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The aim of this population based study was to assess the incidence, mechanisms, management, and outcome of patients who sustained hepatic trauma in Scotland (population 5 million) over the period 1992-2002. The Scottish Trauma Audit Group database was searched for details of any patient with liver trauma. Data on identified patients were analyzed for demographic information, mechanisms of injury, associated injuries, hemodynamic stability on presentation, management, and outcome. A total of 783 patients were identified as having sustained liver trauma. The male-to-female ratio was 3:1 with a median age of 31 years. Blunt trauma (especially road traffic accidents) accounted for 69% of injuries. Liver trauma was associated with injuries to the chest, head, and abdominal injuries other than liver injury; most commonly spleen and kidneys. In all, 166 patients died in the emergency department, and a further 164 died in hospital. The mortality rate was higher in patients with increasing age (p < 0.001), hemodynamic instability (p < 0.001), blunt trauma (p < 0.001), and increasing severity of liver injury (p < 0.001). The incidence of liver trauma in Scotland is low, but it accounts for significant mortality. Associated injuries were common. Outcome was worse in patients with advanced age, blunt trauma, multiple injuries and those requiring an immediate laparotomy.

Objective: Airway care is the cornerstone of resuscitation. In UK emergency department practice, this care is provided by anaesthetists and emergency physicians. The aim of this study was to determine current practice for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a sample of emergency departments in Scotland. Methods: Two year, multicentre, prospective observational study of endotracheal intubation in the emergency departments of seven Scottish urban teaching hospitals. Results: 1631 patients underwent an intubation attempt in the emergency department and 735 patients satisfied the criteria for RSI. Emergency physicians intubated 377 patients and anaesthetists intubated 355 patients. There was no difference in median age between the groups but there was a significantly greater proportion of men (73.2% versus 65.3%, p=0.024) and trauma patients (48.5% versus 37.4%, p=0.003) in the anaesthetic group. Anaesthetists had a higher initial success rate (91.8% versus 83.8%, p=0.001) and achieved more good (Cormack-Lehane Grade I and II) views at laryngoscopy (94.0% versus 89.3%, p=0.039). There was a non-significant trend to more complications in the group of patients intubated by emergency physicians (8.7% versus 12.7%, p=0.104). Emergency physicians intubated a higher proportion of patients with physiological compromise (91.8% versus 86.1%, p=0.027) and a higher proportion of patients within 15 minutes of arrival (32.6% versus 11.3%, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Anaesthetists achieve more good views at laryngoscopy with higher initial success rates during RSI. Emergency physicians perform RSI on a higher proportion of critically ill patients and a higher proportion of patients within 15 minutes of arrival. Complications may be fewer in the anaesthetists' group, but this could be related to differences in patient populations. Training issues for RSI and emergency airway care are discussed. Complication rates for both groups are in keeping with previous studies.

The acute response to injury and infection is manifested by increased synthesis of acute-phase proteins by the liver, an increased white blood cell count, fever, a negative nitrogen balance, and altered serum mineral levels (zinc, iron, and copper). This response is thought to be partially mediated by cytokines such as interleukin-1, but has not been well studied in head-injured patients. In this study, 25 patients were studied for evidence of the acute-phase response extending from hospital admission up to 21 days postinjury. The patients were divided into two groups to determine if severity of injury influenced the response. Group 1 consisted of nine patients with admission peak 24-hour Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 4 or less; Group 2 consisted of 16 patients with admission peak 24-hour GCS scores of 8 or greater. All patients demonstrated some evidence of the acute-phase response. Serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin, and C-reactive protein levels were elevated on admission and throughout the study. Serum albumin and zinc levels were depressed on admission; zinc levels gradually normalized by Day 21 in both groups, but hypoalbuminemia was observed throughout the study period. Serum copper levels were normal on admission but increased to above normal in both groups by Day 11 postinjury. Urinary urea nitrogen excretion was elevated in both groups and peaked on Day 7 for Group 1 and Day 11 for Group 2 patients. The patients with admission GCS scores equal to or less than 4 had overall higher temperatures than were seen in those with GCS scores greater than or equal to 8 (p = 0.009). All patients but one had an elevated white blood cell count on admission. It is concluded that brain-injured patients with admission GCS scores of 3 to 4 and 8 to 14 demonstrate an acute-phase response which lasts for at least 3 weeks postinjury. It is speculated that this response is at least partially mediated by increased intraventricular interleukin-1 activity.

Objectives: To establish the association between measures of social deprivation, mechanisms of injury, patterns of care, and outcome following closed head injury. Methods: All Scottish adult A&E attendees with closed head injury (AIS Head >3) between July 1996 and December 2000 were studied. Results: Trauma was more common in individuals from more deprived areas. Within the trauma population head injury was relatively more common in patients from deprived areas; these individuals were more likely to sustain an isolated head injury as a result of an assault. Admission GCS was higher and normal physiology (as assessed by the RTS) was more common in individuals from more deprived areas. Recorded co-morbidity was similar between the two groups with the exception of a history of alcohol or substance abuse which was more common among patients from more deprived areas. Similar proportions of patients from more deprived and less deprived areas were transferred to the Regional Neurosurgical Centre. For patients who were transferred directly from A&E, time to neurosurgical theatre was similar for both groups. Length of hospital and ITU stay was less in patients from more deprived areas. After adjusting for known predictors of outcome using logistic regression analysis, there was no significant difference in mortality between patients from more deprived and less deprived areas. Conclusions: Residing in a more deprived area is not associated with increased mortality from head injury among adults in Scotland. It is associated with different patterns of injury and a different process of care following presentation to hospital.

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