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Biomedical subjects

Matthew Martin

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew Martin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The use of cognitive task analysis to improve the learning of percutaneous tracheostomy placement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of using cognitive task analysis (CTA) to develop a curriculum to teach the behavioral skills and the cognitive strategies of a percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) placement. METHODS: Postgraduate 2, 3, and 4 general surgery residents were randomly assigned to either the CTA group (N = 9) or the control group (N = 11). The CTA group was taught percutaneous tracheostomy placement using the CTA curriculum. The control group received the traditional curriculum. RESULTS: The CTA group performed significantly higher on the PT procedure at 1 month (CTA: 43.5 +/- 3.7, control 35.2 +/- 3.9, P = .001) and at 6 months post-instruction (CTA: 39.4 +/- 4.2, control: 31.8 +/- 5.8, P = .004). In addition, the CTA group demonstrated superior cognitive strategies than the control group (CTA: 25.4 +/- 5.3, control: 19.2 +/- 2.0, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: The use of CTA was effective in improving the cognitive processes and technical skills of performing a PT for surgical residents.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2006

Management and hospital outcomes of blunt renal artery injuries: analysis of 517 patients from the National Trauma Data Bank.

BACKGROUND: Blunt renal artery injuries are rare and no single trauma center can accumulate substantial experience for meaningful conclusions about optimal therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of renal artery injuries after different types of blunt trauma, and evaluate the current therapeutic approaches practiced by American trauma surgeons and the effect of various therapeutic modalities on hospital outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a National Trauma Data Bank study including all blunt trauma admissions with renal artery injuries. Demographics, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, Abbreviated Injury Score for each body area (head, chest, abdomen, extremities) injuries, type of management (nephrectomy, arterial reconstruction, or observation), time from admission to definitive treatment, and hospital outcomes (mortality, ICU, and hospital stay) were analyzed. Multiple and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between type of management and hospital outcomes. RESULTS: Of a total of 945,326 blunt trauma admissions, 517 patients (0.05%) had injuries to the renal artery. Of the 517 patients, the kidney was not explored in 376 (73%), 95 (18%) patients had immediate nephrectomy, and 45 (9%) patients underwent surgical revascularization. In 87 of 517 (17%) patients, renal artery injury was the only intraabdominal injury. Of the 87 patients with isolated renal artery injuries, 73 (84%) were observed, 7 (8%) underwent surgical revascularization, and 7 (8%) had early nephrectomy. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that patients who had surgical revascularization had a considerably longer ICU and hospital stay than observed patients. Patients who had nephrectomy had a considerably longer hospital stay than observed patients. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt renal artery injury is rare. Nonoperative management should be considered as an acceptable therapeutic option.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2006

Near-hanging injuries: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To review the injury patterns and analyse outcomes in patients who present after near-hanging. METHODS: This is a trauma registry study that included all patients who were admitted to an academic Level I trauma centre with the diagnosis of attempted suicide by hanging between January 1993 and December 2003. All patients who were dead on arrival or in cardiopulmonary arrest were excluded. Data regarding demographics, injuries, and outcomes were examined. Independent risk factors for poor outcome were identified. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, 63 patients were admitted after near-hanging. A total of 12 patients (19%) had 17 injuries. Cervical spine fractures occurred in nearly 5% of cases. Four factors were found to be significantly associated with poor outcome: systolic blood pressure <90, Glasgow coma score < or =8, anoxic brain injury on computed tomography (CT) scan, and injury severity score >15. However, logistic regression analysis found only anoxia on CT scan to be independently associated with poor outcome (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Injuries commonly occurred after near-hanging. Liberal screening using CT scans is warranted. The prognosis is favorable, even with patients who arrive with a GCS < or =8. Overall survival was 90% and only 3.5% were discharged with severe or permanent disability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Whole body imaging in blunt multisystem trauma patients without obvious signs of injury: results of a prospective study.

HYPOTHESIS: The use of liberal whole body imaging (pan scan) in patients based on mechanism is warranted, even in evaluable patients with no obvious signs of chest or abdominal injury. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Academic level I trauma center. PATIENTS: All patients admitted following blunt multisystem trauma. INTERVENTION: Pan scan, including computed tomography (CT) of the head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, with the following inclusion criteria: (1) no visible evidence of chest or abdominal injury, (2) hemodynamically stable, (3) normal abdominal examination results in a neurologically intact patient or unevaluable abdominal examination results secondary to a depressed level of consciousness, and (4) significant mechanisms of injury. Radiological findings and changes in treatment based on these findings were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Any alteration in the normal treatment plan as a direct result of CT scan findings. These alterations include early hospital discharge, admission for observation, operative intervention, and additional diagnostic studies or interventions. RESULTS: One thousand patients underwent pan scan during the 18-month observation period, of which 592 were evaluable patients with no obvious signs of abdominal injury. Clinically significant abnormalities were found in 3.5% of head CT scans, 5.1% of cervical spine CT scans, 19.6% of chest CT scans, and 7.1% of abdominal CT scans. Overall treatment was changed in 18.9% of patients based on abnormal CT scan findings. CONCLUSIONS: The use of pan scan based on mechanism in awake, evaluable patients is warranted. Clinically significant abnormalities are not uncommon, resulting in a change in treatment in nearly 19% of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in the trauma intensive care unit: Morbid but not mortal.

HYPOTHESIS: The diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) carries significant additional morbidity and mortality among critically injured patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study using a prospectively maintained ARDS database. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic county hospital. PATIENTS: All trauma patients admitted to the ICU from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2003, who developed ARDS as defined by (1) acute onset, (2) a partial pressure of arterial oxygen-fraction of inspired oxygen ratio of 200 or less, (3) bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs, and (4) absence of left-sided heart failure. Each patient with ARDS was matched with 2 control patients without ARDS on the basis of sex, age (+/-5 years), mechanism of injury (blunt or penetrating), Injury Severity Score (+/-3), and chest Abbreviated Injury Score (+/-1). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, hospital charges, hospital and ICU lengths of stay, and complications (defined as pneumonia, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy). RESULTS: Of 2042 trauma ICU admissions, 216 patients (10.6%) met criteria for ARDS. We identified 432 similarly injured control patients. Compared with controls, trauma patients with ARDS had more complications (43.1% vs 9.5%), longer hospital (32.2 vs 17.9 days) and ICU (22.1 vs 8.4 days) lengths of stay, and higher hospital charges (267,037 dollars vs 136,680 dollars) (P < .01 for all), but mortality was similar (27.8% vs 25.0%, P = .48). CONCLUSION: Although ARDS is associated with increased morbidity, hospital and ICU length of stay, and costs, it does not increase overall mortality among critically ill trauma patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Use of computed tomography in anterior abdominal stab wounds: results of a prospective study.

HYPOTHESIS: Computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds (AASWs). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Academic level I trauma center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All of the patients sustaining AASWs, excluding those with hemodynamic instability, peritonitis, or omental evisceration, were admitted for serial abdominal examinations with or without CT depending on attending preference. Patients with associated left thoracoabdominal stab wounds underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in patient management as a direct result of the CT scan findings, as well as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT scanning calculated against clinical outcome (the need for laparotomy, uneventful discharge without laparotomy, or return to the hospital for adverse events). RESULTS: One hundred fifty-six consecutive patients with AASWs were included over 24 months. Computed tomography was performed for 67 patients (CT group) whereas 89 patients were admitted for serial examination only (no-CT group). Nineteen of the 67 patients in the CT group had positive CT results, leading to laparotomy in 10 patients. Of the 48 patients with negative CT results, 3 underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for an associated thoracoabdominal stab wound and 2 eventually underwent laparotomy for clinical deterioration with negative results. Excluding patients with associated thoracoabdominal stab wounds, the negative predictive value of CT was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AASWs, CT can be used to identify visceral injuries. It is a promising tool that may identify patients who can be discharged after a shorter period of observation. Further evaluation of its use in patients with AASWs is warranted.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2006

Bronchoscopy in the blast injury patient.

HYPOTHESIS: Delayed presentation of secondary airway injury is a significant clinical entity following blast injury. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Combat Support Hospital, Operation Iraqi Freedom. PATIENTS: Twenty-three blast injury patients with bronchoscopic evidence of secondary airway injury. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptom development and time frame, bronchoscopic findings, and requirement for mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: All of the 23 patients presented within 12 hours of injury. Eleven patients (48%) arrived at the hospital after prior endotracheal intubation. The majority (17 patients [74%]) of patients had no carbonaceous sputum, singed nasal hair, or thoracic trauma that would suggest possible airway injury. Bronchoscopy revealed mucosal erythema and edema in 16 (70%) of the patients, 6 (23%) had additional airway carbonaceous deposits, and 5 (21%) had normal findings on initial bronchoscopy. Eight patients (35%) initially breathing spontaneously and demonstrating no thoracic trauma required intubation within 12 hours of admission owing to impending loss of airway patency. Bronchoscopy revealed significant airway edema (>50% patency loss) in 6 (75%) of these 8 patients, with additional carbonaceous deposits in 3 patients (38%). Patients requiring delayed intubation had a significantly greater respiratory rate on initial examination. CONCLUSIONS: Manifestation of secondary airway injury may be delayed up to 12 hours following blast injury. We believe that blast injury patients should be observed for at least 18 hours after injury or until edema has resolved and in a setting amenable to emergent airway support and rapid bronchoscopic evaluation at the earliest indication of possible airway compromise.

Blast Injuries↗
PubMed2006

Cervical spine injury is highly dependent on the mechanism of injury following blunt and penetrating assault.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of injury has not been highly regarded as an important variable when evaluating cervical spine injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of cervical spine fracture (CSF) and cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) based on mechanism following blunt and penetrating assault to better aid prioritization of management. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from two large urban Level I trauma centers over 87 and 144 months caused by gunshot wounds (GSW), stab wounds (SW) or blunt assault (BA). RESULTS: During the study period, there were 57,532 trauma patients evaluated at the two trauma centers, of which 42.3% were following blunt or penetrating assault. The rates of CSF and CSCI for the various mechanisms were similar between the two centers. The rates for having CSF were significantly different (p < 0.05) for the various mechanisms. GSW (1.35%) was the highest followed by BA (0.41%) and then SW (0.12%). The rates of CSCI for GSW (0.94%) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than BA (0.14%) and SW (0.11%). For GSW patients, all patients with CSF or CSCI had a point of entry between the ears and the nipple. For SW patients, the wound was directly in the neck below the mandible and above the trapezius muscle. Although many of the SW patients also suffered blunt assault, none of the CSF or CSCI injuries were from blunt forces. In addition, all patients, both blunt and penetrating who had CSCI had neurologic deficit at the time of presentation. Surgical stabilization or tongs were applied in 15.5% (26 of 168) of the GSWs, 27.8% (3 of 11) of the SWs and 31.6% (6 of 19) of the BA patients. There was a BA patient (1 of 4,390) patient with CSF that was neurologically intact that required surgical stabilization and this patient had neck pain on admission. No penetrating injury patients with CSCI regained significant neurologic recovery during the hospitalization. SUMMARY: The rate of CSF or CSCI is low following assault and dependent on mechanism of injury. Thus the concern and extent of evaluation should also be dependent on the mechanism of injury. Neurologic deficits from penetrating assault were established and final at the time of presentation. Concern for protecting the neck should not hinder the evaluation process or life saving procedures.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Early prediction of mortality in isolated head injury patients: a new predictive model.

BACKGROUND: To construct a predictive model of survival in isolated head injury patients, on the basis of easily available parameters that are independent risk factors for survival outcome. METHODS: Trauma registry-based study of head injury patients who had no other major extracranial injuries and were not hypotensive at admission. A predictive model of probability of death was constructed using discriminant analysis, on the basis of admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, head Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS), age, and mechanism of injury. RESULTS: The study included 7,191 patients with head trauma. The overall correct classification rate of the proposed predictive model was 94.2% as compared with 89.0% of the admission GCS score (p < 0.05) and 92.8% of the head AIS (p < 0.05). The correct classification rate of the predictive model developed for the severe head trauma (GCS score 4-8) patients was 79.9%, as compared with 72.6% using the admission GCS score alone or 75.1% (p < 0.05). A one-page, easy to use table summarizing the predicted mortality on the basis of GCS score, head AIS, mechanism of injury, and age was developed. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model has a significantly better predictive power, especially in severe head trauma, than the extensively used GCS and head AIS. A simple table on the probability of death of a particular patient based on admission GCS score, head AIS, mechanism of injury and age of patient can provide instant information.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗
PubMed2006

The effect of a protocol of aggressive donor management: Implications for the national organ donor shortage.

BACKGROUND: The disparity between the number of people awaiting organ transplantation and the number of organs available has become a public health crisis. As many as 25% of potential donors are lost as a result of cardiovascular collapse (CVC) before organ harvest. A policy of aggressive donor management (ADM) may decrease the number of cadaveric donors lost as a result of CVC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of potential brain-dead donors evaluated from January 1995 to December 2003 at nine American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma centers covered by a regional organ procurement agency. One center (Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center [LAC]) had an ADM protocol in place instituted January 1999; the remaining eight centers with no ADM protocol were grouped as Center A. The incidence of CVC and organ donation demographics were compared between centers and within LAC before (LAC-Pre) and after (LAC-Post) adoption of ADM. ADM consists of early identification of potential organ donors, a dedicated team that provides medical management, and aggressive fluid resuscitation as well as hormone replacement therapy with solumedrol and thyroxin. RESULTS: The incidence of CVC was significantly higher in LAC-Pre (odds ratio [OR] 15.0, p < 0.001) and Center A (OR 5.8, p < 0.001) compared with LAC-Post. The number of organs harvested per potential donor for LAC-Post (2.4) was significantly higher than LAC-Pre (2.0, p = 0.02) and Center A (2.1, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: An aggressive donor management protocol decreases the number of donors lost as a result of cardiovascular collapse and increases the number of harvested organs per potential donor.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Complications of brain death: frequency and impact on organ retrieval.

Brain death is associated with complex hemodynamic, endocrine, and metabolic dysfunction that can lead to major complications with the potential donor. Untreated, this can progress to cardiovascular collapse with loss of valuable organs for transplantation. We hypothesized that brain death-related complications would have no effect on the number of organs donated if an aggressive donor management protocol was in place. We identified all successful organ donations between January 2000 and December 2003 and evaluated them for brain death-associated complications (defined as vasopressor requirement, coagulopathy, diabetes insipidus, cardiac ischemia, lactic acidosis, renal failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome) and donated organs per donor. Sixty-nine organ donors were identified. Complications identified were as follows: intravenous vasopressor requirement in 97.1 per cent, coagulopathy in 55.1 per cent, thrombocytopenia in 53.6 per cent, diabetes insipidus in 46.4 per cent, cardiac ischemia in 30.4 per cent, lactic acidosis in 24.6 per cent, renal failure in 20.3 per cent, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in 13 per cent. There was no significant effect of complications on the average number of organs harvested, with the exception of an increase in organs harvested in the presence of diabetes insipidus. With the implementation of an aggressive organ donor management protocol, these complications can be effectively managed with no impact on the number of organs harvested for transplant.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between American College of Surgeons trauma center designation and mortality in patients with severe trauma (injury severity score > 15).

BACKGROUND: We studied the association of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) trauma center designation and mortality in adult patients with severe trauma (Injury Severity Score > 15). ACS designation of trauma centers into different levels requires substantial financial and human resources commitments. There is very little work published on the association of ACS trauma center designation and outcomes in severe trauma. STUDY DESIGN: National Trauma Data Bank study including all adult trauma admissions (older than 14 years of age) with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15. The relationship between ACS level of trauma designation and survival outcomes was evaluated after adjusting for age, mechanism of injury, ISS, hypotension on admission, severe liver trauma, aortic, vena cava, iliac vascular, and penetrating cardiac injuries. RESULTS: A total of 130,154 patients from 256 trauma centers met the inclusion criteria. Adjusted mortality in ACS-designated Level II centers and undesignated centers was notably higher than in Level I centers (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09-120; p < 0.0001 and adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; CI, 1.05-1.13; p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Severely injured patients with ISS > 15 treated in ACS Level I trauma centers have considerably better survival outcomes than those treated in ACS Level II centers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Continuous noninvasive monitoring of cardiac performance and tissue perfusion in pediatric trauma patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a continuous survival probability prediction using noninvasive measures of cardiac performance and tissue perfusion in severely injured pediatric patients. METHODS: Review of all patients entered into a prospective noninvasive monitoring protocol. Cardiac index (CI) was measured using a thoracic bioimpedance device and tissue perfusion was assessed by transcutaneous carbon dioxide (Ptcco(2)) tension and oxygen tension indexed to the fraction of inspired oxygen (Ptco(2)/Fio(2)). Survival probability (SP) was continuously calculated using a stochastic analysis program. RESULTS: There were 45 patients with a total of 953 data sets. The mean age was 11 years (range, 1-16 years) with a mean Injury Severity Score of 24 (+/-16). There was no difference between survivors (n = 32) and nonsurvivors (n = 13) at study entry for heart rate, blood pressure, CI, or pulse oximetry (all P > .05). However, survivors demonstrated higher Ptcco(2) (45 vs 35), higher Ptco(2)/Fio(2) (236 vs 156), and higher predicted SP (89% vs 62%) compared with nonsurvivors at study entry and throughout the monitoring period (all P < .01). For the entire data set, the strongest independent predictors of survival were Ptco(2)/Fio(2) and SP. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for mortality prediction was 0.83 for SP and 0.71 for Ptco(2)/Fio(2), compared with 0.6 for heart rate, 0.51 for blood pressure, and 0.53 for CI. Similar hemodynamic patterns were observed for all injury patterns with the exception of those with severe brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic bioimpedance and transcutaneous monitoring give critical real-time hemodynamic and tissue perfusion data that can provide early identification of pathologic flow patterns and accurately predict survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

High-frequency percussive ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the technique and clinical application of high-frequency percussive ventilation in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Literature search and descriptive review. RESULTS: High-frequency percussive ventilation is a time-cycled, pressure-limited mode of ventilation that delivers subphysiologic tidal volumes at rates that can exceed 500 breaths/min. It offers the potential advantage over conventional ventilation of providing equal or improved oxygenation and ventilation at lower peak and end-expiratory pressures. This modality has been used to manage severe lung disease in the neonatal and pediatric population, treat inhalation injury in pediatric and adult patients, and as salvage therapy in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency percussive ventilation has been shown to provide favorable gas exchange in several well-defined patient populations. It reliably improves oxygenation and provides adequate ventilation at lower peak pressures than conventional ventilation. Adequately powered, randomized, prospective studies demonstrating significant mortality benefit have not yet been performed.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Diagnosis of acid-base derangements and mortality prediction in the trauma intensive care unit: the physiochemical approach.

BACKGROUND: Conventional measures such as anion gap and base deficit can be inadequate for defining and managing complex acid-base derangements. Physiochemical analysis is an alternative approach based on the principles of electroneutrality and conservation of mass, and may be more accurate for defining the presence and type of acidosis and unmeasured anions. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 2,152 sets of laboratory data from 427 trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit. All data sets included simultaneous measurements of an arterial blood gas with base deficit (BD), serum electrolytes, albumin, lactate, and a calculated anion gap (AG). Physiochemical analysis was used to calculate the corrected anion gap (AGcorr), the apparent strong ion difference, the effective strong ion difference, the strong ion gap (SIG), and the base deficit corrected for unmeasured anions (BDua). Statistical analysis comparing AG and BD to the physiochemical measures was performed on all data and the subset of admission laboratory data only (n = 427). RESULTS: Unmeasured anions as defined by an elevated SIG were present in 92% of patients (mean SIG, 5.9 +/- 3.3), whereas hyperlactatemia and hyperchloremia were present in only 18% and 21%, respectively. The physiochemical approach yielded a different clinical interpretation of the acid-base status than the conventional approach in 597 (28%) of the data sets. Lactate level was more strongly correlated with the physiochemical measures of SIG (r = 0.48) and AGcorr (r = 0.47) than with the conventional measures of AG (r = 0.24) and BD (r = 0.36, p < 0.01 for all). Both admission BD and BDua were significantly elevated in nonsurvivors, and logistic regression analysis for prediction of mortality revealed an area under the curve of 0.70 for BDua (p < 0.01) versus 0.65 for BD (p < 0.01). AGcorr and SIG did not differentiate survivors from nonsurvivors in the group as a whole. However, analysis of patients with a normal admission lactate level (n = 322) demonstrated a significant difference between survivors and nonsurvivors in SIG (7 vs. 5, p = 0.009), BDua (-4.2 vs. -2.0, p = 0.004), and AGcorr (21 vs. 19, p = 0.04), whereas the conventional measures of BD and AG showed no significant discriminatory ability. CONCLUSION: Unmeasured anions are the most common component of metabolic acidosis in trauma intensive care unit patients. The physiochemical approach can significantly alter the acid-base diagnosis compared with conventional measures. The SIG, AGcorr, and BDua may be particularly helpful in predicting acid-base derangements and mortality in patients with normal serum lactate levels.

Acid-Base Imbalance↗
PubMed2005

The decreasing incidence and mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome after injury: a 5-year observational study.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after major trauma has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Recently, there have been marked advances in defining etiologic factors and optimal management strategies for ARDS. We sought to examine whether there has been a corresponding change in the incidence and outcomes of ARDS after injury in recent years. METHODS: A prospective observational study of all adult trauma intensive care unit (ICU) admissions over 5 years. Patients were evaluated daily for predefined ARDS criteria. Patient data, illness and injury severity, and ARDS incidence were compared by year of admission. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of ARDS and mortality. RESULTS: There were 1,913 patients identified; the majority were male (79%) and suffered blunt trauma (62%). Two hundred seventy-four patients (14%) met criteria for ARDS. The incidence of ARDS showed a significant decrease from 23% in 2000 to rates of 8.4% and 9% for 2003 and 2004 (p < 0.01), respectively. There was no significant difference by year for trauma mechanism, age, sex, Injury Severity Score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, ICU length of stay, or mortality. The strongest independent predictor of ARDS was year of ICU admission, with an odds ratio of 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.7-5.0) for admission in 2000 versus subsequent years (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age and injury severity, patients with ARDS had more days on mechanical ventilation and longer hospital and ICU stays (all p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in mortality with or without ARDS (p = 0.57). CONCLUSION: There has been a more than 50% reduction in the incidence of ARDS after injury during the past 5 years in our institution despite similar patient demographics and injury severities. Development of ARDS increased hospital and ICU stays but not hospital mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Troponin increases in the critically injured patient: mechanical trauma or physiologic stress?

BACKGROUND: Serum troponin (Tn) is a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury. Tn increase after injury is usually attributed to mechanical chest trauma, but this relationship remains unproven. We sought to examine the etiologic factors and prognostic significance of increased Tn levels in a widely screened trauma population. METHODS: We reviewed all trauma intensive care unit (ICU) admissions over a 5-year period with serial Tn I (TnI) measurements as part of a screening protocol. TnI was categorized as normal (0-1.2 microg/L), intermediate (1.3-5 microg/L), or high (>5 microg/L), and mortality rates were compared between groups. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of TnI increase and mortality. RESULTS: There were 1,081 patients identified. An increased TnI was found in 29% of patients. Mortality significantly increased from 16% in the normal group to 33 and 44% in the intermediate and high TnI groups, respectively. Independent predictors of an increased TnI were admission base excess (p = 0.04), Injury Severity Score (ISS) (p < 0.001), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score (p < 0.001). Chest Abbreviated Injury Scale score and the presence or absence of severe chest injury did not independently predict TnI increase (p = 0.5 and 0.83). Any increase of TnI (>1.2 microg/L) was a strong independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.1) after controlling for age, sex, mechanism, base excess, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and ISS. Beta-blocker use was associated with a 50% reduction in mortality among patients with an increased Tn (38 versus 16%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum TnI after trauma is related to the degree of overall injury and physiologic stress and not mechanical chest trauma. Intermediate and high TnI increases are associated with increased mortality, which may be improved by selective use of beta-blockade.

APACHE↗