Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of trauma patients who died with Revised Trauma Scores (RTS) of > 4 treated at urban versus rural Utah hospitals. A secondary purpose is to evaluate any common characteristics among these patients since these patients generally have a good probability of survival using TRISS® methodology.
Design: Retrospective review of state trauma data (1995 – 2000) obtained from 21 Utah hospitals.
Results: Data was obtained from 22,441 records and 21 institutions (135 records had no institution listed). There were 13,573 males (60.5%) and 8861 females (39.4%). Types of trauma were: 20,182 blunt (89.9%), and 1658 penetrating (7.4%) with 601 records missing this field. Three hundred and one patients died with an RTS > 4. The mean age of the 301 patients with an RTS > 4 who died was 63.34 ± 25.22 years. The mean GCS of these patients was 11.6 ± 4.6. Three institutions in Utah are Level I equivalent and 168 of 297 deaths (56.6%) occurred at these institutions versus 129 (43.4%)at rural institutions. The mean probability of survival from blunt and penetrating trauma calculated using TRISS® methodology was 78.4 ± 26.4% and 77.9 ± 27.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: Advanced age seems to be an important factor among trauma patients with an RTS >4 who died in Utah since 1995. However, 52.4% of patients ≤ 18 years of age who died demonstrated a good probability of survival. Processes of care for these patients demonstrate areas where intervention may improve survival.
See iicrc.med.utah.edu
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Mortality, Injury
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.