Faculty Collaboration Database

Polytrauma patients in the Netherlands and the USA: A bi-institutional comparison of processes and outcomes of care. Injury 2018 Jan;49(1):104-109

Date

10/17/2017

Pubmed ID

29033079

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2017.10.021

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85031102734 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   9 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Modern trauma systems differ worldwide, possibly leading to disparities in outcomes. We aim to compare characteristics and outcomes of blunt polytrauma patients admitted to two Level 1 Trauma Centers in the US (USTC) and the Netherlands (NTC).

METHODS: For this retrospective study the records of 1367 adult blunt trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 admitted between July 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013 (640 from NTC, 727 from USTC) were analysed.

RESULTS: The USTC group had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (mean [standard deviation] 1.15 [2.2] vs. 1.73 [2.8], p<0.0001) and Injury Severity Score (median [interquartile range, IQR] 25 [17-29] vs. 21 [17-26], p<0.0001). The in-hospital mortality was similar in both centers (11% in USTC vs. 10% NTC), also after correction for baseline differences in patient population in a multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.61-1.48, p=0.83). USTC patients had a longer Intensive Care Unit stay (median [IQR] 4 [2-11] vs. 2 [2-7] days, p=0.006) but had a shorter hospital stay (median [IQR] 6 [3-13] vs. 8 [4-16] days, p<0.0001). USTC patients were discharged more often to a rehabilitation center (47% vs 10%) and less often to home (46% vs. 66%, p<0.0001), and had a higher readmission rate (8% vs. 4%, p=0.01).

CONCLUSION: Although several outcome parameters differ in two urban area trauma centers in the USA and the Netherlands, the quality of care for trauma patients, measured as survival, is equal. Other outcomes varied between both trauma centers, suggesting that differences in local policies and processes do influence the care system, but not so much the quality of care as reflected by survival.

Author List

Dijkink S, van der Wilden GM, Krijnen P, Dol L, Rhemrev S, King DR, DeMoya MA, Velmahos GC, Schipper IB

Author

Marc Anthony De Moya MD Chief, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Critical Care
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Female
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Intensive Care Units
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Trauma
Netherlands
Retrospective Studies
Trauma Centers
United States