A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia

Background: Despite evidence of a lower risk of death, major trauma patients are not always transported to Trauma Centres. This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of major trauma patients between transport destinations. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of major trauma patients (Inj...

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Main Authors: Brown, Elizabeth, Tohira, Hideo, Bailey, Paul, Fatovich, Daniel, Pereira, Gavin, Finn, Judith
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1116453
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79494
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author Brown, Elizabeth
Tohira, Hideo
Bailey, Paul
Fatovich, Daniel
Pereira, Gavin
Finn, Judith
author_facet Brown, Elizabeth
Tohira, Hideo
Bailey, Paul
Fatovich, Daniel
Pereira, Gavin
Finn, Judith
author_sort Brown, Elizabeth
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Despite evidence of a lower risk of death, major trauma patients are not always transported to Trauma Centres. This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of major trauma patients between transport destinations. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of major trauma patients (Injury Severity Score >15) transported by ambulance was undertaken. Cases were divided into transport destination groups: (1) Direct, those transported to the Trauma Centre directly from the scene; (2) Indirect, those transported to another hospital prior to Trauma Centre transfer and (3) Non-transfers, those transported to a non-Trauma Centre and never subsequently transferred. Median and interquartile range (IQR) were used to describe the groups and differences were assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square for categorical. Results: A total of 1625 patients were included. The median age was oldest in the non-transfers cohort (72 years IQR 46–84). This group had the highest proportion of falls from standing and head injuries (n = 298/400, 75%, p < 0.001). The non-transfers had the highest proportion of 30-day mortality (n = 134/400, 34%). Conclusions: There were significant differences between the groups with older adults, falls and head injuries over-represented in the non-transfer group. Considering the ageing population, trauma systems will need to adapt.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-794942021-01-08T07:54:27Z A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia Brown, Elizabeth Tohira, Hideo Bailey, Paul Fatovich, Daniel Pereira, Gavin Finn, Judith Emergency medical service Major trauma Prehospital care Trauma centre Background: Despite evidence of a lower risk of death, major trauma patients are not always transported to Trauma Centres. This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of major trauma patients between transport destinations. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of major trauma patients (Injury Severity Score >15) transported by ambulance was undertaken. Cases were divided into transport destination groups: (1) Direct, those transported to the Trauma Centre directly from the scene; (2) Indirect, those transported to another hospital prior to Trauma Centre transfer and (3) Non-transfers, those transported to a non-Trauma Centre and never subsequently transferred. Median and interquartile range (IQR) were used to describe the groups and differences were assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square for categorical. Results: A total of 1625 patients were included. The median age was oldest in the non-transfers cohort (72 years IQR 46–84). This group had the highest proportion of falls from standing and head injuries (n = 298/400, 75%, p < 0.001). The non-transfers had the highest proportion of 30-day mortality (n = 134/400, 34%). Conclusions: There were significant differences between the groups with older adults, falls and head injuries over-represented in the non-transfer group. Considering the ageing population, trauma systems will need to adapt. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79494 10.1016/j.auec.2019.10.003 eng http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1116453 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext
spellingShingle Emergency medical service
Major trauma
Prehospital care
Trauma centre
Brown, Elizabeth
Tohira, Hideo
Bailey, Paul
Fatovich, Daniel
Pereira, Gavin
Finn, Judith
A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title_full A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title_fullStr A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title_full_unstemmed A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title_short A comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia
title_sort comparison of major trauma patient transport destination in metropolitan perth, western australia
topic Emergency medical service
Major trauma
Prehospital care
Trauma centre
url http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1116453
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/79494