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Journal Article

Citation

Saltzherr TP, Visser A, Ponsen KJ, Luitse JSK, Goslings JC. J. Trauma 2010; 69(5): 1143-1146.

Affiliation

From the Trauma Unit Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/TA.0b013e3181cb85bb

PMID

20400919

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: Complication registration is an important part of monitoring the quality of health care. The aim of this article was to describe the incidence, type, and impact of complications occurring within 6 months after the initial trauma in multitrauma patients. METHODS:: During a 2-year period, all trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >/=16 who were not directly transferred to other hospitals were included. We used the Dutch National Surgical Complication Registry of the Academic Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center, to assess complications within 6 months after the initial trauma. For verification, we additionally performed a chart review. Complications were graded 0 (no real health loss) to 4 (lethal). RESULTS:: Three hundred three multitrauma patients were included with a median ISS of 22 (interquartile range, 17-29). Within 181 patients, 358 complications occurred (60%). The most frequently occurring complications were respiratory and urinary tract infections. Most complications (73%) were grade 1 and resolved completely without operative (re-)intervention There were 27 patients (8%) with a grade 2 complication, which required operative (re-)interventions. All eight (2%) grade 3 complications which caused (potential) permanent damage or disability, were of neurologic origin. Overall mortality was 18.8% and complication associated readmission rate was 4%. Emergency interventions and high ISS tended to be associated with the occurrence of complications. In patients with complications, hospital stay was doubled from 9 to 18 days. CONCLUSIONS:: Multitrauma patients are at high risk for developing complications. Most frequently encountered complications were infections. The majority of complications resolved completely without a surgical intervention.


Language: en

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