Open AccessFactors associated with intensive care unit admission in patients with traumatic thoracic injury
Author(s) -
Frank CheauFeng Lin,
Stella ChinShaw Tsai,
Ruei-Yun Li,
Hsiao-Chien Chen,
Yung-Wei Tung,
Ming-Chih Chou
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of international medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1473-2300
pISSN - 0300-0605
DOI - 10.1177/0300060513489921
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care unit , head injury , cardiothoracic surgery , intensive care , chest injury , chest tube , traumatic brain injury , injury severity score , emergency medicine , surgery , poison control , intensive care medicine , injury prevention , blunt , pneumothorax , psychiatry
Objective To identify factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with traumatic thoracic injury.Methods Data for consecutive patients with thoracic trauma were collected prospectively. Outcomes were requirement for ICU care and prolonged (>7 days) ICU care.Results The study included 1333 patients, 484 (36.3%) of whom received ICU care: 125 of these (25.8%) received prolonged ICU care. Head injury, abdominal injury, injury severity score ≥16, haemothorax, chest tube placement and spinal surgery were significantly associated with ICU care. Head injury, number of rib fractures, chest drain placement, spinal surgery and extremity surgery were independent risk factors for prolonged ICU care.Conclusions Associated injury factors played a more prominent role than thoracic factors in the need for ICU and prolonged ICU care. A multidisciplinary trauma team (involving neurosurgeons, abdominal surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and thoracic surgeons) is essential for the care of patients with traumatic thoracic injury.