Process related decisions and in-hospital transport times in polytrauma patients benefit from 24/7 in-house presence of trauma surgeons

Background: Time and cause of death in polytrauma has shifted due to improvements in trauma and critical care. These include logistical improvements with dedicated trauma teams and in-house trauma surgeons. This study investigated in-hospital transport times and influence of process related decisions on mortality in polytrauma patients. Study Design: A 6.5-year prospective study included consecutive polytrauma patients ≥15 years admitted to a Level-1 Trauma Center ICU with 24/7 in-house trauma surgeons. Demographics, physiologic parameters, pre- and in-hospital transport times were prospectively collected. Data are presented as median(IQR). Results: 391 patients were included with median ISS of 29(22–36). 82 patients(21%) had a SBP≤90 mmHg on arrival in ED. 44 patients went from ED directly to OR for urgent surgery, all others had CT prior to OR and/or ICU. Patients who went directly to OR from ED had median transport time of 28(23–37) min. Patients who had CT after ED had median transport time of 31(25–42) min. 74(19%) patients died, majority caused by TBI(70%). Ten patients died <24 h after trauma (4 hemorrhage,3 TBI,2 ischemia,1 cardiac injury), 9 of them went straight to OR from ED. Death could possibly have been prevented in 1 patient (1%) who later died of hemorrhage but went to CT before urgent surgery. Conclusion: In-hospital transport times from ED were half an hour regardless of the following destination (OR/CT). Decisions for transport order based on clinical signs in primary survey were rapid and accurate. This could be attributed to dedicated trauma teams and 24/7 physical presence of trauma surgeons.