title: Evaluation of a blunt and penetrating trauma algorithm for truncal injury.
abstract: The authors objective was to develop and test a single branch-chain decision tree for blunt and penetrating truncal injury. Over the 4-month study period there were 979 patients evaluated in the emergency department; 674 of these patients were admitted to the hospital. Thirty-four (5%) of the 674 admitted patients died of truncal injury. The study group consisted of 239 of the most severely injured patients; 41 of these (17%) died. Of the 44 patients managed with major deviations from the algorithm, 27 (61%) died. Only 14 of the 195 patients (7%) whose management complied with the algorithm died. The authors conclude that following the specific management criteria outlined by the algorithm may improve the survival of severely traumatized patients.
authors.affiliation: King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Shoemaker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kram
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000628:therapy*