Bulletin of Emergency And Trauma
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Apr 2022

To review the research dimensions of trauma registry data on health policy making.

PubMed and EMBASE were searched until July 2020. Keywords were used on the search process included Trauma, Injury, Registry and Research, which were searched by using appropriate search strategies. The included articles had to: 1. be extracted from data related to trauma registries; 2- be written in English; 3- define a time period and a patient population; 4- preferably have more details and policy recommendations; and 5- preferably have a discussion on how to improve diagnosis and treatment. The results obtained from the included studies were qualitatively analyzed using thematic synthesis and comparative tables.

In the primary round of search, 19559 studies were retrieved. According to PRISMA statement and also performing quality appraisal process, 30 studies were included in the final phase of analysis. In the final papers’ synthesis, 14 main research domains were extracted and classified in terms of the policy implication and research priority. The domains with the highest frequency were “The relationship between trauma registry data and hospital care protocols for trauma patients” and “The causes of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) due to trauma”.

Using trauma registry data as a tool for policy-making could be helpful in several ways, namely increasing the quality of patient care, preventing injuries and decreasing their number, figuring out the details of socioeconomic status effects, and improving the quality of researches in practical ways. Also, follow-up of patients after trauma surgery as one of the positive effects of the trauma registry can be the focus of attention of policy-making bodies.

To investigate the relationship between salivary amylase level and computed tomoraphy (CT scan) findings in patients with isolated mild traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) referred to the emergency department of Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital. Patients with isolated mTBI and indication for brain CT scan who referred to the trauma center of Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital, Mashhad, Iran in 2019 were included in a cross-sectional study. In the initial examination, the patient’s level of consciousness was measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and saliva samples were taken at the emergency department to determine the level of salivary amylase. A brain CT scan was performed for all patients. Age, gender, cause of trauma, the trauma severity and CT scan results were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed on the data. One-hundred fifty patients were enrolled in this study (men=101, women=49). The trauma causes were included accidents (n=88; 58%), falls (n=37; 25%) and miscellaneous factors (e.g., quarrels; n=25; 17%). GCS was 15 in 142 patients and 14 in the rest. In all patients, the trauma severity was mild to high risk (Minor). CT scan results unfolded pathology in 10 cases (7%), while the residues (93%) had normal CT scans with no pathological evidence. Salivary amylase level in the patients’ saliva samples was between 137 to 8000 units per liter. Using the t-test to evaluate the relationship between salivary amylase levels and CT scan results uncovered a significant relationship. Spearman correlation revealed no significant relationship between the amylase and GCS levels. Data statistical analysis from 150 patients with isolated head trauma manifested that salivary amylase levels were significantly higher in the patients with pathological findings on CT scans. However, no significant relationship was found between salivary amylase level and age, gender, cause of trauma, and level of consciousness.

To compare the emergency severity index (ESI) and Manchester triage system (MTS) in trauma patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted by census method in Hasheminejad hospital during 2019. Patients referred to a trauma center triaged by five trained triage nurses based on ESI and MTS. Outcomes were considered as length of stay at the emergency department, admission to the other sectors and discharge or leave the hospital. Information from the triage form, nursing registry office and hospital registry system were extracted and analyzed by SPSS software. Totally 447 and 468 patients triaged with the ESI and MTS were included, respectively. Seventy percent of patients triaged with ESI and 34% with MTS were placed in level 3 or the yellow group (equivalent group 3 triage). The hospitalization rate is approximately equal at each triage level in the both systems. The mortality rate in both groups was 0%. Mean length of stay was significantly lower in the MTS group compared to ESI in the emergency department (p <0.05). Using of ESI triage in the trauma center causes to arrive more patients to the emergency department instead of the fast track and leads to waste the time and energy of staff’. However, further studies are needed to prove this result.

To evaluate the role of heart rate variability (HRV) in predicting pre-operative severity of appendicitis. In this cross-sectional study, 171 cases of acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy were enrolled. Pre-anesthetic pulse rate of included patients were documented while the severity of appendicitis was determined by intra-operative evidences reported by two independent surgeons. Demographic characteristics, laboratory variables, and Alvarado criteria were recorded. The mean age of patients was 28.75±4.21 years; 54% were men. HRV negatively associated the severity of appendix inflammation. A positive association was found between HRV and omental wrapping and Alvarado score (p <0.01). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that HRV could differentiate simple and complicated appendicitis with a sensitivity of 78.5% and specificity of 97.2%. The present findings revealed that HRV may predict the pre-operative severity of appendicitis and help differentiate simple and complicated appendicitis.

To investigate the neck features for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) size selection. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 patients referred for elective surgeries to Feiz Hospital affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (April 2016 to September 2018). Patients underwent ventilation using LMA whose size was determined through a weighted-based approach. All of the patients’ neck characteristics including circumference, thyromental distance, and opening mouth were measured. Ventilation factors were recorded including numbers of attempts for successful LMA insertion, quality of ventilation, and sealing. Neck circumference and thyromental distance were significantly different with the size of LMA (p 0.05 for all comparisons). However, the thyromental distance was significantly different with the quality ventilation status (p <0.0001). The total assessment of insertion attempts, ventilation efficacy and sealing was significantly different with the neck circumference (p <0.001), but thyromental distance did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). Findings demonstrated that neck circumference might be considered as an appropriate indicator for the selection of LMA size but neither the thyromental distance nor mouth opening. Further studies with a larger sample size are strongly recommended.

To investigate the impact of peer-assisted learning (PAL) in chest tube insertion education on surgical residents. This study is a quasi-experimental study conducted on thirty general surgeon residents enrolled in the PAL program. They were divided into two learner groups (A and B) based on the period of residency start. Group A and B had six and one months of general surgery residency experience, respectively. All participants received adequate training for chest tube insertion by a recently graduated general surgeon. Chest tubes insertion skill was assessed using the tool for assessing chest tube insertion competency (TACTIC) test. Post-TACTIC test score was significantly higher (p=0.001) than Pre-TACTIC test score in both groups. However, a comparison of mean Pre-TACTIC test scores and mean Post-TACTIC test scores between group A and group B showed that PAL effectiveness in group A was significantly higher (p=0.001) than group B. There was a positive relationship between the PAL program and the improvement of chest tube insertion technical skills in surgical residents. Based on our findings and similar studies, it can be concluded that the PAL program can increase the chest tube insertion skill of surgical residents.

We report two cases involving small-caliber gunshot wounds to the chest with embolization of the bullet which complete occluding arterial circulation into the left lower extremity. A 30-years-old and 19-years-old men suffered gunshots wound to the thorax and abdomen with subsequent arterial embolisms into their left legs. Image studies revealed the left popliteal and femoral arteries occlusion by the missiles. Arteriotomies were auspiciously performed to retrieve the projectiles along with Fogarty catheters thrombectomies which conclude successful outcomes. At a 6 and 36 months’ follow-up, the patients were doing well without any vascular associated complications. Bullet embolization of the arterial or venous systems is a rare complication of penetrating gunshot injuries with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This complication’s suspicion should rise when there is a gunshot injury without an exit wound and with sudden pain or ischemia in an extremity. Individualized treatment should be urgently performed to avoid irreversible damage to the affected area.

Endotracheal intubation is more commonly performed in the right main bronchus; however, it may rarely be performed in the left side. A 52-years-old man was brought to the emergency department by emergency medical services (EMS) after multiple trauma injury. There was a decrease in the right lung’s sound. Lung computed tomography (CT) scan revealed total pulmonary atelectasis. This scan was at the time that patient did not mention any recent history or complaint of pulmonary problems or diseases. In CT scan, we observed the white lung in the right side, the trachea which was deviated to the right, and the collapse-consolidation of the right lung was seen. The endotracheal tube image was observed in the left main bronchus which is a rare phenomenon. Decreasing of the right lung sound may not always be due to pneumothorax or hemothorax in trauma patients. In these patients, the rare phenomenon of left lung intubation should be considered as well. Left lung intubation may occur because of the lesion presence in the right lung.