion. Every additional burden on their pulmonary microvascular system like microembolisation during femoral nailing, the trauma burden of extended surgery or mediator release in septic states may cause rapid decompensation and organ failure and therefore, has to be avoided.
Cause of Death↗
[Effect of kinetic therapy on the treatment outcome in patients with post-traumatic lung failure].
Intermittent prone positioning (PP) is a promising therapy of patients with severe respiratory failure. Evaluations of patient outcomes can not, to dare, be found in the literature. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of intermittent PP on patients with posttraumatic respiratory failure (PaO2/FiO2 < 280 mmHg) in comparison with conventional therapy in suspine position. The collected data is part of our prospective polytrauma study. 136 polytraumized patients (mean ISS 23.4) were included and evaluated. 77 patients had a severe chest trauma with an AIS > or = 3. Of these, 47 patients developed a respiratory failure. 19 of these patients were treated conventionally in suspine position, 28 patients were intermittently turned prone. Having similar AIS (3.6 vs. 33), the PP-patients had a significantly severer trauma (ISS 35.8 vs. 24.5). Though the injury severity of the PP-patients was much higher, the time of ventilation (32 vs. 31 d) and the ICU stay (39 vs. 36 d) was similar to the patients treated in suspine position. The mortility of PP-patients was 0%, of suspine positioned patients 26%. After the first PP the PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased with an average of 82 mmHg (26-151 mmHg). The FiO2 was reduced from 0.45 (0.35-1.0) to 0.26 (0.21-0.35). Beside the beneficial effect of PP on the oxygenation we have, for the first time evidence that PP improves the outcome of patients with posttraumatic respiratory failure.
Adolescent↗
Scores in polytrauma--do they help?
BACKGROUND: The answer to the question "Scores in polytrauma - do they help ?" is discussed. DISCUSSION: One of the two sections deals with the role of scores used for clinical decision making in individual patients and, in the other, the significance of scores in improving patient care is analyzed. RESULTS: It is shown that scores may be helpful in both regards. However, certain methodological limitations of scores have to be considered.
Decision Making↗
Improvement in the therapy of multiply injured patients by introduction of clinical management guidelines.
A trauma algorithm representing the guidelines for the management of emergency treatment of severe blunt trauma was implemented at our institution in 1994. By comparison of two prospectively recorded cohorts of multiply injured patients, the clinical efficacy of these guidelines was analysed. The algorithm cohort comprised 74 patients over the period January 1994 to June 1996, and the Control cohort 126 patients over the period April 1988 to December 1993. To evaluate procedural quality of early clinical trauma management, nine criteria were applied. After implementation of the algorithm there was an improvement in all parameters reflected by a significant reduction of missed injuries and important time savings. Mortality rates in the cohorts were calculated after subdivision into three groups (I-III) with moderate (ISS: 18-24), high (ISS: 25-49) and very high (ISS: 50-75) injury severity. All cohort subgroups were comparable with respect to ISS values, age, initial loss of consciousness (GCS) and shock rate. In all subgroups of the algorithm cohort mortality rates were reduced: group I: 0 versus 20 per cent (p < 0.05); group II: 8 versus 24 per cent (p < 0.05); group III: 40 versus 71 per cent. Improvements in both therapeutic process and outcome were observed after implementation of the trauma algorithm.
Adult↗
Percutaneous computed tomographic-controlled ventriculostomy in severe traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous computed tomographic (CT)-controlled ventriculostomy (PCV) was introduced for the monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury who did not require simultaneous decompressive trepanation. METHODS: PCV (n = 14) was compared with conventional burr hole ventriculostomy (n = 13) based on prospectively collected data. RESULTS: PCV proved to be a successful technique in all cases and also when a burr hole ventriculostomy was impossible previously. There were no complications. In burr hole ventriculostomy, there were one unsuccessful insertion and one catheter contamination. The main advantage of PCV over burr hole ventriculostomy was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the time required to perform the procedure. In ventriculostomy directly after the initial evaluation in the emergency department, the operation time was reduced from 45 +/- 11 to 22 +/- 14 minutes. The interval between cranial computed tomography and start of operation was reduced from 78 +/- 38 to 33 +/- 12 minutes, and between initial cranial computed tomography and intensive care unit admittance, from 138 +/- 37 to 73 +/- 28 minutes. For patients requiring ventriculostomy while being treated in the intensive care unit, the duration of the procedure (i.e., absence from the intensive care unit) was able to be reduced from 111 +/- 24 to 81 +/- 21 minutes. CONCLUSION: Distinct time savings are the major advantages of PCV, allowing exact catheter positioning even with very narrow ventricles.
Adolescent↗
High-dose antithrombin III treatment of severely injured patients: results of a prospective study.
BACKGROUND: Antithrombin III (AT III) treatment has been shown to reduce disseminated intravascular coagulation and to inhibit thrombin, which plays a central role in the activation of platelets and other inflammatory systems in conditions with severe inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of early and high-dose administration of AT III to patients with severe multiple injuries on the inflammatory response and outcome. METHODS: In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 40 consecutive patients with Injury Severity Scores of 29 or greater who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to receive either AT III or placebo within 360 minutes after trauma. Twenty patients were administered AT III for a period of 4 days, aiming to achieve AT III concentrations of 140% of normal. RESULTS: The AT III and placebo groups were comparable with respect to Injury Severity Score, age, incidence of blood pressure less than 80 mm Hg on admission, initial base deficit, and start of the test drug. The patients in the AT III group received a total of about 20,000 IU during the first 4 days. AT III levels of 130 to 140% could be achieved by this regimen, whereas in the control group the AT III concentration averaged about 70%. In the AT III group prothrombin tended to be elevated and prothrombin fragment F1+2 as well as thrombin-AT III complex tended to be lower on the first day. No differences between groups, however, could be observed with respect to partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, platelets, plasminogen activator inhibitor I, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II, neutrophil elastase, interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8. Mortality (15 vs. 5%), incidence of respiratory failure (55 vs. 55%), duration of mechanical ventilation (13 vs. 12 days), and length of stay in the surgical intensive care unit (19 vs. 21 days) were also similar in both treatment groups. The duration of organ failure, however, was shorter in the patients receiving AT III. CONCLUSION: The early and high-dose administration of AT III to patients with severe blunt trauma appears not to attenuate the posttraumatic inflammatory response or to significantly improve outcome.
Adult↗
[Effect of kinetic therapy on the course of treatment of patients with post-traumatic lung failure].
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of intermittent prone positioning of patients with post-traumatic respiratory failure (paO2/FiO2 < 280 mm Hg) in comparison with conventional therapy in a supine position. Although the severity of injury of the prone-positioned patients was much higher (ISS 35.8 vs 24.5), the ventilation time (32 vs 31 days) and ICU stay (39 vs 36 days) were similar to patients treated in the supine position. Besides the beneficial effect of prone positioning on oxygenation, for the first time we have evidence that prone positioning improves the outcome of patients with post-traumatic respiratory failure.
Adult↗
[Minimal invasive, percutaneous ventriculostomy in therapy of severe craniocerebral trauma].
From May 1996 until April 1997 percutaneous CT-controlled ventriculostomy (PCV) was performed in 19 patients with severe traumatic brain injury and no indication for decompressive craniotomy. There was a significant reduction in the duration of the procedure compared to burr-hole ventriculostomy with no complications. Because of further advantage of PCV CT-controlling is the possibility of puncturing even very narrow ventricles.
Brain Edema↗