Improvement of outcomes in patients with pelvic fractures and hemodynamic instability after the establishment of a Korean regional trauma center

Hemostatic Interventions and All-Cause Mortality in Hemodynamically Unstable Pelvic Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the all-cause mortality associated with the most commonly used hemostatic treatments in patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures.

Methods

Up to April 30, 2023, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane, including the references to qualified papers. A meta-analysis was performed on studies that reported odds ratios (ORs) or the number of events needed to calculate them. The PROSPERO registration number was CRD42023421137.

Results

Of the 3452 titles identified in our original search, 29 met our criteria. Extraperitoneal packing (EPP) (OR = 0.626 and 95% CI = 0.413-0.949), external fixation (EF) (OR = 0.649 and 95% CI = 0.518-0.814), and arterial embolism (AE) (OR = 0.459 and 95% CI = 0.291-0.724) were associated with decreased mortality. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) (OR = 2.824 and 95% CI = 1.594-5.005) was associated with increased mortality. A random effect model meta-analysis of eight articles showed no difference in mortality between patients with AE and patients with EPP for the initial treatments for controlling blood loss (OR = 0.910 and 95% CI = 0.623-1.328).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis collectively suggested EF, AE, or EPP as life-saving procedures for patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures.

The implementation of the acute care surgery model in the management of patients with acute appendicitis - A 5-year single-center, retrospective experience: An observational study

We conducted this study to assess the effects of the acute care surgery (ACS) model in the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) based on our 5-year single-center, retrospective experience. The current single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted in a consecutive series of the patients with AA who had been surgically treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, Korea, between January 2016 and December 2020. At our institution, the ACS model was first introduced in March 2018. Therefore, our clinical series of the patients were divided into 2 groups: the pre-ACS group (March 2014 to February 2018) and the post-ACS group (March 2018 to December 2022). Key time intervals include emergency department registration to request for surgical consultation, request for surgical consultation to decision on surgery, decision-to-operating room, time to decision on surgery and length of emergency department stay. Moreover, outcomes include rates of perforation and complications and discharge within 24 or 48 hours. We compared key time intervals, outcomes, and length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. A total of 900 patients with AA were finally included in the current study, 447 and 453 of whom were divided into the pre-ACS group (n = 447) and the post-ACS group (n = 453), respectively. There were significant differences in key time intervals, outcomes, and length of hospital stay between the 2 groups (P < .05). In conclusion, our results showed that the implementation of the ACS model was effective in improving key time intervals, rates of perforation, and discharge within 24 or 48 hours in the patients with AA.

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Elderly Patients with Trauma Treated in a Local Trauma Center

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of elderly patients who visited a non-regional trauma center to examine the effects of old age on the clinical outcomes of patients.Methods: The medical charts of 159 patients with trauma who visited the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital between March 2020 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Results: Of the 159 patients, 41 were assigned to the elderly patient group (EPG) and 118 were assigned to the non-elderly patient group (NEPG). The average age of patients in each group was 75.5 and 38.2 years in the EPG and the NEPG, respectively. Comparing the injury mechanism between the two groups, pedestrian traffic accidents (TA) were the most common (24.4%), followed by slipping (19.5%), motorcycle TA, and bicycle TA (14.6%) in EPG. In the NEPG, motorcycle TA (28.0%) was the most common, followed by car TA (27.1%), and fall injury (16.9%), with a significant difference between the two groups (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The significant differences between the two groups were the injury severity score (ISS; <i>p</i> = 0.004), severe trauma (<i>p</i> = 0.045), intensive care unit admission (<i>p</i> = 0.028), emergency operation (<i>p</i> = 0.034), and mortality (<i>p</i> = 0.013). The statistically significant risk factors for mortality were old age (<i>p</i> = 0.024) and chest injury (<i>p</i> = 0.013).Conclusion: Patients in the EPG compared with the NEPG group showed different injury mechanisms. The EPG has a higher severity and mortality rate than the NEPG.

Predictive factors of mortality in patients with pelvic fracture and shock submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing

INTRODUCTION

in recent decades, the extraperitoneal pelvic packing technique has been disseminated, but there are still few studies. Thus, it was decided to analyze the results of extraperitoneal pelvic tamponade, in patients with pelvic fracture and shock, in order to identify predictive factors for mortality.

METHODS

a retrospective review of medical records of patients submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing was conduced. We analyzed their characteristics, prehospital and emergency room data, pelvic fracture classification, associated and severity injuries, laboratory and imaging exams, data on packing, arteriography, and other procedures performed, complications, hemodynamic parameters, and amount of transfused blood products before and after packing.

RESULTS

data were analyzed from 51 patients, who showed signs of shock from prehospital care, presence of acidosis, with high base deficit and arterial lactate levels. Most patients underwent multiple surgical procedures due to severe associated injuries. The incidence of coagulopathy was 70.58%, and overall mortality was 56.86%. The group of non-surviving patients presented significantly higher age, prehospital endotracheal intubation, and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p<0.05). The same group presented, before and after extraperitoneal pelvic packing, significantly worse hemodynamic parameters of mean arterial pressure, pH, base deficit, hemoglobin, and arterial lactate (p<0.05). The non-surviving group received significantly more units of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets within 24 hours following extraperitoneal pelvic packing (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

age and base deficit are independent predictors of mortality in patients submitted to extraperitoneal pelvic packing.

Current management and clinical outcomes for patients with haemorrhagic shock due to pelvic fracture in Korean regional trauma centres: A multi-institutional trial

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current management and clinical outcomes in patients with hemodynamic instability due to pelvic fracture in three regional trauma centres in Korea.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three regional trauma centres participated in this study, and 157 patients who were admitted between January 2015 and December 2018 were enroled. Clinical data were collected prospectively as part of the Korean trauma data bank and were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean age was 59.3 years, and 107 of 157 (68.2%) were male patients. The most common cause of injury was auto-pedestrian accidents, followed by falls and motor vehicle crashes. The mean admission systolic blood pressure and serum lactate level were 86.7 mmHg and 6.68 mmol/L, respectively. Twenty-four patients (15.3%) had a cardiac arrest in the emergency department (ED). The mean injury severity score was 39.1, and the mean probability of survival (Trauma and Injury Severity Score) was 48.7%. Sixty-six patients (42%) underwent pelvic angiography; 89 (56.7%), preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP); 27 (17.2%), resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA); 20 (12.7%), pelvic external fixation (PEF); and 13 patients (8.3%), internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL). Seventy-three patients (46.5%) died, including 40 (25.5%) who died from acute haemorrhage. With each year, the rates of REBOA and pelvic binder use continued to increase (p<0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively), but the number of PEF cases significantly decreased (p = 0.006). Age, initial lactate, low revised trauma score (RTS), combined abdominal injury, REBOA, and 4-hour requirement of packed red blood cells were independent risk factors associated with mortality, whereas during the period of 2017 and 2018, there were protective factors. The risk factors of mortality due to haemorrhage were cardiac arrest in the ED, RTS, combined chest and abdominal injuries, and IIAL.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the establishment of regional trauma centres, the clinical outcomes of patients with hemodynamic instability due to pelvic fracture have significantly improved. As a haemostatic procedure for these patients, PEF has been used less frequently, while pelvic binder and REBOA showed significant increase in their use.

Fatores preditivos de mortalidade em pacientes com fratura de pelve e instabilidade hemodinâmica submetidos ao tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve

RESUMO Introdução: nas últimas décadas, tem sido difundida a técnica de tamponamento pélvico extraperitoneal, porém ainda existem poucos estudos. Decidiu-se analisar os resultados do tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve, em pacientes com fratura pélvica e choque, com objetivo de identificar fatores preditivos de mortalidade. Métodos: foi realizada revisão do prontuário dos pacientes submetidos ao tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve. Foram analisadas as características dos pacientes, dados do atendimento pré-hospitalar e na sala de emergência, classificação da fratura, presença de lesões associadas, exames laboratoriais e de imagem, dados relativos ao tamponamento, e outros procedimentos realizados, complicações, parâmetros hemodinâmicos e quantidade de hemoderivados transfudidos. Resultados: foram analisados os dados de 51 pacientes, com sinais de choque desde o atendimento pré-hospitalar, presença de acidose, elevado déficit de bases e lactato arterial. Houve alta prevalência de lesões graves associadas, requerendo múltiplos procedimentos cirúrgicos. A incidência de coagulopatia foi 70,58% e mortalidade 56,86%. O grupo de pacientes não sobreviventes apresentou idade e intubação orotraqueal pré-hospitalar maiores, e escores na escala de coma de Glasgow menores (p<0,05). O mesmo grupo apresentou, antes e após o tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve, parâmetros hemodinâmicos menores de pressão arterial média, pH, déficit de bases e hemoglobina, e maior de lactato arterial (p<0,05). O grupo de pacientes não sobreviventes recebeu mais concentrados de hemácias, plasma fresco congelado e concentrado de plaquetas nas 24h seguintes ao tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve (p<0,05). Conclusão: idade e o excesso de bases são fatores preditivos independentes de mortalidade em pacientes submetidos ao tamponamento extraperitoneal de pelve.

Secondary Angio-Embolization After Emergent Pelvic Stabilization and Pelvic Packing Is a Safe Option for Patients With Persistent Hemorrhage From Unstable Pelvic Ring Injuries

Introduction: In patients with severe pelvic ring injuries, exsanguination still is the leading cause of death in the early post-injury phase. While mechanical pelvic ring stabilization and pre-peritoneal pelvic packing are mainly addressing venous bleeding, angio-embolization aims to control arterial bleeding. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the rate of postoperative angio-embolization after mechanical pelvic ring injury stabilization and pre-peritoneal pelvic packing. Bleeding sources detected in the angiography and the patient's outcome were investigated.

Patients and Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study at a single academic level I trauma center, reviewing all patients with pelvic ring injuries admitted from 01/2010 to 12/2019. Patients with emergent mechanical pelvic ring stabilization (supraacetabular external fixator and/or pelvic C-clamp) and direct pre-peritoneal pelvic packing were further analyzed. Patients that underwent postoperative angio-embolization were compared with those that did not. All postoperative angio-embolizations were evaluated with regards to bleeding sources and type of embolization.

Results: During the study period, a total of 39 patients required immediate mechanical pelvic stabilization and direct pre-peritoneal pelvic packing. Of these, 12 patients (30.8%) underwent a postoperative angio-embolization. The following vessels were identified as bleeding sources: superior gluteal artery (n = 6), obturator artery (n = 2), internal pudendal artery (n = 2), unnamed branches of the internal iliac artery (n = 3). A selective embolization was successful in 11 patients; in 1 patient, an unilateral complete occlusion of the internal iliac artery was performed to control the bleeding. Mean time from hospital admission to the surgical procedure was 52.8 ± 14.7 min and the mean time from admission to angio-embolization was 189.1 ± 55.5 min. The in-hospital mortality rate of patients with angio-embolization was 25.0% (n = 3). Of these, 2 patients died due to multiple organ failure and 1 patient due to severe head injury.

Conclusion: Secondary angio-embolization after external pelvic fixation and pre-peritoneal pelvic packing was effective in controlling ongoing bleeding. The most frequently detected bleeding vessel was the superior gluteal artery, which is difficult to surgically address, further highlighting the importance of angio-embolization in the management algorithm.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team for nutrition support in a trauma intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

We evaluated clinical and nutritional outcomes according to multidisciplinary team involvement in nutrition support in a regional trauma intensive care unit (TICU).

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the outcomes for 339 patients admitted to the TICU for >5 days depending on nutrition support team (NST) involvement (n=176) and non-NST involvement (n=163).

RESULTS

The mean age and injury severity score (ISS) were 57.3±16.7 years and 18.6±9.7, respectively. Fifty-three patients (15.6%) had shock on admission and 182 (53.7%) underwent surgery during TICU admission. Some patients were admitted to neurosurgery (46%), general surgery (35.4%), and other (18.6%) departments. There were significant differences in the ISS, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, shock on TICU admission, and initial laboratory results. After propensity score matching, the total delivered/required caloric ratio and total delivered/required protein ratio were significantly higher in the NST group than in the non-NST group (calorie: 80.4% vs. 66.7%, P=0.007; protein: 93.1% vs. 68.3%, P<0.001). The NST group had an adequate protein supply more frequently than the non-NST group (protein: 48.0% vs. 25.8%, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in survival, even after adjustment for risk factors using Cox proportional hazard analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study suggest that multidisciplinary team involvement in nutrition support in TICU patients may improve nutritional, but not clinical, outcomes.