Citation

Genrich I, OʼMara SK, Sulo S. J. Trauma Nurs. 2015; 22(1): 28-34.

Affiliation

Surgical Intermediate Care Center (SICC), (Ms Genrich), Cardiac Surgery (Ms O'Mara), and Patient Centered Outcomes Research, James R. & Helen D. Russell Institute for Research & Innovation, (Dr Sulo), Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Society of Trauma Nurses)

DOI

10.1097/JTN.0000000000000096

PMID

25584451

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Management of blunt cardiac injury is often discussed in trauma literature due to the lack of a "gold standard" for early identification and cost-effective care. The effectiveness of an evidence-based trauma protocol was assessed by comparing patients treated with the new protocol to those managed with prior practice.

METHODS: The data of 80 patients prospectively managed using the new trauma protocol were compared with the medical records of 80 former patients treated according to existing practice.

RESULTS: Implementing the new protocol improved detection of abnormal troponin I levels and resulted in cost savings. The length of time inpatients required continuous electrocardiographic monitoring decreased by 4.23 days and echocardiography use dropped by 70%.

CONCLUSION: Implementation of the evidence-based trauma protocol at our facility improved the early identification of patients with blunt cardiac injury and reduced the number of laboratory and diagnostic tests.

Language: en