Background In France, the pre-hospital field triage of trauma patients is currently based on the Vittel criteria algorithm. This algorithm was originally created in 2002 before the stratification of trauma centers and, at the national level, has not been revised since. This could be responsible for the overtriage of trauma patients in Level I Trauma Centers. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between each Vittel field triage criterion and trauma patients’ Injury Severity Score. Methods Our Level I Trauma Center receives an average of 300 trauma patients per year. Demographic and physiological data, along with the entire trauma patient management process and Vittel field triage criteria, are recorded in a local trauma registry. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) are calculated after a complete assessment of the trauma victim during their in-hospital management. Results were concerned with the presence of an ISS of greater than 15, which defined a major trauma patient; mortality within 30 days; and admission to the intensive care unit. This study is a registry analysis from January 2013 to September 2017. Results Of the 1373 patients in the registry, 1151 were included in the analysis with a mean age of 43 years (± 19) and a median ISS of 13 (IQR = 5–22), where 887 (77%) were male. Nine of the 24 Vittel criteria were associated with an ISS > 15. In a multivariate analysis, no criterion related to kinetic elements was significantly correlated with an ISS > 15, mortality within 30 days, or admission to intensive care. Three algorithm categories were predictive of a major trauma patient (ISS > 15): physiological variables, pre-hospital resuscitation, and physical injuries, while kinetic elements were not. Conclusions Criteria related to physiological variables, pre-hospital resuscitation, and physical injuries are the most relevant to predicting the severity of a trauma patient’s condition. A revision of the VCA could potentially have beneficial effects on the over and undertriage phenomena, which constitute ongoing medical and financial concerns.
Background and objectives Haemorrhagic shock is a leading cause of avoidable mortality in prehospital care. For several years, our centre has followed a procedure of transfusing two units of packed red blood cells outside the hospital. Our study’s aim was twofold: describe the patient characteristics of those receiving prehospital blood transfusions and analyse risk factors for the 7‐day mortality rate. Materials and methods We performed a monocentric retrospective observational study. Demographic and physiological data were recovered from medical records. The primary outcome was mortality at seven days for all causes. All patients receiving prehospital blood transfusions between 2013 and 2018 were included. Results Out of 116 eligible patients, 56 patients received transfusions. Trauma patients (n = 18) were younger than medical patients (n = 38) (P = 0·012), had lower systolic blood pressure (P = 0·001) and had higher haemoglobin levels (P = 0·016). Mortality was higher in the trauma group than the medical group (P = 0·015). In‐hospital trauma patients received more fresh‐frozen plasma and platelet concentrate than medical patients (P < 0·05). Predictive factors of 7‐day mortality included transfusion for trauma‐related reasons, low Glasgow Coma Scale, low peripheral oxygen saturation, prehospital intensive resuscitation, existing coagulation disorders, acidosis and hyperlactataemia (P < 0·05). Conclusion Current guidelines recommend early transfusion in patients with haemorrhagic shock. Prehospital blood transfusions are safe. Coagulation disorders and acidosis remain a cause of premature death in patients with prehospital transfusions.
Background and Objectives Our study sought to evaluate and compare different prediction scores for massive transfusion in‐hospital packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions. Materials and Methods Between January 2013 and December 2018, 1843 trauma patients were enrolled in the registry of a level‐1 trauma centre. All prehospital and in‐hospital variables needed to calculate the Shock Index and RED FLAG, Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) and Trauma Associated Severe Hemorrhage (TASH) scores were prospectively collected in the registry. The primary endpoint was the initiation of transfusion within the first hour of the patient's arrival at the hospital. Results A total of 1767 patients were included for analysis with a mean age of 43 years (±19) and a mean Injury Severity Score of 15 (±14). The in‐hospital TASH score had the highest predictive performance overall (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.925, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.904–0.946]), while the RED FLAG score (AUC = 0.881, 95% CI [0.854–0.908]) had the greatest prehospital predictive performance compared to the ABC score (AUC = 0.798, 95% CI [0.759–0.837]) and Shock Index (AUC = 0.795, 95% CI [0.752–0.837]). Using their standard thresholds, the RED FLAG score was the most efficient in predicting early transfusion (sensitivity: 87%, specificity: 76%, positive predictive value: 25%, negative predictive value: 99%, Youden index: 0.63). Conclusion The RED FLAG score appears to outperform both the ABC score and the Shock Index in predicting early in‐hospital transfusion in trauma patients managed by pre‐hospital teams. If adopted, this score could be used to give advance warning to trauma centres or even to initiate early transfusion during pre‐hospital care.
BackgroundFrom a series of penetrating head and neck trauma managed in a level-1 Trauma Center, the main aim of this study was to determine predictive factors for early definitive airway management, during pre-hospital time or in the emergency room. The secondary objective was to perform a descriptive epidemiological analysis of the series.MethodsA single-center retrospective study was conducted between January 1 2012 and June 30 2020. in a French Level 1 Trauma Center. The patients included were adults treated for penetrating head and neck trauma, regardless of the mechanism and the causal agent.Results 56 patients were included. Ballistic origin, Shock Index >0.9 and active bleeding in the emergency room were predictive criteria for definitive airway management during pre-hospital time or in the emergency room. 78.6% of patients were male. Median age was 54 years. The trauma followed a suicide attempt in 50% of cases, an accident in 26.7% and an assault in 23.2%, with use of a knife in 42.9% and firearm in 26.8%. Mortality was 10.7%. 16.1% of patients had undergone pre-hospital intubation and 19.1% intubation in the emergency room. CT scan was performed in 87.5% of cases, surgery in 96.4% and tracheotomy in 37.5%. A laryngotracheal lesion was seen in 14.2%. In 50% of patients, primary admission was to intensive care. Conclusions Ballistic origin, Shock Index >0.9 and active bleeding in the emergency room were predictive criteria for early definitive airway management. This study established the profile of patients suffering from penetrating head and neck trauma managed in a Trauma Center over a period of 9 years.
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