Injury
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison of patient characteristics and survival in two trauma centres located in different countries.
The aim of the study was to compare patient characteristics and mortality in severely injured patients in two trauma centres located in different countries, allowing for differences in case-mix. It represents a direct bench-marking exercise between the trauma centres at the North Staffordshire Hospital (NSH), Stoke-on-Trent, UK and the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Hospital, Portland, Oregon, USA. ⋯ The analysis illustrates the limitations and pitfalls of making crude outcome comparisons between centres. Highly significant differences in crude mortality were rendered non-significant by case-mix adjustments, supporting the null hypothesis that the two centres were equally effective in terms of this short-term indicator of outcome. To achieve a meaningful comparison between centres, adjustments must be made for the factors which affect mortality.
-
This study was undertaken to confirm the safety and efficacy of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) for trauma patients. A prospectively maintained database of all DPLs performed in the past 75 months was analyzed. A red blood cell count of 100,000/mm(3) was considered positive for injury in blunt trauma; 10,000/mm(3) was considered positive for peritoneal penetration in penetrating trauma. ⋯ In conclusion, DPL remains a highly accurate, sensitive and specific test with an extremely low complication rate. It can be performed either open or closed with comparable results. We recommend its use in the evaluation of both blunt and penetrating trauma.
-
Health services are challenged with providing trauma care to an increasingly elderly population. The objectives of this study were to determine the in-hospital mortality for injured elderly patients, and by analysing key features of their management, to ascertain whether these trauma patients were managed less aggressively than their younger counterparts. Main outcome measures included; use of resuscitation room facilities, senior medical staff involvement, admission to intensive care units, transfers to regional neurosurgical centres and mortality. ⋯ Significantly more of the elderly died than would be predicted. Age appears to be an independent factor in the process of trauma care in Scottish hospitals. We consider that outcomes for the injured elderly could be improved by a more dynamic approach to their management.