Do not resuscitate status, not age, affects outcomes after injury: an evaluation of 15,227 consecutive trauma patients

Unintended Consequences of Code Status in the Intensive Care Unit: What Happens After a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order Is Placed? A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Some clinicians suspect that patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders receive less aggressive care. Extrapolation from code status to goals of care could cause significant harm. This study asked the question: Do DNR orders in the intensive care unit (ICU) lead to a decrease in invasive interventions? Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of ICU patients from three teaching hospitals. All ICU patients were assessed for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were medical futility and death, comfort care, or ICU discharge <48 hours after DNR initiation. Five hundred thirty-six patients met inclusion criteria. One hundred forty-five were included in the final analysis. Primary outcomes were occurrence of invasive interventions after DNR initiation-surgical operation, central line, ventilation, dialysis, or other procedure. Secondary outcomes were antibiotic administration, blood transfusion, mortality, and discharge location. Results: Patients with DNR orders underwent fewer surgical operations (14.5% vs. 31.1%, p = 0.002), but more central lines (42.1% vs. 23.0%, p = 0.009), ventilator use (49.0% vs. 18.9%, p < 0.001), and dialysis (20.0% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.002), compared with patients without DNR orders. Transfusions and antibiotic use decreased similarly over admission for both groups (transfusions: β = 1.25; p = 0.59; and antibiotics: β = 1.44; p = 0.27). Mortality and hospice discharges were higher for DNR patients (p < 0.001.). Conclusions: DNR status did not decrease the number of nonoperative interventions patients received as compared with full code counterparts. Although differences in populations existed, patients with DNR orders were likely to receive a similar number of invasive interventions. This finding suggests that providers do not wholesale limit these options for patients with code status limitations.

Dysphagia among geriatric trauma patients: A population-based study

Objective

To determine the significance of dysphagia on clinical outcomes of geriatric trauma patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective population-based study of geriatric trauma patients 65 years and older utilizing the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration dataset from 2010 to 2019. Patients with pre-admission dysphagia were excluded. Multivariable regression was used to create statistical adjustments. Primary outcomes included mortality and the development of dysphagia. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and complications. Subgroup analyses included patients with dementia, patients who received transgastric feeding tubes (GFTs) or tracheostomies, and speech language therapy consultation.

Results

A total of 52,946 geriatric patients developed dysphagia after admission during a 9-year period out of 1,150,438 geriatric trauma admissions. In general, patients who developed dysphagia had increased mortality, length of stay, and complications. When adjusted for traumatic brain and cervical spine injuries, the addition of mechanical ventilation decreased the mortality odds. This was also observed in the subset of patients with dysphagia who had GFTs placed. Of the three primary risk factors for dysphagia investigated, mechanical ventilation was the most strongly associated with later development of dysphagia and mortality.

Conclusion

The geriatric trauma population is vulnerable to dysphagia with a large number associated with traumatic brain injury, cervical spine injury, and polytraumatic injuries that lead to mechanical ventilation. Earlier intubation/mechanical ventilation in association with GFTs was found to be associated with decreased inpatient hospital mortality. Tracheostomy placement was shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of dysphagia. The utilization of speech language therapy was found to be inconsistently utilized.

Association between the plasma-to-red blood cell ratio and survival in geriatric and non-geriatric trauma patients undergoing massive transfusion: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The benefits of a high plasma-to-red blood cell (RBC) ratio on the survival of injured patients who receive massive transfusions remain unclear, especially in older patients. We aimed to investigate the interaction of age with the plasma-to-RBC ratio and clinical outcomes of trauma patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective study conducted from 2013 to 2016, trauma patients who received massive transfusions were included. Using a generalized additive model (GAM),we assessed how the plasma-to-RBC ratio and age affected the in-hospital mortality rates. The association of the plasma-to-RBC ratio [low (< 0.5), medium (0.5-1.0), and high (≥ 1.0)] with in-hospital mortality and the incidence of adverse events were assessed for the overall cohort and for patients stratified into non-geriatric (16-64 years) and geriatric (≥ 65 years) groups using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 13,894 patients were included. The GAM plot of the plasma-to-RBC ratio for in-hospital mortality demonstrated a downward convex unimodal curve for the entire cohort. The low-transfusion ratio group was associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality in the non-geriatric cohort [odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22-1.56]; no association was observed in the geriatric group (odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.62-1.12). An increase in the transfusion ratio was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events in the non-geriatric and geriatric groups.

CONCLUSION

The association of the non-geriatric age category and plasma-to-RBC ratio for in-hospital mortality was clearly demonstrated. However, the relationship between the plasma-to-RBC ratio with mortality among geriatric patients remains inconclusive.

Advance directives in the emergency department

Advance directives are documents to convey patients' preferences in the event they are unable to communicate them. Patients commonly present to the emergency department near the end of life. Advance directives are an important component of patient-centered care and allow the health care team to treat patients in accordance with their wishes. Common types of advance directives include living wills, health care power of attorney, Do Not Resuscitate orders, and Physician (or Medical) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST or MOLST). Pitfalls to use of advance directives include confusion regarding the documents themselves, their availability, their accuracy, and agreement between documentation and stated bedside wishes on the part of the patient and family members. Limitations of the documents, as well as approaches to addressing discrepant goals of care, are discussed.

Age is associated with increased mortality in the RETTS-A triage scale

Background

Triage is widely used in the emergency department (ED) in order to identify the patient’s level of urgency and often based on the patient’s chief complaint and vital signs. Age has been shown to be independently associated with short term mortality following an ED visit. However, the most commonly used ED triage tools do not include age as an independent core variable. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age and 7- and 30-day mortality across the triage priority level groups according to Rapid Emergency Triage and Treatment System – Adult (RETTS-A), the most widely used triage tool in Sweden.

Methods

In this cohort, we included all adult patients visiting the ED at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, from 1/1/2010 to 1/1/2015, n = 639,387. All patients were triaged according to the RETTS-A and subsequently separated into three age strata: 18–59, 60–79 and ≥ 80 years. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression was used. The primary outcome measures were 7- and 30-day mortality.

Results

We observed that age was associated with both 7 and 30-day mortality in each triage priority level group. Mortality was higher in older patients across all triage priority levels but the association with age was stronger in the lowest triage group (p-value for interaction = < 0.001). Comparing patients ≥80 years with patients 18–59 years, older patients had a 16 and 7 fold higher risk for 7 day mortality in the lowest and highest triage priority groups, respectively. The corresponding numbers for 30-d mortality were a 21- and 8-foldincreased risk, respectively.

Conclusion

Compared to younger patients, patients above 60 years have an increased short term mortality across the RETTS-A triage priority level groups and this was most pronounced in the lowest triage level. The reason for our findings are unclear and data suggest a validation of RETTS-A in aged patients.

Evaluating Postoperative Complications and Outcomes of Orthopedic Fracture Repair in Nonagenarian Patients

Introduction:

The United States and the world are currently experiencing a tremendous growth in the elderly population. Moreover, individuals surpassing the ages of 80 and 90 are also continuing to increase. As this unique division of society expands, it is critical that the medical community best understands how to assess, diagnose, and treat this population. The purpose of this study was to analyze morbidity, mortality, and overall outcome of patients aged 90 years and older after orthopedic surgical fracture repair. Such knowledge will guide patients and their families in making decisions when surgery is required among nonagenarians.

Methods:

The trauma registry of our level I academic medical center was queried to identify potential study participants over the past decade. Two hundred and thirty-three surgical procedures among 227 patients were included and retrospectively assessed. Parameters of specific interest were injury type, mechanism of injury (including high energy vs low energy and height of falls), injury severity score, preoperative comorbidities, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, discharge destination, and postoperative mortality rate.

Results:

Overall, 4.3% of the cohort died in the hospital following surgery. Of the patients who survived, 89.7% were discharged to a professionally supervised setting. The nonagenarian population displayed a considerable follow-up rate, as 82.8% of individuals returned for their first postoperative office visit.

Discussion:

Historically, surgical morbidity and mortality are highly associated with this age group. However, the number of nonagenarians in the United States is increasing, as are these surgical procedures. The epidemiologic and clinical findings of our study support this trend and add further insight into the matter.

Conclusion:

This investigation demonstrates that orthopedic surgery is an appropriate treatment in this population with an acceptable complication rate. Furthermore, nonagenarians have the potential to demonstrate a substantial follow-up rate, but postoperative discharge to a professionally supervised setting may be necessary.

Shifting paradigm: From "No Code" and "Do-Not-Resuscitate" to "Goals of Care" policies

Policies addressing limitations of medical therapy in patients with advanced medical conditions are typically referred to as Code Status (No Code) policies or Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) status polices. Inconsistencies in implementation, understanding, decision-making, communication and management of No Code or DNR orders have led to delivery of poorer care to some patients. Several experts have called for a change in the current approach. The new approach, Goals of Care paradigm, aims to contextualize the decisions about resuscitation and advanced life support within the overall plan of care, focusing on choices of treatments to be given rather than specifically on treatments not to be given. Adopting “Goals of Care” paradigm is a big step forward on the journey for optimizing the care for patients with advanced medical conditions; a journey that requires collaborative approach and is of high importance for patients, community and healthcare systems.

The relationship between processes and outcomes for injured older adults: a study of a statewide trauma system

PURPOSE

Age is a risk factor for death, adverse outcomes, and health care use following trauma. The American College of Surgeons' Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) has published "best practices" of geriatric trauma care; adoption of these guidelines is unknown. We sought to determine which evidence-based geriatric protocols, including TQIP guidelines, were correlated with decreased mortality in Pennsylvania's trauma centers.

METHODS

PA's level I and II trauma centers self-reported adoption of geriatric protocols. Survey data were merged with risk-adjusted mortality data for patients ≥65 from a statewide database, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF), to compare mortality outlier status and processes of care. Exposures of interest were center-specific processes of care; outcome of interest was PTSF mortality outlier status.

RESULTS

26 of 27 eligible trauma centers participated. There was wide variation in care processes. Four trauma centers were low outliers; three centers were high outliers for risk-adjusted mortality rates in adults ≥65. Results remained consistent when accounting for center volume. The only process associated with mortality outlier status was age-specific solid organ injury protocols (p = 0.04). There was no cumulative effect of multiple evidence-based processes on mortality rate (p = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not see a link between adoption of geriatric best-practices trauma guidelines and reduced mortality at PA trauma centers. The increased susceptibility of elderly to adverse consequences of injury, combined with the rapid growth rate of this demographic, emphasizes the importance of identifying interventions tailored to this population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

STUDY TYPE

Descriptive.

The outcome of trauma patients with do-not-resuscitate orders

BACKGROUND

Institutional variation in outcome of patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders has not been well described in the setting of trauma. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of trauma center designation on outcome of patients with DNR orders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A statewide trauma database (Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study) was used for the analysis. Characteristics of patients with DNR orders were compared between state-designated level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Inhospital mortality and major complication rates were compared using hierarchical logistic regression models that included a random effect for trauma centers. We adjusted for a number of potential confounders and allowed for nonlinearity in injury severity score and age in these models.

RESULTS

A total of 106,291 patients (14 level 1 and 11 level 2 trauma centers) were identified in the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database between 2007 and 2011. We included 5953 patients with DNR orders (5.6%). Although more severely injured patients with comorbid disease were made DNR in level 1 trauma centers, trauma center designation level was not a significant factor for inhospital mortality of patients with DNR orders (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-2.18; P = 0.26). Level 1 trauma centers were significantly associated with a higher rate of major complications (odds ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.75; P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Inhospital mortality of patients with DNR orders was not significantly associated with trauma designation level after adjusting for case mix. More aggressive treatment or other unknown factors may have resulted in a significantly higher complication rate at level 1 trauma centers.

Do-not-resuscitate orders among trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are an important means to communicate end-of-life wishes. Previous studies have demonstrated variable prevalence of DNR orders among hospitalized trauma patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and type of DNR orders among trauma patients and to identify associations of DNR orders with injury severity, length of stay, and whether CPR was performed in cases of cardiac arrest.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, medical records were reviewed for 263 trauma patients at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, in 2014 with a DNR order.

RESULTS

Among 3394 trauma patients in 2014, 263 (8%) patients had a DNR order. Participants were 43% male and 57% female. The mean age was 76 (range, 16-90+) years. The most common mechanisms of injury included fall (n = 214, 81.4%) and motor vehicle collision (n = 16, 6.1%). Most DNR orders in this patient population were instituted during the hospitalization (n = 176, 67%). The most common types of advance directives included DNR order (n = 224, 85.2%), living will (n = 124, 47.2%), and durable power of health care attorney (n = 126, 47.9%). A minority of patients died during hospitalization (n = 100, 38.0%). Among patients who were deceased, 14 (14.0%) had CPR performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Among trauma patients with DNR orders, most DNR orders were instituted during the hospital admission. Most deceased patients with DNR orders did not have CPR performed during the hospital stay.

Preadmission Do Not Resuscitate advanced directive is associated with adverse outcomes following acute traumatic injury

BACKGROUND

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders have been associated with poor outcomes in surgical patients. There is limited literature on admitted trauma patients with advanced directives indicating DNR status before admission (preadmission DNR [PADNR]).

METHODS

A retrospective review of the trauma registry of a suburban county was carried out for admitted trauma patients with age ≥41 years, who were admitted between 2008 and 2013.

RESULTS

Of 7,937 admitted patients, 327 had a preadmission advanced directive indicating DNR. PADNR patients were significantly older (87 vs 69 years), with more frequent comorbidities, and were more often admitted after a fall (94.2% vs 65.8%). PADNR patients had a higher Injury Severity Score (14 vs 11). They also had significantly increased rates of pneumonia, sepsis, myocardial infarction, and death (33.6% vs 5.9%). On multivariate logistic regression, the presence of a preadmission advanced directive indicating DNR status was independently associated with a 5.2-fold increased odds of mortality.

CONCLUSION

An advanced directive indicating DNR is associated with adverse outcomes following trauma.

Alternative end points for trauma studies: A survey of academic trauma surgeons

INTRODUCTION

Changing the epidemiology of trauma makes traditional end points like 30-day mortality less than ideal. Many alternative end points have been suggested; however, they are not yet accepted by the trauma community or regulatory bodies. This study characterizes opinions about the adequacy of accepted end points of studies of trauma and the appropriateness of several novel end points.

METHODS

An electronic survey was administered to all members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Questions involved demographics, research experience, appropriateness of proposed study end points, and the role of nontraditional, surrogate, and composite end points.

RESULTS

Response rate was 16% (141 of 873) with 74% of respondents practicing at Level 1 Trauma Centers. The respondents were very experienced, with 81% reporting >10 years of practice at the attending level and 87% actively involved in research. The majority of respondents rated the following end points favorably: 24-hour survival, 30-day survival, and time to control of acute hemorrhage with approval rates of 82%, 78%, and 76%, respectively. Six-hour survival, intensive care unit-free survival, and days free of multiorgan failure were rated as appropriate or very appropriate less than 66% of the time. Only 45% of respondents judged the currently used end points of trauma to be appropriate. More than 80% respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that there was no role for of surrogate or composite endpoints in research of trauma resuscitation.

CONCLUSION

There is strong interest in finding efficient end points in trauma research that are both specific and reflect the changing epidemiology of trauma death. The alternative end points of 24-hour survival and time to control of acute hemorrhage had similar approval rates to 30-day mortality.

The epidemiology of do-not-resuscitate orders in patients with trauma: a community level one trauma center observational experience

Background

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders in patients with traumatic injury are insufficiently described. The objective is to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of DNR orders in trauma patients.

Methods

We included all adults with trauma to a community Level I Trauma Center over 6 years (2008–2013). We used chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and multivariate stepwise logistic regression tests to characterize DNR (established in-house vs. pre-existing), describe predictors of establishing an in-house DNR, timing of an in-house DNR (early [within 1 day] vs late), and outcomes (death, ICU stay, major complications).

Results

Included were 10,053 patients with trauma, of which 1523 had a DNR order in place (15%); 715 (7%) had a pre-existing DNR and 808 (8%) had a DNR established in-house. Increases were observed over time in both the proportions of patients with DNRs established in-house (p = 0.008) and age ≥65 (p < 0.001). Over 90% of patients with an in-house DNR were ≥65 years. The following covariates were independently associated with establishing a DNR in-house: age ≥65, severe neurologic deficit (GCS 3–8), fall mechanism of injury, ED tachycardia, female gender, and comorbidities (p < 0.05 for all). Age ≥65, female gender, non-surgical service admission and transfers-in were associated with a DNR established early (p < 0.05 for all). As expected, mortality was greater in patients with DNR than those without (22% vs. 1%), as was the development of a major complication (8% vs. 5%), while ICU admission was similar (19% vs. 17%). Poor outcomes were greatest in patients with DNR orders executed later in the hospital stay.

Conclusions

Our analysis of a broad cohort of patients with traumatic injury establishes the relationship between DNR and patient characteristics and outcomes. At 15%, DNR orders are prevalent in our general trauma population, particularly in patients ≥65 years, and are placed early after arrival. Established prognostic factors, including age and physiologic severity, were determinants for in-house DNR orders. These data may improve physician predictions of outcomes with DNR and help inform patient preferences, particularly in an environment with increasing use of DNR and increasing age of patients with trauma.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13049-015-0094-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.