The following is a summary of “Effect of transport mode on mortality following isolated penetrating torso Trauma,” published in the October 2023 issue of Surgery by Atkins, et al.
Prehospital interventions might contribute to prolonged time to definitive care. For a study, researchers sought to explore the impact of transport mode on mortality for adults with isolated, penetrating torso injuries, specifically comparing private vehicle transport to ground ambulance transport.
The National Trauma Data Bank data from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed for adults with isolated, penetrating torso injuries, categorized by mechanism (stabbing vs. firearm) and transport mode (private vehicle vs. ground ambulance). A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess the influence of transport mode on mortality.
Out of 48,444 included patients, those transported by ambulance, whether injured by stabbing (n = 26,633) or firearm (n = 21,811), exhibited adjusted odds ratios of 1.81 (95%CI 1.05–3.14, P = 0.03) and 1.66 (95%CI 1.32–2.09, P < 0.001), respectively, for mortality compared to those transported by private vehicles.
Patients with isolated, penetrating torso injuries have nearly twice the odds of mortality when transported by ground ambulance compared to private vehicles, regardless of injury severity. The findings suggested a potential survival benefit for a “scoop and run” strategy in the population.
Source: americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(23)00307-0/fulltext
