Citation

Fischer RP, Flynn TC, Miller PW, Rowlands BJ. J. Trauma 1985; 25(8): 746-750.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

4020908

Abstract

This study reviewed the direct costs (charges for goods and services) for 77 consecutive patients who presented to this trauma service with a Trauma Score (TS) of four or less. Seventy-four patients died (96.1%). The survival rates based upon the Trauma Scores were: TS 1, 0(0/34); TS 2, 0(0/9); TS 3, 7.7% (1/13); TS 4, 9.5% (2/21). Only four nonsurvivors lived more than 24 hours. The remaining 70 patients died within 24 hours without achieving even transient cardiovascular stability. Three of the 77 patients survived (3.9%) but only one achieved a productive recovery. The total direct cost for the 77 patients was +544,477.66. Physician fees, which accounted for 26.7% of the direct costs, averaged +1,887.57 per patient (range, 0-+11,291.00). The average direct cost for the three survivors was +50,138.94. The average direct cost for nonsurvivors was +5,325.18 (+3,383.29 for patients with a TS 1 or 2, +8,018.76 for patients with a TS 3 or 4). The hospital direct costs for nonsurvivors ranged from +40.00 for a patient declared dead on arrival to +57,817.91 for a patient who died 41 days after admission. It is futile to continue resuscitational efforts if a valid Trauma Score of 1 or 2 is confirmed shortly after the initiation of appropriate resuscitative measures. Continued therapy is futile for the remainder of patients admitted with Trauma Scores of 4 or less if they do not achieve cardiovascular stability in response to appropriate resuscitative measures within 1 hour of admission.