Does a category II trauma activation warrant the initial presence of an attending trauma surgeon?
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have examined the impact of the immediate presence of attending trauma surgeons on category I trauma alert activation outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine if the initial presence of an attending surgeon influences category II trauma activation outcomes.


METHODS
This 2-year retrospective review of category II alert activations involved a trauma database query to identify patients and extract pertinent variables.


RESULTS
The attending and non-attending groups were comprised of 2192 (67.6%) and 1051 (32.4%) patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in gender, age, emergency department (ED) duration, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) duration, ED disposition, or ICU admission between groups. No significant differences in outcomes, including patient mortality, complication rates, length of stay, and Injury Severity Score, were calculated between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results lend strength to our category II trauma alert activation criteria and suggest that non-critically injured patients in need of trauma care are receiving appropriate treatment, regardless of who performs the initial evaluation. Comparable successful outcomes support the contention that the mandatory initial presence of an attending trauma surgeon is not necessary for category II activations. Initial evaluation may be performed by an emergency physician alone or by a non-attending surgeon (senior surgical resident or fellow) in conjunction with an emergency physician. Management of category II trauma alert activations should be determined by individual institutions after a thorough evaluation of resources and outcomes.
Willette
Paul A
PA
Mid-Ohio Emergency Services, LLC, Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43215, USA.
Beery
Paul R
PR
Hartman
Jodi F
JF
Wright
Michelle L
ML
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014194:Traumatology; D000078329:Workforce; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*