Use of an evidence-based algorithm for patients with traumatic hemothorax reduces need for additional interventions

Not So Vats: How Early Is Too Early in the Operative Management of Patients with Traumatic Hemothorax?

BACKGROUND

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a practical resource in the management of traumatic hemothorax. However, it carries inherent risks and should be mobilized cost-effectively. In this study, we investigated the ideal VATS timing using cost analysis.

METHODS

617 cases of unilateral traumatic hemothorax from 2012 to 2022 were identified in our trauma database. We extracted encounter cost, length of stay (LOS), and operative cost information. Using Kruskal-Walli's test, we compared the cost and LOS for patients who underwent VATS or continued nonoperative management in the first 7 days of admission. Additionally, we computed the daily proportion of patients initially managed nonoperatively but ultimately underwent VATS. P-values <.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

The median encounter cost of cases managed operatively before hospital day 4 (HD4) was higher than those managed nonoperatively. This difference was $63k on HD2 (P-value .07) and was statistically significant for HD3 (difference of $65k, P-value .02). The median LOS with operational management on HD2 and 3 was 7 and 6 respectively vs median LOS of 2 and 3 with nonoperative management on those days (P-value <.001, .01 respectively). The proportion of patients who failed nonoperative management did not change from baseline until HD4 (23% (95% CI 19.7, 26.3) vs 33.9% (95% CI 28.3, 39.6), P-value <.001).

DISCUSSION

Early mobilization of VATS before hospital day 4 increases the overall hospital cost without offering any length of stay benefit. Continuing nonoperative management longer than 4 days is associated with a high failure rate and a costlier operation.

[Occult and Retained Haemothorax - Recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Thoracic Trauma Task Group of the German Trauma Society (DGU - Section NIS) and the German Society for Thoracic Surgery (DGT)]

The management of occult and retained haemothorax is challenging for all involved in the care of polytrauma patients in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The focus of decision making is preventing sequelae such as pleural empyema and avoiding a trapped lung. An interdisciplinary task force of the German Society for Thoracic Surgery (DGT) and the German Trauma Society (DGU) on thoracic trauma offers recommendations for post-trauma care of patients with occult and/or retained haemothorax, as based on a comprehensive literature review.

Risk Factors for Retained Hemothorax after Trauma: A 10-Years Monocentric Experience from First Level Trauma Center in Italy

Thoracic trauma occurs in 20–25% of all trauma patients worldwide and represents the third cause of trauma-related mortality. Retained hemothorax (RH) is defined as a residual hematic pleural effusion larger than 500 mL after 72 h of treatment with a thoracic tube. The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors for the development of RH in thoracic trauma and predictors of surgery. A retrospective, observational, monocentric study was conducted in a Trauma Hub Hospital in Milan, recording thoracic trauma from January 2011 to December 2020. Pre-hospital peripheric oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was significantly lower in the RH group (94% vs. 97%, p = 0.018). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified, as independent predictors of RH, sternum fracture (OR 7.96, 95% CI 1.16–54.79; p = 0.035), pre-admission desaturation (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.77–0.96; p = 0.009) and the number of thoracic tube maintenance days (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.09–1.37; p = 0.0005). The number of tubes placed and the 1° rib fracture were both significantly associated with the necessity of surgical treatment of RH (2 vs. 1, p = 0.004; 40% vs. 0%; p = 0.001). The risk of developing an RH in thoracic trauma should not be underestimated. Variables related to RH must be taken into account in order to schedule a proper follow-up after trauma.

Retrospective Evaluation of Intrapleural Tissue Plasminogen Activator With or Without Dornase Alfa for the Treatment of Traumatic Retained Hemothorax: A 6-Year Experience

BACKGROUND

Intrapleural fibrinolytic instillation is second-line treatment for retained hemothorax. Dornase alfa (DNase) has demonstrated efficacy in parapneumonic effusion, but the lack of deoxyribonucleoproteins limits direct extrapolation to traumatic retained hemothorax treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effectiveness of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) with and without DNase in the treatment of retained traumatic hemothorax.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 16 years and older admitted to a level 1 trauma center from January 2013 through July 2019 with retained hemothorax and one or more intrapleural tPA instillations. Exclusion criteria were tPA for other indications or concomitant empyema. The primary endpoint was treatment failure defined as the need for operative intervention.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were included (tPA alone: 28; tPA with DNase: 22). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, including time to diagnosis (6.5 [interquartile range (IQR), 4-15.5] days vs 6 [IQR, 6.3-10.8] days, P = 0.52). Median tPA dose per treatment (6 [IQR, 6-6.4] mg vs 10 [IQR, 8.4-10] mg, P < 0.001) and cumulative tPA (18 [IQR, 6.5-24] mg vs 30 [IQR, 29.5-40], P < 0.001) dose were significantly lower in the tPA alone group. Treatment failure was similar between groups. Chest tube output, retained hemothorax reduction, and bleeding incidences were similar between groups. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated no significant risk factors for treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Dornase alfa added to tPA may not reduce the need for operation to treat retained hemothorax. Further studies should be directed at optimal tPA dose determination and economic impact of inappropriate DNase use.

Scoping review of traumatic hemothorax: Evidence and knowledge gaps, from diagnosis to chest tube removal

BACKGROUND

Traumatic hemothorax is a common injury that invites diagnostic and management strategy debates. Evidence-based management has been associated with improved care efficiency. However, the literature abounds with long-debated, re-emerging, and new questions. We aimed to consolidate up-to-date evidence on traumatic hemothoraces, focusing on clinical conundra debated in literature.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of 21 clinical conundra in traumatic hemothorax diagnosis and management according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Experimental and observational studies evaluating patients (aged ≥18 years) with traumatic hemothoraces were identified through database searches (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library; database inception to Sep, 26 2020) and bibliography reviews of selected articles. Three reviewers screened and selected articles using standardized forms.

RESULTS

We screened 1,440 articles for eligibility, of which 71 met criteria for synthesis. The review comprises 6 sections: (1) Presumptive antibiotics before tube thoracostomy; (2) Initial diagnostic and intervention decisions; (3) Chest tubes; (4) Retained hemothoraces; (5) Delayed hemothoraces; and (6) Chest tube removal). The 21 conundra across these sections follow the format of a question, our recommendation based on interpretation of available evidence, and succinct rationale. Rationale sections detail knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research.

CONCLUSION

Even practices engrained into surgical dogma, such as obtaining chest x-rays after inserting or removing chest tubes and mandating operation for patients who develop chest tube output above a certain threshold, deserve re-evaluation. Some knowledge gaps require rigorous future investigation; sound clinical judgment can likely supplement others.

Quality of Reporting on Guideline, Protocol, or Algorithm Implementation in Adult Trauma Centers: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To appraise the quality of reporting on guideline, protocol, and algorithm implementations in adult trauma settings according to the Revised Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE 2.0).

BACKGROUND

At present we do not know if published reports of guideline implementations in trauma settings are of sufficient quality to facilitate replication by other centers wishing to implement the same or similar guidelines.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Articles were identified through electronic databases and hand searching relevant trauma journals. Studies meeting inclusion criteria focused on a guideline, protocol, or algorithm that targeted adult trauma patients ≥18 years and/or trauma patient care providers, and evaluated the effectiveness of guideline, protocol, or algorithm implementation in terms of change in clinical practice or patient outcomes. Each included study was assessed in duplicate for adherence to the 18-item SQUIRE 2.0 criteria. The primary endpoint was the proportion of studies meeting at least 80% (score ≥15) of SQUIRE 2.0.

RESULTS

Of 7368 screened studies, 74 met inclusion criteria. Thirty-nine percent of studies scored ≥80% on SQUIRE 2.0. Criteria that were met most frequently were abstract (93%), problem description (93%), and specific aims (89%). The lowest scores appeared in the funding (28%), context (47%), and results (54%) criteria. No study indicated using SQUIRE 2.0 as a guideline to writing the report.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant opportunity exists to improve the utility of guideline implementation reports in adult trauma settings, particularly in the domains of study context and the implications of context for study outcomes.

How does the implementation of a patient pathway-based intervention in the acute care of blunt thoracic injury impact on patient outcomes? A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Blunt thoracic injury is present in around 15% of all major trauma presentations. To ensure a standardised approach to the management of physical injury, patient pathway-based interventions have been established in many healthcare settings. It currently remains unclear how these complex interventions are implemented and evaluated in the literature. This systematic review aims to identify pathway effectiveness literature and implementation studies in relation to patient pathway-based interventions in blunt thoracic injury care.

METHODS

The databases Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, WHO Clinical Trials Register and both the GreyLit & OpenGrey databases were searched without restrictions on date or study type. A search strategy was developed including keywords and MeSH terms relating to blunt thoracic injury, patient pathway-based interventions, evaluation and implementation. Due to heterogeneity of intervention pathways, meta-analysis was not possible; analysis was undertaken using an iterative narrative approach.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in analysis. Pathways were identified covering analgesic management, respiratory care, surgical decision making and reducing risk of complications. Studies evaluating pathways are generally limited by their observational and retrospective design, but results highlight the potential benefits of pathway driven care provision in blunt thoracic injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate the complexity of evaluating patient pathway-based interventions in blunt thoracic injury management. It is important that pathways undergo rigorous evaluation, refinement and validation to ensure quality and patient safety. Strong recommendations are precluded as the quality of the pathway evaluation studies are low.

Early Management of Retained Hemothorax in Blunt Head and Chest Trauma

Background

Major blunt chest injury usually leads to the development of retained hemothorax and pneumothorax, and needs further intervention. However, since blunt chest injury may be combined with blunt head injury that typically requires patient observation for 3–4 days, other critical surgical interventions may be delayed. The purpose of this study is to analyze the outcomes of head injury patients who received early, versus delayed thoracic surgeries.

Materials and methods

From May 2005 to February 2012, 61 patients with major blunt injuries to the chest and head were prospectively enrolled. These patients had an intracranial hemorrhage without indications of craniotomy. All the patients received video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) due to retained hemothorax or pneumothorax. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time from trauma to operation, this being within 4 days for Group 1 and more than 4 days for Group 2. The clinical outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, infection rates, and the time period of ventilator use and chest tube intubation.

Result

All demographics, including age, gender, and trauma severity between the two groups showed no statistical differences. The average time from trauma to operation was 5.8 days. The ventilator usage period, the hospital and ICU length of stay were longer in Group 2 (6.77 vs. 18.55, p = 0.016; 20.63 vs. 35.13, p = 0.003; 8.97 vs. 17.65, p = 0.035). The rates of positive microbial cultures in pleural effusion collected during VATS were higher in Group 2 (6.7 vs. 29.0%, p = 0.043). The Glasgow Coma Scale score for all patients improved when patients were discharged (11.74 vs. 14.10, p < 0.05).

Discussion

In this study, early VATS could be performed safely in brain hemorrhage patients without indication of surgical decompression. The clinical outcomes were much better in patients receiving early intervention within 4 days after trauma.

Management of post-traumatic retained hemothorax

Introduction

Chest injuries occur in a significant portion of trauma patients and hemothorax is a common result. While the initial management of traumatic hemothorax is most commonly treated with tube thoracostomy, the management of retained hemothorax is a subject of debate. Recent literature has proposed different methods for treating or preventing retained hemothorax, yet the approach to this pathology is not straightforward.

Methods

The literature was reviewed for relevant studies regarding the prevention and management of post-traumatic retained hemothorax. What follows is a review of the recent literature and an algorithm for the approach to treating a traumatic retained hemothorax.

Results

Identifying a traumatic retained hemothorax and preventing subsequent complications such as pneumonia, empyema, and fibrothorax are significant issues faced by surgeons. Studies for preventing retained hemothorax have focused on initial chest tube size, location, and peri-procedural placement conditions, as well as thoracic lavage. Several treatment modalities exist, including second drainage procedure and intra-pleural fibrinolytic drug instillation, but video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is the most common and successful approach. Regardless of the approach to evacuation, early intervention is paramount.

Conclusion

Further studies will help characterize appropriate candidates, timing, treatment modalities, and guide therapy for retained hemothorax.

Thoracic Trauma

Management of chest trauma is integral to patient outcomes owing to the vital structures held within the thoracic cavity. Understanding traumatic chest injuries and appropriate management plays a pivotal role in the overall well-being of both blunt and penetrating trauma patients. Whether the injury includes rib fractures, associated pulmonary injuries, or tracheobronchial tree injuries, every facet of management may impact the short- and long-term outcomes, including mortality. This article elucidates the workup and management of the thoracic cage, pulmonary and tracheobronchial injuries.