Admission lactate level and the APACHE II score are the most useful predictors of prognosis following torso trauma

A comparison of central venous and arterial base deficit as a predictor of survival in acute trauma

BACKGROUND

The arterial base deficit has been demonstrated to be a marker of shock and predictive of survival in injured patients. The venous blood, however, may better reflect tissue perfusion. Its usefulness in trauma is unknown. We compared central venous with arterial blood gas analysis to determine which was a better predictor of survival in injured patients.

METHODS

A prospective, nonrandomized series of acutely injured patients was investigated. Patients who had an arterial blood gas analysis for acid-base determination had a simultaneous central venous blood gas analysis and routine blood tests. Patient demographics, Injury Severity Score, and survival past 24 hours were recorded. Arterial and venous blood samples were analyzed for pH, PCO2, PO2, HCO3, hemoglobin-oxygen saturation, base deficit, and lactate.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were enrolled. There were 76 survivors and 24 nonsurvivors. Wilcoxon rank sum test and multivariate logistic regression were used for each recorded variable; only central venous base deficit was predictive of survival past 24 hours (P = .0081). Specifically, arterial base deficit was not predictive of survival past 24 hours.

CONCLUSION

In a prospective series of acutely injured patients, central venous base deficit, not arterial base deficit, was predictive of survival past 24 hours.

The prognostic importance of serum IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels compared to trauma scoring systems for early mortality in children with blunt trauma

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a correlation exits between the main trauma scoring systems and the activation of inflammatory cells and mediators such as interleukin-(IL-) 1beta, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) after trauma, and moreover to assess if any of these can be used to predict the outcome in patients under care at a trauma center. Forty-seven children (37 boys, 10 girls) presenting with blunt trauma, were evaluated by an analysis of the relationship between overall mortality and potential risk factors. Admission data, including serum IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, pediatric trauma score (PTS), and injury severity score (ISS), were collected and analyzed. In descriptive statistics for independent variables, some prognostic factors such as IL-8 (P = 0.04), and ISS (P = 0.004) were significant in their relationship to mortality. In the univariate statistical analysis some other risk factors such as IL-8 (P = 0.004), >20 TNF-alpha (P = 0.04), and ISS (P = 0.007) were significant in their relationship to mortality. The relative risk of developing mortality was higher than two for each of the following risk factors: >10 ages, >25 IL-6, 10-20 TNF-alpha, >20 TNF-alpha, PTS <or= 8, and ISS > 15. There was a positive correlation between IL-8 (r = 0.31, P = 0.33), ISS (r = 0.31, P = 0.0001), and mortality. There was also a correlation with ISS and IL-8 (r = 0.32, P = 0.02). ISS, and the serum IL-8 level are the most important determinants of clinical outcome in critically injured patients. A correlation exits between IL-8 and mortality and between ISS and IL-8.

Hyperlactemia can predict the prognosis of liver resection

Although hyperlactemia is known to accompany hepatic failure and metabolic acidosis, few reports examined the relationships between lactate concentrations and outcome after liver resection. We examined the ability of arterial plasma lactate concentration to predict the patient outcome after hepatectomy. The relationships of arterial lactate and base excess (BE) measured on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) after hepatectomy to postoperative outcome were investigated in 151 consecutive patients. Lactate level was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (P < 0.001), and in patients with postoperative complications than in those without complications (P < 0.001). Base excess was significantly reduced in nonsurvivors (P < 0.001) and in patients with postoperative complications (P = 0.004). The area under the receiver-operator curve of lactate to mortality was 0.86, whereas that of BE to the mortality was 0.82. Moderate correlation was observed between the lactate level at ICU admission and the highest total bilirubin concentration measured within 14 days after the surgery (r = 0.61), whereas the correlation between BE and bilirubin levels was lower (r = 0.35). Using multivariate analysis, the lactate level independently predicted mortality (P = 0.008) and morbidity (P = 0.013). Lactate (P < 0.001) and BE (P = 0.0068) levels both independently predicted the highest bilirubin concentration. The arterial plasma lactate concentration measured on admission to ICU seemed an excellent predictor of patient outcome after liver resection.

Analysis of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation in PMN-neutrophils of major trauma patients in the early post-traumatic period: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic inflammation is connected to polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-dysfunction characterized by reduced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB during the post-traumatic period. However, the dynamic of NF-kappaB translocation in PMN of major trauma patients remains unclear. Hence, the aim of this pilot study was to analyze NF-kappaB in PMN from multiply injured patients immediately after trauma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Blood samples of major trauma patients (ISS > 16) were drawn on admission within 90 minutes after trauma and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after trauma. Neutrophilic NF-kappaB-translocation was analyzed by EMSA and quantified by densitometry as (arbitrary units). In addition, PMN of healthy volunteers were analyzed either in their native state (-control) or after LPS stimulation (+control).

RESULTS

Twelve patients (NISS: 34 +/- 10 [mean +/- SEM]) were enrolled. NF-kappaB translocation was significantly increased in trauma patients on admission and after 6 hours. Interestingly, a second activity peak was present after 24 hours. In patients who later died, NF-kappaB activity was significantly elevated initially, to be rapidly diminished after 6 hours, while it increased in the survivors group. After 24 hours NF-kappaB activity increased significantly in the survivors group, to become reduced in both groups at a later time.

CONCLUSIONS

Within this pilot study, the dynamic of NF-kappaB translocation in PMN of multiply injured patients immediately after trauma was analyzed for the first time. Enabled by closely matched sequential blood sampling strictly standardized to the traumatic event, an essential biphasic increase of neutrophilic signal transduction could be investigated in the very early post-traumatic period, which preceded the downregulation of the innate immune system.

Cost of Gram-negative resistance*

OBJECTIVE

It is unclear that infections with Gram-negative rods resistant to at least one major class of antibiotics (rGNR) have a greater effect on patient morbidity than infections caused by sensitive strains (sGNR). We wished to test the hypothesis that rGNR infections are associated with higher resource utilization.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study of prospectively collected data.

SETTING

University hospital surgical intensive care unit and ward.

PATIENTS

Surgical patients with at least one GNR infection.

MEASUREMENTS

We compared admissions treated for rGNR infection with those with sGNR infections. Primary outcomes were total hospital costs and hospital length of stay. Other outcomes included antibiotic treatment cost, in-hospital death, and intensive care unit length of stay. After univariate analysis comparing outcomes after rGNR infection with those after sGNR infection, multivariate linear regression models for hospital cost and length of stay were created to account for potential confounders.

MAIN RESULTS

Cost data were available for 604 surgical admissions treated for at least one GNR infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria), 137 (23%) of which were rGNR infections. Admissions with rGNR infections were associated with a higher severity of illness at the time of infection (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, 17.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 13.9 +/- 0.3), had higher median hospital costs ($80,500 vs. $29,604, p < .0001) and median antibiotic costs ($2,607 vs. $758, p < .0001), and had longer median hospital length of stay (29 vs. 13 days, p < .0001) and median intensive care unit length of stay (13 days vs. 1 day, p < .0001). Infection with rGNR within the first 7 days of admission was independently predictive of increased hospital cost (incremental increase in median hospital cost estimated at $11,075; 95% confidence interval, $3,282-$20,099).

CONCLUSIONS

Early infection with rGNR is associated with a high economic burden, which is in part related to increased antibiotic utilization compared with infection with sensitive organisms. Efforts to control overuse of antibiotics should be pursued.

Effect of normal saline infusion on the diagnostic utility of base deficit in identifying major injury in trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Base deficit (BD) is a reliable marker of metabolic acidosis and is useful in gauging hemorrhage after trauma. Resuscitation with chloride-rich solutions such as normal saline (NS) can cause a dilutional acidosis, possibly confounding the interpretation of BD.

OBJECTIVES

To test the diagnostic utility of BD in distinguishing minor from major injury after administration of NS.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study at a Level 1 trauma center. The authors enrolled patients with significant mechanism of injury and measured BD at triage (BD-0) and at four hours after triage (BD-4). Major injury was defined by any of the following: injury severity score of > or =15, drop in hematocrit of > or = 10 points, or the patient requiring a blood transfusion. Patients were divided into a low-volume (NS < 2L) and a high-volume (NS 2L) group. Data were reported as mean (+/-SD). Student's t- and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves tested the utility of BD-4 in differentiating minor from major injury in the study groups.

RESULTS

Four hundred eighty-nine trauma patients (mean age, 36 [+/-18] yr) were enrolled; 82% were male, and 34% had penetrating injury. Major-(20%) compared with minor-(80%) injury patients were significantly (p = 0.0001) more acidotic (BD-0 mean difference: -3.3 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.5 to -4.2). The high-volume group (n = 174) received 3,342 (+/-1,821) mL, and the low-volume group (n = 315) received 621 (+/-509) mL of NS. Areas under the ROC curves for the high-volume (0.63; 95% CI = 0.52 to 0.74) and low-volume (0.73; 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.86) groups were not significantly different from each other.

CONCLUSIONS

Base deficit was able to distinguish minor from major injury after four hours of resuscitation, irrespective of the volume of NS infused.

Admission serum lactate levels do not predict mortality in the acutely injured patient

INTRODUCTION

The conventional view that admission lactate levels predict outcome in trauma patients stems from simple comparisons of mean blood levels between groups and small sample sizes. To better address this question, we performed more rigorous statistical analyses of lactate in a larger patient sample.

METHODS

We prospectively collected data on admission lactate and outcomes in 5,995 patients admitted to an urban, university-based trauma center. The ability of admission lactate to predict mortality was assessed by logistic regression, calculation of positive predictive values (PPV), and measurement of areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

Differences between survivors and nonsurvivors in means of most proposed prognosticators was again demonstrated. However, the large overlap in these variables between survivors and nonsurvivors prevented clinically useful predictions. The overall PPV of elevated lactate was only 5.4%. Even in severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score >20; mortality 23%), elevated admission lactate level was a poor predictor of outcome. ROC analyses found no useful sensitivity threshold overall or after stratification by age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, revised trauma score, or mechanism of injury.

CONCLUSIONS

This large retrospective examination of admission lactate levels failed to show useful predictive accuracy for hospital death. Serum lactate levels need not be obtained routinely but can be reserved for patients who will be admitted to the intensive care unit and/or require an emergency operation.

Diagnostic performance of serial haematocrit measurements in identifying major injury in adult trauma patients

Determination of occult haemorrhage is an essential part of trauma assessment. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of decreasing haematocrit (DeltaHct) in detecting major injury. Additionally, we tested the correlation between the volume of infused intravenous fluid (IVF) and DeltaHct.

METHODS

Prospective observational study at a level one trauma centre.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients with suspected major injury. exclusion criteria: Patients who received blood transfusion in the first 4 h, and those who deceased or were transferred to other units before the completion of the observation period (4 h). We measured IVF and DeltaHct at 4 h after triage. We classified patients as having minor or major injury on the basis of injury severity score > or =15. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the diagnostic performance of DeltaHct in identifying major injury. We tested the operating characteristics of DeltaHct cut-off values of 5 and 10 in detecting major injury. We also measured the correlation of IVF and DeltaHct in a subgroup of patients with low potential for blood loss (ISS<3) to account for possibility of haemodilution.

RESULTS

Four hundred and ninety-four patients (convenience sample) were enrolled (age 36+/-17 years, 82% male, 57% blunt trauma). Sixty-three patients (13%) had major injury. The area under the ROC curve for DeltaHct was not significantly different from the unity line (p=0.20). DeltaHct-4 h>5 points had a sensitivity of 40% (95% CI, 29-52%), specificity of 94% (95% CI, 92-96%), likelihood ratio for a positive test (LR+) of 7.1 (95% CI, 4.4-11.7), and likelihood ratio for a negative test (-LR) of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.52-0.78) in identifying major trauma. DeltaHct-4 h>10 points had sensitivity of 16% (95% CI, 9-27%), specificity of 95% (95% CI, 92-0.96%), +LR of 3.0 (95% CI, 1.5-5.9), and -LR of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.80-0.99). In our subgroup analysis, we detected no significant correlation (p=0.09) between the IVF and DeltaHct-4 h.

CONCLUSIONS

DeltaHct-4 h>5 or 10 points is suggestive of major injury (high specificity and +LR). However, the failure to drop the Hct cannot be used to rule out major injury (low sensitivity and -LR).

Die Beckenringzerreißung beim polytraumatisierten Patienten

Pelvic injuries represent a thorny and stubborn therapeutic challenge. Because major forces are required to fracture the pelvis, pelvic ring disruption, more than any other fracture, can lead to life-threatening associated injuries such as massive bleeding, organ injuries, and open fractures including hemipelvectomy. The rapid diagnosis and effective treatment ("damage control") of those injuries play the key role in the patient's survival, inasmuch as the mortality of multiply injured patients with pelvic ring disruption remains high with 20-35%. Exsanguinating hemorrhage represents the most dreaded acute complication of pelvic injuries. Therefore, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have to be primarily adapted to the hemodynamics of the patient, secondarily to injuries of the brain and the torso. The time point and the techniques of definitive pelvic ring stabilization may be different in the patient with multiple injuries compared to isolated pelvic ring injuries.