Citation

Koh EY, Oyeniyi BT, Fox EE, Scerbo M, Tomasek JS, Wade CE, Holcomb JB. Am. J. Surg. 2018; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Center for Translational Injury Research, Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.12.022

PMID

30595330

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Most studies of trauma deaths include non-preventable deaths, potentially limiting successful intervention efforts. In this study we aimed to compare the potentially preventable trauma deaths between 2 time periods at our institution.

METHODS: Trauma patients who died in our hospital in 2005-2006 or 2012-2013 were included, non-preventable deaths were excluded from analysis. The Mann-Whitney and chi square test were used to compare variables between both time periods.

RESULTS: 80% of deaths were non-preventable. Between the study time periods there was a decrease in potentially preventable deaths, from 29% to 12%, p < 0.001. Head injury deaths significantly decreased (40.6%-24.6%, p = 0.03), while hemorrhage deaths were stable during both time periods (47.6%-43.1%, p = 0.55).

CONCLUSION: Potentially preventable trauma deaths decreased during the study period. Hemorrhage remains constant as the leading cause of potentially preventable deaths. Continued research to improve survival from hemorrhage is warranted.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Injury; Preventable deaths; Trauma