Machine Learning Predicts Mortality and Respiratory Failure in Patients Admitted With Rib Fractures.

Introduction: Rib fractures are common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Accurate prediction of adverse outcomes remains challenging, with existing clinical risk models demonstrating poor performance on external validation. This study applies machine learning to predict mortality and respiratory failure in trauma patients with rib fractures.

Feeling like an imposter: are surgeons holding themselves back?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their achievements and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud, even when there is little evidence to support these thought processes. It typically occurs among high performers who are unable to internalize and accept their success. This phenomenon is not recognized as an official mental health diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; however, mental health professionals recognize it as a form of intellectual self-doubt.

Incidence and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learning disability by adulthood after traumatic brain injury in childhood: a population-based birth cohort study.

The aim of this study was to understand the risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning disability (LD) after childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a population-based birth cohort. Cases of TBI for children from birth to 10 years were confirmed and stratified by severity of injury. For each TBI case, two age-matched and sex-matched referents without TBI were identified from the same birth cohort.

Non-invasive Hemoglobin Measurement Predictive Analytics with Missing Data and Accuracy Improvement Using Gaussian Process and Functional Regression Model.

Recent use of noninvasive and continuous hemoglobin (SpHb) concentration monitor has emerged as an alternative to invasive laboratory-based hematological analysis. Unlike delayed laboratory based measures of hemoglobin (HgB), SpHb monitors can provide real-time information about the HgB levels. Real-time SpHb measurements will offer healthcare providers with warnings and early detections of abnormal health status, e.

Legal Firearm Sales at State Level and Rates of Violent Crime, Property Crime, and Homicides.

Introduction: The effects of firearm sales and legislation on crime and violence are intensely debated, with multiple studies yielding differing results. We hypothesized that increased lawful firearm sales would not be associated with the rates of crime and homicide when studied using a robust statistical method.

Methods: National and state rates of crime and homicide during 1999-2015 were obtained from the United States Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Developing a National Trauma Research Action Plan: Results from the long-term outcomes research gap Delphi survey.

Background: In the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2016 report on trauma care, the establishment of a National Trauma Research Action Plan to strengthen and guide future trauma research was recommended. To address this recommendation, the Department of Defense funded the Coalition for National Trauma Research to generate a comprehensive research agenda spanning the continuum of trauma and burn care. We describe the gap analysis and high-priority research questions generated from the National Trauma Research Action Plan panel on long-term outcomes.

Effect of Antibiotic Duration in Emergency General Surgery Patients with Intra-Abdominal Infection Managed with Open vs Closed Abdomen.

Background: Data on duration of antibiotics in patients managed with an open abdomen (OA) due to intra-abdominal infection (IAI) are scarce. We hypothesized that patients with IAI managed with OA rather than closed abdomen (CA) would have higher rates of secondary infections (SIs) independent of the duration of the antibiotic treatment.

Methods: This was an observational, prospective, multicenter, international study of patients with IAI requiring laparotomy for source control.

Validation of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Emergency General Surgery Grading System for Colorectal Resection: An EAST Multicenter Study.

Background: The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has developed a grading system for emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions. We sought to validate the AAST EGS grades for patients undergoing urgent/emergent colorectal resection.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the "Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multicenter Colorectal Resection in EGS-to anastomose or not to anastomose" study undergoing urgent/emergent surgery for obstruction, ischemia, or diverticulitis were included.

Improving non-invasive hemoglobin measurement accuracy using nonparametric models.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable death among patients with trauma. Early recognition of hemorrhage can aid in the decision to administer blood transfusion and improve patient outcomes. To provide real-time measurement and continuous monitoring of hemoglobin concentration, the non-invasive and continuous hemoglobin (SpHb) measurement device has drawn extensive attention in clinical practice.

Small bowel obstruction managed without hospital admission: A safe way to reduce both cost and time in the hospital?

Background: Small bowel obstruction management has evolved to incorporate the Gastrografin challenge. We expanded its use to the emergency department observation unit, potentially avoiding hospital admission for highly select small bowel obstruction patients. We hypothesized that the emergency department observation unit small bowel obstruction protocol would reduce admissions, costs, and the total time spent in the hospital without compromising outcomes.

National adherence to the ASGE-SAGES guidelines for managing suspected choledocholithiasis: An EAST multicenter study.

Background: The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons provide guidelines for managing suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones. We sought to evaluate adherence to the guidelines among patients with choledocholithiasis and/or acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) and to evaluate the ability of these guidelines to predict choledocholithiasis.

Methods: We prospectively identified patients undergoing same-admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and/or ABP from 2016 to 2019 at 12 United States medical centers.

Association of scooter-related injury and hospitalization with electronic scooter sharing systems in the United States.

Introduction: We used interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to determine whether e-scooter shares' introduction in September 2017 increased serious scooter-related injury across the United States.

Methods: Using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, we queried emergency department visits involving motorized scooter-related injuries from January 2010-December 2019. Cases originating where e-scooter shares launched between September 1, 2017-December 1, 2019 (intervention period) were considered exposed.

The effect of prolonged antibiotics on postoperative complications for common bile duct stones: A post hoc analysis of an EAST multicenter study.

Background: Antimicrobial guidance for common bile duct (CBD) stones is limited. We sought to examine the effect of antibiotic duration on infectious complications in patients with choledocholithiasis and/or gallstone pancreatitis.

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of a prospective, observational, multicenter study of patients undergoing same admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and gallstone pancreatitis between 2016 and 2019.

Effect of Out-of-Hospital Tranexamic Acid vs Placebo on 6-Month Functional Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Moderate or Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability due to trauma. Early administration of tranexamic acid may benefit patients with TBI.

Objective: To determine whether tranexamic acid treatment initiated in the out-of-hospital setting within 2 hours of injury improves neurologic outcome in patients with moderate or severe TBI.

Colorectal resection in emergency general surgery: An EAST multicenter trial.

Objective: Evidence comparing stoma creation (STM) versus anastomosis after urgent or emergent colorectal resection is limited. This study examined outcomes after colorectal resection in emergency general surgery patients.

Methods: This was an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma-sponsored prospective observational multicenter study of patients undergoing urgent/emergent colorectal resection.

Damage Control Laparotomy: High-Volume Centers Display Similar Mortality Rates Despite Differences in Country Income Level.

Background: Comprehensive analysis of trauma care between high-, middle-, and low-income countries (HIC/MIC/LIC) is needed to improve global health. Comparison of HIC and MIC outcomes after damage control laparotomy (DCL) for patients is unknown. We evaluated DCL utilization among patients treated at high-volume trauma centers in the USA and South Africa, an MIC, hypothesizing similar mortality outcomes despite differences in resources and setting.

Mob Justice in South Africa: A comparison of blunt trauma secondary to community and non-community assaults.

Background: The phenomenon of extrajudicial "mob justice" and community assault (CA) has been documented in news reports and anecdotes from a number of low- and middle-income countries, but there is little literature on its burden on trauma systems. This study reviews a single center's management of CA victims and compares the spectrum of injuries seen following mob assault with those sustained via other forms of interpersonal violence (IPV).

Methods: Clinical data, injury details, and mortality among injured patients (age≥18) hospitalized in a South African tertiary referral center from 2012-2018 were abstracted.

Risk factors for complications after cholecystectomy for common bile duct stones: An EAST multicenter study.

Background: We sought to prospectively identify risk factors for biliary complications and 30-day readmission after cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and gallstone pancreatitis across multiple US hospitals.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study of patients who underwent same admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and gallstone pancreatitis between 2016 and 2019 at 12 US centers. Patients with prior history of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or diagnosis of cholangitis were excluded.

Prospective validation of the Emergency Surgery Score in emergency general surgery: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter study.

Background: The Emergency Surgery Score (ESS) was recently developed and retrospectively validated as an accurate mortality risk calculator for emergency general surgery. We sought to prospectively validate ESS, specifically in the high-risk nontrauma emergency laparotomy (EL) patient.

Methods: This is an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter prospective observational study.

Predicting the Outcome of Non-operative Management of Splenic Trauma in South Africa.

Introduction: We aimed to expand on the global surgical discussion around splenic trauma in order to understand locally and clinically relevant factors for operative (OP) and non-operative management (NOM) of splenic trauma in a South African setting.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using 2013-2017 data from the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service. All adult patients (≥15 years) were included.