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Therèse M Duane

Publications and source records attributed to Therèse M Duane.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Obesity and outcomes after blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has proven to be an independent risk factor of mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) in both nontrauma and trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the detrimental effect of obesity extend to morbidity as well as mortality in the intensive and nonintensive care blunt trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective comparison of obese (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2) to nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) blunt trauma patients was performed between January 2004 and December 2005. Patient demographics, morbidity, mortality and ventilator, ICU, and hospital length of stays were analyzed. Continuous variables were evaluated using the Wilcoxon Rank test and the nominal variables were evaluated using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A cohort of 338 nonobese patients was compared with 115 obese patients during the study. These groups were similar in age (p = 0.19), gender (p = 0.37), and mechanism (p = 0.13). Their severity of injury were similar, demonstrated by nonsignificant differences in Injury Severity Score (p = 0.45), New Injury Severity Score (p = 0.51), Abdomen Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS; p = 0.49), and head AIS (p = 0.64). The subset of obese patients who never went to the ICU had a slightly longer hospital stay with a p value of 0.055. Overall the mortality rates were not different between the groups (3.5% obese versus 7.1% nonobese, p = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: This group of obese blunt trauma patients had similar mortality rates to their leaner counterparts possibly because their complications were minimized. Despite this finding, a subset of obese patients had longer hospital stays which increases the financial burden to the patient and hospital. Effort should be made to facilitate their discharge to avoid complications and minimize cost.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Prospective evaluation of an extubation protocol in a trauma intensive care unit population.

Little data exists regarding extubation protocols in critically injured trauma patients. The objective of the current study was to prospectively examine the impact of implementing an extubation protocol on the outcomes of ventilated trauma patients in a surgical intensive care unit (STICU). Trauma patients admitted to the STICU over a 15-month period at a Level 1 trauma center were prospectively evaluated. The total period was divided into an education and institution period (April 2002-November 2003) and an evaluation period (December 2003-July 2003). Patient demographics, hospital course, complications, and outcomes from period I were compared with those obtained during period II. From April 8, 2002 through July 5, 2003, 69 patients intubated for greater than 24 hours were included in our analysis. Thirty-three were treated during period I and 36 were treated during period II. Both groups were well matched in terms of age, sex, Injury Severity Score, and chest Abbreviated Injury Score. Ventilation days significantly decreased from a mean of 16.3 to 8.2 days (P = 0.04). ICU length of stay also decreased, nearly meeting significance. A rigorously enforced extubation protocol significantly decreased ventilator days in STICU patients. Continued education of health care providers is key to the success of the protocol.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2006

Is blood sugar the next lactate?

This study evaluates whether an initial blood glucose level is similarly predictive of injury severity and outcome as admission lactate in trauma patients. Between February 2004 and June 2005, we prospectively compared patients with presenting blood sugars of < or =150 mg/dL (LBS) with those with blood sugars >150 mg/dL (HBS). Fifty patients had BS above 150 mg/dL, whereas 176 patients were < or = 150 mg/dL. These groups had similar demographics except for age. Injury Severity Score (ISS) of > or = 15 was seen in 56.0 per cent of HBS patients versus 28.4 per cent of LBS patients (P = 0.0006). HBS patients had similar infection rates (12.0% HBS vs. 5.7% LBS, P = 0.13) but a higher mortality (30.0% HBS vs. 5.7% LBS, P < 0.0001). There was a linear relationship between ISS and BS (r2 = 0.18, P < 0.0001) and ISS and lactate (r2 = 0.17, P < 0.0001). Blood sugar trended with the lactate (r = 0.25, P = 0.0001). Hyperglycemic patients were more severely injured with higher mortality. BS correlated with lactate, and because it is easily obtainable, it may serve as a readily available predictor of injury severity and prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Reevaluating the management and outcomes of severe blunt liver injury.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors that predict the need for operative management (OM) of severe blunt liver injury. We also sought to determine the impact of interventional angiography (Ang) in the treatment and outcomes of these patients. METHODS: Patients with blunt liver injuries of grade IV or higher were retrospectively reviewed for their demographics, hemodynamics, blood product requirements, laboratory and radiologic data, hospital course, and outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-four patients underwent OM. They had a significantly higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) and lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.004), a lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.002) and a higher heart rate (p = 0.02), and higher fluid and transfusion requirements (p < 0.001) than those treated without OM. Their mortality rate was 66%; 59% of deaths were from uncontrolled bleeding. Initial platelet count and fluid requirements at 4 hours were independent predictors of the need for OM. Ang was performed in 48 patients. Patients who were treated without Ang required more fluids (p = 0.03) and more packed red blood cells (p = 0.02) at 4 hours. Patients requiring both OM and Ang had a higher complication rate (p = 0.02) and longer intensive care unit and hospital length of stay (p < 0.001) than those who had OM alone, but mortality was the same (p = 0.1). Patients treated nonoperatively had longer intensive care unit (p = 0.006) and hospital stays (p < 0.05) if they required Ang, but mortality was the same. The only survival advantage to the use of Ang was when Ang alone was compared with OM alone. CONCLUSION: Select high-grade injuries can be successfully managed nonoperatively. Initial platelet count and crystalloid fluid use at 4 hours predict the need for OM. Patients requiring OM are less stable and have substantial mortality but often do not die as a result of uncontrolled bleeding. Ang has a role in stable patients who do not require OM initially but does not improve outcome in patients who require OM.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Protocol-driven ventilator management in a trauma intensive care unit population.

HYPOTHESIS: The use of weaning and sedation protocols affects the intensive care unit (ICU) course of a trauma population. DESIGN: Nonrandomized before-after trial. SETTING: A level I trauma center. PATIENTS: Three hundred twenty-eight consecutive trauma patients receiving mechanical ventilation treated in the ICU between October 1, 1997, and November 1, 1999. INTERVENTION: Sedation and weaning protocols were used to treat patients receiving mechanical ventilation during the second year of this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-extubation rates, ventilator days, number of ICU days, and charges. RESULTS: There were 168 patients in the preprotocol group (year 1: October 1, 1997, to October 31, 1998) and 160 patients in the postprotocol group (year 2: November 1, 1998, to November 30, 1999). The groups were similar in age (P =.68), Injury Severity Score (P =.06), and Glasgow Coma Scale score (P =.29). There were no differences in self-extubation rates (P =.57), ventilator days (P =.83), ventilator charges (P =.83), number of ICU days (P =.67), or ICU charges (P =.67) between the 2 groups. No statistical difference was identified in any of these categories when long-term ventilator patients (defined as ventilator length of stay > or =3 SDs above the mean) were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Use of weaning and sedation protocols did not affect the measured outcomes in this study. These findings may reflect difficulties inherent in the protocols or with their utilization. Further subgroup analysis focusing on ventilator-associated pneumonias and mortality may demonstrate benefits not identified herein.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Blunt trauma and the role of routine pelvic radiographs: a prospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that clinical factors accurately identify those trauma patients at high risk for pelvic fractures making routine films unnecessary. METHODS: Blunt trauma patients were prospectively analyzed both with and without a clinical protocol. The protocol group had pelvic films obtained only if they had a Glasgow Coma Scale score < 13 or had signs and symptoms of pelvic or back injury. RESULTS: The protocol patients with fractures (n = 45) had a higher Injury Severity Score (p = 0.001) and lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04) than those without fractures (n = 475). All 45 patients with pelvic fractures were identified by history and physical examination (p = 0.001). The clinical assessment resulted in a sensitivity and a negative predictive value of 100%. A total of 273 films were eliminated, resulting in a charge savings of $51,051. A comparison between the protocol and nonprotocol groups showed the nonprotocol patients with pelvic fractures to have a higher Injury Severity Score (p < 0.002). All of these patients' pelvic fractures were identified by clinical evaluation (67 of 67). CONCLUSION: In the awake and alert patient, the need for a pelvic radiograph was readily identified by clinical examination. Because elimination of this film would result in financial savings, its routine use should be removed from standard trauma protocols in the minimally injured patient and limited to severely injured patients as recommended by the Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol.

Adult↗