PurposePancreatic trauma is infrequent because of its central, deep anatomical position. This contributes to a lack of surgeon experience and many debates exist about its standard care. This study aimed to investigate the postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and mortality of pancreatic trauma after operation.MethodsWe reviewed records in the trauma registry of our institution submitted from January 2006 to December 2016. The grade of pancreatic injury, surgical management, morbidity, mortality, and other clinical variables included in the analyses.ResultsData from a total of 26,072 trauma patients admitted to the Emergency Department were analyzed. Pancreatic trauma was observed in 114 of these patients (0.44%). Laparotomy was performed in 81 patients (2 pan creatico duodenectomies, 2 pancreaticogastrostomies, peripancreatic drainage in 41 patients, distal pancreatectomies in 34 patients, and 9 patients who underwent surgery for damage control). The incidence of POPF was 38.3%. The overall mortality was 8.8% (7 of 81). In multivariate analysis, pancreas injury grade IV (≥4) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.071; P = 0.029) and preoperative peritonitis signs (AOR, 2.903; P = 0.039) were independent risk factors for POPF. All patients who died had also another major abdominal injury (≥grade 3). Multiorgan failure was a major cause of death (6 of 7, 85.7%). The mortality rate of isolated pancreas injury was 0%.ConclusionThe pancreas injury grade and preoperative peritonitis were significant risk factors of POPF. The mortality rate of isolated pancreatic trauma was very low.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of early postoperative small bowel obstruction (EPSBO) after laparotomy for trauma patients.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2016, consecutive patients who had undergone laparotomy for trauma were retrospectively evaluated. EPSBO was defined as the presence of signs and symptoms of obstruction between postoperative days 7 and 30, or obstruction occurring anytime within 30 days and lasting more 7 days.ResultsAmong 297 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 72 (24.2%) developed EPSBO. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with EPSBO than in those without EPSBO (median [interquartile range], 34 [21–48] days 24 [14–38] days, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis identified male sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.026; P = 0.008), intraoperative crystalloid (AOR, 1.130; P = 0.031), and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score for mesenteric injury (AOR, 1.397; P < 0.001) as independent risk factors for EPSBO. The incidence of adhesive small bowel adhesion after 30 days postoperatively did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (with EPSBO, 5.6% without EPSBO, 5.3%; P = 0.571). Most of the patients with EPSBO were recovered by conservative treatment (95.8%).ConclusionAfter laparotomy for trauma patients, the incidence of EPSBO was 24.2% in our study. EPSBO was associated with a longer hospital stay. Male sex, use of intraoperative crystalloid, and AIS score for mesenteric injury were significant independent risk factors for EPSBO. Patients with these risk factors should be followed-up more carefully.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to play important roles in autoimmunity, infectious diseases and cancers. However, little is known about the roles of these invariant T cells in multiple trauma. The purposes of this study were to examine MAIT and NKT cell levels in patients with multiple trauma and to investigate potential relationships between these cell levels and clinical parameters. The study cohort was composed of 14 patients with multiple trauma and 22 non-injured healthy controls (HCs). Circulating MAIT and NKT cell levels in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. The severity of injury was categorised according to the scoring systems, such as Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Circulating MAIT and NKT cell numbers were significantly lower in multiple trauma patients than in HCs. Linear regression analysis showed that circulating MAIT cell numbers were significantly correlated with age, APACHE II, SAPS II, ISS category, hemoglobin, and platelet count. NKT cell numbers in the peripheral blood were found to be significantly correlated with APACHE II, SAPS II, and ISS category. This study shows numerical deficiencies of circulating MAIT cells and NKT cells in multiple trauma. In addition, these invariant T cell deficiencies were found to be associated with disease severity. These findings provide important information for predicting the prognosis of multiple trauma.

Purpose: The occurrence of trauma-related delirium following postoperative abdominal surgery is associated with a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive risk factors for trauma-related delirium. Methods: Trauma patient data from a regional trauma center were retrospectively collected from August 2015 to December 2016. The primary inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with traumarelated delirium following abdominal trauma surgery. Head trauma patients and those under 18 years of age were excluded from this study. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with trauma-related delirium. Results: Of the 255 trauma patients who met the inclusion criteria, 32 (12.5%) were diagnosed with delirium. The mean values for the age of the patients, Injury Severity Score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and length of intensive care unit stay were 52.1 ± 17.8 years, 16.9, 14, and 7.1 days, respectively. Among the measured parameters, age [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.06; p = 0.022)], sex (OR, 0.125; 0.03-0.55; p = 0.006), hemoglobin level (OR, 0.875; CI, 0.68-0.98; p = 0.03), length of stay in the intensive care unit (OR, 1.12; CI, 1.03-1.22; p = 0.01), and having an abdominal operation (OR, 2.92; CI, 1.10-7.23; p = 0.011) showed strong correlations with trauma-related delirium Conclusion: This study showed that abdominal surgery was strongly associated with delirium in patients with traumatic abdominal injury. Thus, changes in consciousness should be carefully monitored following surgery.

Background Damage control laparotomy (DCL) is a lifesaving technique to minimize the lethal triad of coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis. The government has nominated and supported our center as one of the regional trauma centers of South Korea since 2014. This study aimed to investigate the improving outcomes of patients undergoing DCL before and after the establishment of the trauma center. Method The period from January 2011 to December 2017 was divided into pre‐trauma center (pre‐TC) (2011–2013) and trauma center (TC) (2014–2017) periods. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors and risk‐adjusted cumulative sum (RA‐CUSUM), and graphs were used to monitor the change in mortality. Result Of the 485 patients who underwent trauma laparotomy, DCL was performed for 119 patients (24.5%). The operation time (99 vs. 80 min, p = 0.022), time from admission to operation (125 vs. 112 min, p = 0.010), time from admission to first treatment (119 vs. 99 min, p = 0.004), and time from admission to first transfusion (70 vs. 52 min, p = 0.009) were significantly shortened in the TC period. The ratio of plasma to packed red blood cells in massive transfusions (≥PRBCs 10 units within the first 24 h) was significantly increased in the TC period (0.56 vs. 0.72, p = 0.004). RA‐CUSUM curves revealed that the risk‐adjusted 30‐day mortality improved and then plateaued in the TC period. Conclusion After the implementation of a trauma center, more prompt intervention and damage control resuscitation could be achieved. Moreover, risk‐adjusted mortality of DCL was improved.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells rapidly produce proinflammatory cytokines in an innate-like manner and play an important role in controlling the host immune response. This study examined the function of MAIT cells in trauma patients. The expression of cytokines in peripheral blood MAIT cells was measured by flow cytometry. MAIT cells in trauma patients displayed impaired tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production, together with elevated CD69 expression. The expression of CD69 was negatively correlated with MAIT cell frequency. These patients had higher plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18. In particular, CD69 expression of MAIT cells was increased by stimulation with IL-18 in synergy with other proinflammatory cytokines or plasma of trauma patients. The production of TNF-α by MAIT cells was characterized by an initial burst and rapid decline, in contrast to delayed and sustained production of interferon (IFN)-γ. Activated MAIT cells showed a functional defect in the production of TNF-α upon restimulation. This study demonstrates that circulating MAIT cells are activated and functionally impaired in TNF-α production in patients with trauma. The activation and dysfunction of MAIT cells was mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. These findings provide important information underlying the innate immune response of patients with trauma.

Background and Objectives: Traumatic duodenal injury is a rare disease with limited evidence. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for postoperative leakage and outcomes of pyloric exclusion after duodenal grade 2 and 3 injury. Materials and Methods: We reviewed a prospectively collected trauma database for the period January 2004–December 2020. Patients with grade 2 and 3 traumatic duodenal injury were included. To identify the risk factors for postoperative leakage, we used a stepwise multivariable logistic regression model and a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic model. We constructed a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve to predict risk factors for postoperative leakage. Results: During the 17-year period, 179,887 trauma patients were admitted to a regional trauma center in Korea. Of these patients, 74 (0.04%) had duodenal injuries. A total of 49 consecutive patients had grade 2 and 3 traumatic duodenal injuries and underwent laparotomy. The incidence of postoperative leakage was 32.6% (16/49). Overall mortality was 18.4% (9/49). A stepwise multivariable logistic regression and LASSO logistic regression model showed that time from injury to initial operation was the sole statistically significant risk factor. The ROC curve at the optimal threshold of 15.77 h showed the following: area under ROC curve, 0.782; sensitivity, 68.8%; specificity, 87.9%; positive predictive value, 73.3%; and negative predictive value, 85.3%. There was no significant difference in outcomes between primary repair alone and pyloric exclusion. Conclusions: Time from injury to initial operation may be the sole significant risk factor for postoperative duodenal leakage. Pyloric exclusion may not be able to prevent postoperative leakage.

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