Predictors of laparotomy and mortality in polytrauma patients with pelvic fractures.
BACKGROUND: The decision to perform laparotomy in blunt trauma patients is often difficult owing to pelvic fractures; however, once the decision is made, delay or failure to perform laparotomy could affect morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify predictors of laparotomy and mortality in polytrauma patients with pelvic fractures. METHODS: We divided 390 blunt polytrauma patients (Injury Severity Score [ISS] >/= 16) with pelvic fractures into laparotomy (n = 56) and nonlaparotomy (n = 334) groups. We assessed the role of the following variables in predicting laparotomy and mortality: age, sex, hypotension, fluid and blood transfusions, positive abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans or focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination, pelvic fracture severity and ISS. We analyzed the data using Student t and chi(2) tests, followed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Mortality was higher in the laparotomy group than the nonlaparotomy group (28.6% v. 12.9%; overall mortality 15.1%). The laparotomy group had higher mean ISS (36.9 v. 24.9), higher mean abbreviated injury scores (AIS) for the abdomen (2.6 v. 0.9) and chest (3.4 v. 1.6), lower mean initial hemoglobin levels (105.2 v. 127.0 g/L), higher mean crystalloid (4249 v. 3436 mL) and blood transfusion volumes over 4 hours (12.1 v. 3.9 units), more frequent hypotension (44.6 v. 18.0%) and a higher percentage of positive CT scans (67.9% v. 28.4%) and FAST examination results (42.9% v. 3.3%) than the nonlaparotomy group. Age (mean 53.7 v. 41.5 yr); ISS (mean 39.0 v. 24.4); AIS for the head (mean 3.2 v. 1.7), abdomen (mean 1.6 v. 1.1), chest (mean 2.7 v. 1.8) and pelvis (mean 3.1 v. 2.6); crystalloid (mean 5157.3 v. 3266.4 mL) and blood transfusion volumes over 4 hours (mean 13.1 v. 3.7) and initial hypotension (61% v. 14.8%) were all greater among patients who died than those who survived. Mean initial hemoglobin levels were lower among patients who died than among those who survived (111.1 v. 126.2 g/L). Age, the AIS for the head, initial hypotension and low initial hemoglobin levels were highly predictive of mortality, whereas low initial hemoglobin levels, a positive FAST examination and high AIS for the abdomen and chest were all highly predictive of laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Among the polytrauma patients with pelvic fractures, 14.3% underwent laparotomy, and mortality was higher among these patients than among those who did not have the procedure. The predictors of laparotomy and mortality are similar to those anticipated in patients without pelvic fractures.
Ali
Jameel
J
Department of Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
Ahmadi
Khaled Al
KA
Williams
Jack I
JI
J Orthop Trauma. 2001 Sep-Oct;15(7):468-74
11602828
Injury. 2000 Nov;31(9):677-82
11084153
J Trauma. 2007 Apr;62(4):834-9; discussion 839-42
17426537
J Trauma. 1974 Nov;14(11):912-23
4420532
J Trauma. 2007 Jan;62(1):142-6
17215745
Ann Surg. 1991 Jun;213(6):532-8; discussion 538-9
2039283
ANZ J Surg. 2004 Jul;74(7):520-9
15230782
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1988 Jan;70(1):1-12
3276697
Injury. 2004 Jul;35(7):671-7
15203307
Can J Surg. 2007 Jun;50(3):202-9
17568492
Radiology. 1986 Aug;160(2):445-51
3726125
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1980 Sep;(151):12-21
7418295
Am J Surg. 2006 Aug;192(2):211-23
16860634
J Trauma. 2007 Mar;62(3):687-91
17414348