Faculty Collaboration Database

Contemporary management of high-grade renal trauma: Results from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Genitourinary Trauma study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2018 Mar;84(3):418-425

Date

01/04/2018

Pubmed ID

29298242

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000001796

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85042914491 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   72 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The rarity of renal trauma limits its study and the strength of evidence-based guidelines. Although management of renal injuries has shifted toward a nonoperative approach, nephrectomy remains the most common intervention for high-grade renal trauma (HGRT). We aimed to describe the contemporary management of HGRT in the United States and also evaluate clinical factors associated with nephrectomy after HGRT.

METHODS: From 2014 to 2017, data on HGRT (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grades III-V) were collected from 14 participating Level-1 trauma centers. Data were gathered on demographics, injury characteristics, management, and short-term outcomes. Management was classified into three groups-expectant, conservative/minimally invasive, and open operative. Descriptive statistics were used to report management of renal trauma. Univariate and multivariate logistic mixed effect models with clustering by facility were used to look at associations between proposed risk factors and nephrectomy.

RESULTS: A total of 431 adult HGRT were recorded; 79% were male, and mechanism of injury was blunt in 71%. Injuries were graded as III, IV, and V in 236 (55%), 142 (33%), and 53 (12%), respectively. Laparotomy was performed in 169 (39%) patients. Overall, 300 (70%) patients were managed expectantly and 47 (11%) underwent conservative/minimally invasive management. Eighty-four (19%) underwent renal-related open operative management with 55 (67%) of them undergoing nephrectomy. Nephrectomy rates were 15% and 62% for grades IV and V, respectively. Penetrating injuries had significantly higher American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grades and higher rates of nephrectomy. In multivariable analysis, only renal injury grade and penetrating mechanism of injury were significantly associated with undergoing nephrectomy.

CONCLUSION: Expectant and conservative management is currently utilized in 80% of HGRT; however, the rate of nephrectomy remains high. Clinical factors, such as surrogates of hemodynamic instability and metabolic acidosis, are associated with nephrectomy for HGRT; however, higher renal injury grade and penetrating trauma remain the strongest associations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; Therapeutic study, level IV.

Author List

Keihani S, Xu Y, Presson AP, Hotaling JM, Nirula R, Piotrowski J, Dodgion CM, Black CM, Mukherjee K, Morris BJ, Majercik S, Smith BP, Schwartz I, Elliott SP, DeSoucy ES, Zakaluzny S, Thomsen PB, Erickson BA, Baradaran N, Breyer BN, Miller B, Santucci RA, Carrick MM, Hewitt T, Burks FN, Kocik JF, Askari R, Myers JB, Genito-Urinary Trauma Study Group

Author

Christopher M. Dodgion MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

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

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Disease Management
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Injury Severity Score
Kidney
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Societies, Medical
Time Factors
Trauma Centers
Trauma Severity Indices
Traumatology
Urogenital System
Wounds, Nonpenetrating
Wounds, Penetrating
Young Adult