Browsing by Author "Navsaria, Pradeep H"

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    Open Access
    A retrospective audit of the outcomes of the Fellow Of College Of Surgeons (FCS) (General Surgery) Final Examinations
    (2018) Kahn, Miriam; Kahn, Delawir; Navsaria, Pradeep H; Klopper, Juan
    Background and aim: An audit of the Fellowship of the College of Surgeons FCS (SA) Final Examination results has not been previously performed. The purpose of this study was to review and determine any predictors of outcome. Methods: The results of the FCS (SA) Final Examinations from October 2005, to and including, October 2014, were retrieved from the College of Medicine of South Africa database. The current format of the examinations consists of: two written essay question papers, an OSCE, two clinical cases and two vivas. These were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Predictors of failure or success were determined. Analysis was performed using IPython for scientific computing. Assumptions for the normal distribution of numerical values were made based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and quantile-quantile plots. Normally distributed variables were analyzed by parametric tests. In all other cases nonparametric tests were employed. An alpha value of 0.05 was chosen to indicate statistical significance, using a confidence level of 95%. Results: During the 10-year study period, 472 candidates attempted the examinations. A total of 388 (82,2%) candidates were successful in the written component of the examination and were subsequently invited to participate in the oral/clinical component of the examinations. 9 Overall, 296 (62,7%) of candidates passed and 176 (37,3%) failed. A total of 19 candidates achieved less than 50% for both papers, yet still managed an average of more than 45%. A total of 15 (79%) of these candidates went on to fail the examination. There were 51 candidates who were invited to the oral examinations despite an average of less than 50% in the two papers, and 34 (67%) failed the overall examination. Similarly, 126 candidates were invited having failed one of the two papers of which 81 (64.3%) ultimately failed. A total of 49 candidates failed the OSCE, 82% of these candidates failed overall. There was strong correlation between paper one and paper two (r = 0.56, p-value < 0.01), oral one and oral two (r = 0.41, p-value < 0.01) and case one and case two (r = 0.38, p-value < 0.01). Similar correlations were seen between the averages of the papers versus the orals (r = 0.52, p-value < 0.01), the papers versus the cases (r = 0.5, p-value < 0.01) and the papers versus the OSCE (r = 0.54, p-vale < 0.01). Conclusion: The written papers are the main determinant of invitation to the second part of the examination. Candidates with marginal scores in the written component had an overall failure rate of 67%. Failing one paper and passing the other, resulted in an overall failure rate 64,3%. Failing the OSCE resulted in an overall 82% failure rate. With the high failure rate of candidates with marginal scores and with the inter-examination variability of the papers, it might be prudent to revisit both the process of invitation selection and the decision to continue with the long-form for the written component.
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    Open Access
    Audit of abdominal vena cava injuries in an urban truama centre
    (2013) Hampton, Mark Ian; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    The aim of this thesis is to present the surgical management of injuries to the abdominal vena cava (AVC) and to identify clinical and physiological factors and management strategies that affect outcome.
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    Civilian extraperitoneal rectal gunshot injuries: Surgical management made simpler
    (2007) Navsaria, Pradeep H; Edu, Sorin; Nicol, Andrew J
    Background: Rectal injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Controversy persists regarding routine presacral drainage, distal rectal washout (DRW), and primary repair of extraperitoneal rectal injuries. This retrospective review was performed to determine the outcome of rectal injuries in an urban trauma center with a high incidence of penetrating trauma where a non-aggressive surgical approach to these injuries is practiced. Methods: The records of all patients with a full-thickness penetrating rectal injury admitted to the Trauma Center at Groote Schuur Hospital over a 4-year period were reviewed. These were reviewed for demographics, injury mechanism and perioperative management, anatomical site of the rectal injury, associated intra-abdominal injuries and their management. Infectious complications and mortality were noted. Intraperitoneal rectal injuries were primarily repaired, with or without fecal diversion. Extraperitoneal rectal injuries were generally left untouched and a diverting colostomy was done. Presacral drainage and DRW were not routinely performed. Results: Ninety-two patients with 118 rectal injuries [intraperitoneal (7), extraperitoneal (59), combined (26)] were identified. Only two extraperitoneal rectal injuries were repaired. None had presacral drainage. Eighty-six sigmoid loop colostomies were done. Two (2.2%) fistula, one rectocutaneous, and one rectovesical, were recorded. There were nine (9.9%) infectious complications: surgical site infection (4), buttock abscess (1), buttock necrosis (1), pubic ramus osteitis (1), septic arthritis (2). No perirectal sepsis occurred. Conclusions Extraperitoneal rectal injuries due to low-velocity trauma can be safely managed by fecal diversion alone.
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    Open Access
    Civilian popliteal artery injuries : a ten year audit in an urban trauma centre
    (2011) Banderker, Mohammed Asif; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with limb loss in patients with popliteal artery injuries. Retrospective chart review of a prospectively collected data base of all patients with popliteal artery injuries presenting to the Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Centre from 01 January 1999 to 31 December 2008. Demographic data, mechanism of injury, hemodynamic status, limb status (viable, non-viable or ischaemic), special investigations, associated injuries, ischaemic time, surgical treatment and amputation rate were analysed.
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    Damage control laparatomy for abdominal gunshot wounds: indications, mortality and long term outcomes
    (2017) Twier, Khaled; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    Background: Outcomes of patients subjected to damage control laparotomy (DCL) for abdominal gunshot wounds (GSWs) remains relatively unknown. There is limited evidence as to which variables may reliably predict morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of DCL on long term morbidity and survival, to determine clinical characteristics associated with increased mortality, and to evaluate the indications for DCL in patients with abdominal GSWs. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent a damage control laparotomy for abdominal GSWs at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) was conducted. Data was collected on 50 consecutive trauma patients over a 4.5 years period (between August 1st, 2004 and September 30th, 2009). Patients were stratified by, age, preoperative and intraoperative physiological parameters, trauma indices, numbers and locations of abdominal GSWs, extra abdominal involvement, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, morbidity and mortality. Unadjusted and adjusted estimates of the association between these factors and the odds of survival were computed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Most of the patients were male (96%) with a mean age 29.7 year. Most patients had a single abdominal gunshot wound (60%). Liver injuries were the most common injury (58%) followed by small bowel (44%), 20 majors venous (40%), and colonic injury (38%) injuries. The overall mortality was 54%. The mean of length stay in the intensive care unit was 7 days with overall mean hospital length of stay of 13 days. Factor an associated with a decreased odd of survival included Penetrating abdominal trauma index(PATI) >25, pre-operative infusion of less than two litres of crystalloids, intra-operative blood lactate level >8mmol/L, massive transfusion >10 units PRBCs. Conclusion: The overall mortality of patients requiring DCL for abdominal GSWs was 54%. In this limited study, there is significant evidence that after controlling for confounding PATI score of >25 is associated with a decreased odds of survival (OR:0.20, p-value 0.04).
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    Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in penetrating abdominal trauma
    (2015) Moydien, Mahammed Riyaad; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    Introduction: ERAS programmes employed in elective colorectal, vascular, urologic and orthopaedic surgery has provided strong evidence for decreased lengths of hospital stay without increase in postoperative complications. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the role and benefits, if any, of ERAS / ERP (early recovery programmes) implemented in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for trauma at a level 1 trauma centre. Methods: Institutional UCT-HREC approved study. A prospective cohort of 38 consecutive patients with isolated penetrating abdominal trauma undergoing emergency laparotomy were included in the study. The ERP included: early feeding, early urinary catheter removal, early mobilisation/physiotherapy, early intravenous line removal and early optimal oral analgesia. This group was compared to a historical control group of 40 consecutive patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for penetrating abdominal trauma, prior to introduction of ERP. Demographics, mechanism of injury and injury severity scores (ISS and PATI) were determined for both groups. The primary end-points were the length of hospital stay and incidence of complications (Clavien-Dindo classification) in the 2 groups. The difference in means was tested using the t-test assuming unequal variances. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: The two groups were comparable with regards to age, gender, mechanism of injury and ISS and PATI scores. The mean time to solid diet, urinary catheter removal and NGT removal was (non ERAS) 3.6 and (ERAS) 2.8 days [p < 0.035], (non ERAS) 3.3 and (ERAS) 1.9 days [p < 0.00003], (non ERAS) 2.1 and (ERAS) 1.2 days [p < 0.0042], respectively. There was no difference in time from admission to time of laparotomy [(non ERAS) 313 vs. (ERAS) 358] min (p < 0.07). There were 11 and 12 complications in the control and study group, respectively. When graded as per the Clavien-Dindo classification there was no significant difference in the 2 groups (p < 0.59). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the ERAS group: 5.5 (SD 1.8) days vs. 8.4 (SD 4.2) days [p < 0.00021]. Conclusion: This small pilot study shows that ERPs can be successfully implemented with significant shorter hospital stays without any increase in postoperative complications in trauma patients undergoing laparotomy for penetrating abdominal trauma. Furthermore, the study shows that ERP can also be applied to patients undergoing emergency surgery.
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    HIV and penetrating abdominal trauma: does HIV influence the outcome?
    (2017) McPherson, Deidre Estelle Kathleen; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and trauma are significant contributors to the burden of disease in South Africa. There is an increase in prevalence of HIV sero-positivity in trauma patients. However, there are conflicting reports about the influence of HIV in outcomes after trauma or surgery. Although HIV and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can potentially affect outcomes, there have been few studies comparing trauma outcomes in HIV positive versus HIV negative patients. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies to date that have compared HIV positive and HIV negative patients with penetrating (gunshot or stab) abdominal wounds requiring an explorative laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the outcome of hemodynamically stable patients undergoing explorative laparotomy for penetrating abdominal trauma differed in HIV positive patients versus HIV negative patients. Methods: This was an observational prospective study over a 16-month period from February 2016 to May 2017. All hemodynamically stable patients with penetrating abdominal trauma requiring a laparotomy were included in the study. To evaluate the impact of HIV on outcome, the mechanism of injury, the HIV-status, age, the penetrating abdominal trauma index (PATI), and the revised trauma score (RTS) were entered into a binary logistic regression model. Outcome parameters were in-hospital death, morbidity (defined as one or more distinct complications) during hospitalization was graded as per Clavien-Dindo classification of complications, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), relaparotomy within 30 days, and length of stay longer than 30 days. Variables were sought in bivariate analysis. Results: A total of 209 patients, 94% male, with a mean age of 29 ± 10 years were analysed. Twenty-eight patients (13%) were HIV positive. The mean CD4 count in the HIV positive group was 401 ± 254. The two groups were comparable except for race; 79% were black in the HIV positive group vs. 41% in the HIV negative group. All patients underwent explorative laparotomy of which 10 (4.8%) laparotomies were negative. There were two (0.96%) deaths, both in HIV negative group. The complication rate was 34% (n=72). There was no association between CD4 count and complications (p=0.234). Twenty-nine patients (14%) were admitted to the ICU. A higher PATI, advancing age, and a lower RTS were significant risk factors for worsened outcome. After 30 days, 12 patients (5.7%) were still in hospital. PATI was the single independent predictor in multivariate analysis. Twenty-four patients (11%) underwent a second laparotomy and the PATI was again the only significant predictor of outcome. Conclusion: The incidence of HIV in our cohort is 13%, which is similar to the reported incidence of HIV in the Western Cape of 15%. There were no significant baseline differences between the HIV positive and negative groups. Our results further showed that HIV status was not an independent predictor for morbidity, admission to ICU, relaparotomy, prolonged hospital stay or mortality. The patient's HIV status does not influence their outcomes in penetrating abdominal trauma.
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    Is case triaging a useful tool for emergency surgeries? A review of 106 trauma surgery cases at a level 1 trauma center in South Africa
    (BioMed Central, 2018-01-24) Chowdhury, Sharfuddin; Nicol, Andrew J; Moydien, Mahammed R; Navsaria, Pradeep H; Montoya-Pelaez, Luis F
    Abstract Background The optimal timing for emergency surgical interventions and implementation of protocols for trauma surgery is insufficient in the literature. The Groote Schuur emergency surgery triage (GSEST) system, based on Cape Triaging Score (CTS), is followed at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) for triaging emergency surgical cases including trauma cases. The study aimed to look at the effect of delay in surgery after scheduling based on the GSEST system has an impact on outcome in terms of postoperative complications and death. Methods Prospective audit of patients presenting to GSH trauma center following penetrating or blunt chest, abdominal, neck and peripheral vascular trauma who underwent surgery over a 4-month period was performed. Post-operative complications were graded according to Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications. Results One-hundred six patients underwent surgery during the study period. One-hundred two (96.2%) cases were related to penetrating trauma. Stab wounds comprised 71 (67%) and gunshot wounds (GSW) 31 (29.2%) cases. Of the 106 cases, 6, 47, 40, and 13 patients were booked as red, orange, yellow, and green, respectively. The median delay for green, yellow, and orange cases was within the expected time. The red patients took unexpectedly longer (median delay 48 min, IQR 35–60 min). Thirty-one (29.3%) patients developed postoperative complications. Among the booked red, orange, yellow, and green cases, postoperative complications developed in 3, 18, 9, and 1 cases, respectively. Only two (1.9%) postoperative deaths were documented during the study period. There was no statistically significant association between operative triage and post-operative complications (p = 0.074). Conclusion Surgical case categorization has been shown to be useful in prioritizing emergency trauma surgical cases in a resource constraint high-volume trauma center.
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    Laparoscopy (to detect occult diaphragm injury) versus clinical and radiological follow up to detect diaphragm injury and herniation, in patients with asymptomatic left thoracoabdominal stab wounds : A prospective randomized controlled study
    (2015) Malherbe, Gideon F; Navsaria, Pradeep H; Nicol, Andrew John
    Background: The need to exclude occult diaphragmatic injury in left thoracoabdominal (TA) stab wounds continues to be controversial. Current trauma guidelines recommend either routine diagnostic thoracoscopy or laparoscopy and repair of an injury if found. Objective: To determine if asymptomatic patients with left sided (TA) stab wounds can be safely treated with careful clinical and chest X-ray follow up to ascertain healing of occult injuries. Methods: A parallel-group, prospective, randomized control study was conducted at the Trauma Centre at the Groote Schuur Hospital from 01 September 2009 through to 01 November 2014. All patients with asymptomatic left TA stab wounds included in the trial were randomized into two groups. Group A underwent diagnostic laparoscopy to exclude a diaphragm injury, and Group B underwent clinical and radiological follow up. Results: Twenty-seven patients were randomized to Group A (n=27) and thirty-one to Group B (n=31). All patients were young males with a median age of 26 years (range from 18 to 48). The incidence of occult diaphragm injury in group A was 29%. Occult injuries found at laparoscopy were all repaired. All patients in group 2 had normal chest X-rays and no symptoms at their last visit. The mean follow up time was 24 months (range of 0 to 58). There was no morbidity nor mortality associated with the conservative management of occult diaphragmatic injuries. The mean hospital stay for the patients in Group A was 5 days (SD 1.3), compared to a mean hospital stay of 2.9 days (SD, 1.5) p < 0.001, in Group B. Conclusions : Clinical and radiological follow up is feasible and appears to be safe in patients with occult diaphragm injuries after left TA stab wounds.
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    Laparoscopy and loop colostomy : a new approach to extra-peritoneal rectal injuries
    (2003) Navsaria, Pradeep H; Kahn, Delawir
    Distal rectal washout and presacral drainage appear to have little or no influence on the morbidity and mortality in patients with low-energy trauma to the rectum. The ever-increasing popularity and obvious advantages of minimal access surgery have prompted surgeons to apply its use to a variety of surgical diseases, including trauma-related conditions. This study retrospectively reviews and examines the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy and the formation of a diverting sigmoid loop colostomy through an abdominal wall trephine, in a limited number of carefully selected patients with isolated extra-peritoneal rectal injuries. The patient is thus spared a major laparotomy wound. The value of distal rectal washout and presacral drainage in such injuries is also examined.
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    Non-operative management of abdominal stab wounds- an analysis of 186 patients
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2007) Navsaria, Pradeep H; Berli, Jens U; Edu, Sorin; Nicol, Andrew J
    Background: The modern management of abdominal stab wounds remains controversial and subject to continued reappraisal. In the present study we reviewed patients with abdominal stab wounds to examine and validate a policy of selective non-operative management with serial physical abdominal examination in a busy urban trauma centre with a high incidence of penetrating trauma. Methods: Over a 12-month period (2005), the records of all patients with abdominal stab wounds were reviewed. Patients with abdominal stab wounds presenting with peritonitis, haemodynamic instability, organ evisceration and high spinal cord injury underwent emergency laparotomy. No local wound exploration, diagnostic peritoneal lavage or ultrasound was used. Haematuria in patients without an indication for emergency surgery was investigated with a contrasted computed tomography (CT) scan. Patients selected for non-operative management were admitted for serial clinical abdominal examination for 24 hours. Patients in whom abdominal findings were negative were given a test feed. If food was tolerated, they were discharged with an abdominal injury form. Results: One hundred and eighty-six patients with abdominal stab wounds were admitted. There were 171 (91.9%) males, with a mean age of 29.5 years. Seventy-four patients (39.8%) underwent emergency laparotomy. There were 5 negative laparotomies (6.8%). The remaining 112 patients (60.2%) were assigned for abdominal observation. One hundred (89.3%) of these patients were successfully managed non-operatively. The remaining 12 patients underwent delayed laparotomy, which was negative in 2 cases (16.7%). Non-operative management was successful in 53.8% of patients overall. The overall sensitivity and specificity of serial abdominal examination was 87.3% and 93.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Serial physical examination alone for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with abdominal stab wounds enables a significant reduction in unnecessary laparotomies.
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    Outcomes of selective nonoperative management of civilian abdominal gunshot wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    (BioMed Central, 2018-11-27) Al Rawahi, Aziza N; Al Hinai, Fatma A; Boyd, Jamie M; Doig, Christopher J; Ball, Chad G; Velmahos, George C; Kirkpatrick, Andrew W; Navsaria, Pradeep H; Roberts, Derek J
    Abstract Background Although mandatory laparotomy has been standard of care for patients with abdominal gunshot wounds (GSWs) for decades, this approach is associated with non-therapeutic operations, morbidity, and long hospital stays. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to summarize outcomes of selective nonoperative management (SNOM) of civilian abdominal GSWs. Methods We searched electronic databases (March 1966–April 1, 2017) and reference lists of articles included in the systematic review for studies reporting outcomes of SNOM of civilian abdominal GSWs. We meta-analyzed the associated risks of SNOM-related failure (defined as laparotomy during hospital admission), mortality, and morbidity across included studies using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by calculating I2 statistics and conducting tests of homogeneity. Results Of 7155 citations identified, we included 41 studies [n = 22,847 patients with abdominal GSWs, of whom 6777 (29.7%) underwent SNOM]. The pooled risk of failure of SNOM in hemodynamically stable patients without a reduced level of consciousness or signs of peritonitis was 7.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.9–10.1%; I2 = 92.6%, homogeneity p < 0.001] while the pooled mortality associated with use of SNOM in this patient population was 0.4% (95% CI = 0.2–0.6%; I2 = 0%, homogeneity p > 0.99). In patients who failed SNOM, the pooled estimate of the risk of therapeutic laparotomy was 68.0% (95% CI = 58.3–77.7%; I2 = 91.5%; homogeneity p < 0.001). Risks of failure of SNOM were lowest in studies that evaluated patients with right thoracoabdomen (3.4%; 95% CI = 0–7.0%; I2 = 0%; homogeneity p = 0.45), flank (7.0%; 95% CI = 3.9–10.1%), and back (3.1%; 95% CI = 0–6.5%) GSWs and highest in those that evaluated patients with anterior abdomen (13.2%; 95% CI = 6.3–20.1%) GSWs. In patients who underwent mandatory abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT), the pooled risk of failure was 4.1% versus 8.3% in those who underwent selective CT (p = 0.08). The overall sample-size-weighted mean hospital length of stay among patients who underwent SNOM was 6 days versus 10 days if they failed SNOM or developed an in-hospital complication. Conclusions SNOM of abdominal GSWs is safe when conducted in hemodynamically stable patients without a reduced level of consciousness or signs of peritonitis. Failure of SNOM may be lower in patients with GSWs to the back, flank, or right thoracoabdomen and be decreased by mandatory use of abdominopelvic CT scans.
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    Penetrating femoral artery injuries : an urban trauma center experience
    (2017) Rayamajhi, Shreya; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    INTRODUCTION: The femoral artery (FA) is the most common peripheral vessel injured in trauma. The incidence has been as high as 70%. Most experience with vascular trauma comes from the military where the incidence of FA injury is 67% of all vascular injuries. Up to 88% of these injuries are as a result of penetrating trauma. The Groote Schuur hospital trauma unit is a level one centre. It is a quaternary hospital and a referral center for all surrounding secondary level hospitals. Femoral vessel injuries are the second most common peripheral vascular injury (18.8%) seen after brachial artery injuries (48.2%) at our unit. AIM: This study aims to review a single centre experience with femoral artery injuries and identify factors associated with limb loss. METHOD: A 11 year retrospective chart review of patients with femoral artery injuries managed from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2012 at the trauma unit, GSH. RESULTS: There were 158 patients with femoral artery injuries, 144 men and 14 women with a mean age of 28. Ninty-five percent had penetrating injuries. The most common artery injured was the superficial femoral artery (87%). The most common type of arterial injury was a laceration (39%) and transection (37%). Eighty-one patients had a primary repair (51%), fifty-three patients had a vein interposition graft (33.5%) and sixteen patients (10%) had a prosthetic graft. There were 78 (51%) concomitant venous injuries, 11 were repaired and 1 vein patch was done (15.4%). The rest were ligated (84.6%). There were 4 (2.5%) primary amputations and 10 (6.5%) secondary amputations. One primary amputation resulted from a delay to theatre with a threatened limb. The other three presented with a non-viable limb. Nine of the ten secondary amputations presented with a threatened limb. One viable limb was lost due to bleeding from a false aneurysm secondary to sepsis. One secondary amputation was the result of a delayed fasciotomy for compartment syndrome post revascularisation of a threatened limb. The rest were due to prolonged ischemic time despite attempted revascularization. There were no deaths in this study. Univariate analysis showed that statistically significant risk factors for secondary amputation were: presentation with signs of a threatened (ischemic) limb (p<0.0001), the temporary vascular shunt group (p<0.001) and the lack of a palpable distal pulse post repair (p<0.01). Statistically insignificant factors were: concomitant femur fracture, compartment syndrome, fasciotomy, unstable hemodynamics on presentation, venous ligation and 'In hospital ischemia time'. CONCLUSION: The outcome of threatened limbs due to femoral vessel injury is good provided there is no delay to surgery. This study has a primary amputation rate of 2.5% and secondary amputation rate of 6.5%, 91% of the limbs were salvaged.
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    Spectrum of coagulation profiles in severely injured patients: A subgroup analysis from the FIRST ( Fluids in Resuscitation of Severe Trauma) trial
    (2021) Nathire, Mohammad El Hassed; Navsaria, Pradeep H; James, Mike F M
    Background: Uncontrolled bleeding accounts for the majority of preventable deaths in the severely injured in both the civilian and military settings. Trauma induced coagulopathy (TIC) is now widely accepted as a major contributing factor to worsening bleeding in these patients. A quarter of severe trauma patients present with coagulopathy on admission and remain a group with high morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To describe the spectrum of coagulation profiles amongst severely injured patients presenting to an urban level-one trauma centre at Groote Schuur Hospital and to correlate these with blood product requirements, morbidity and mortality. Method: This is a retrospective study of all patients with complete baseline TEG coagulation parameters collected prior to randomization in the FIRST (Fluids In Resuscitation of Severe Trauma) trial between January 2007 and December 2009. Parameters recorded for this study included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, admission vital signs, lactate, base excess, coagulation studies PT, INR, TEG parameters, volume and type of fluids administered, volume of blood products administered, length of ICU stay, and major outcomes. Injury severity was categorized according to the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and New Injury Severity Score (NISS). Results: A total of 87 patients were included in this study, with a median ISS of 20 and 57.5% had a penetrating injury mechanism. Coagulopathy was highly prevalent in this cohort, of which a majority (69%) was diagnosed with hypercoagulopathy and 24% had a hypocoagulopathy status on admission. There was no difference in age, gender and amount 9 of pre-hospital fluids administered across the three groups (normal v/s hyper v/s hypo). Median volume of blood products was higher in the hypocoagulopathy group, although not statistically significant. Overall, 30-day mortality rate was 13%, with case fatalities occurring in only coagulopathic patients; hypercoagulopathy (15%) and hypocoagulopathy (10%). Conclusion: Trauma induced coagulopathy is not an infrequent diagnosis and remains a challenging clinical entity to manage in severely injured patients resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Determining the coagulation profile using TEG at presentation in this group of patients may guide appropriate management guidelines in order to improve outcome. Hypercoagulable patients need to be recognised amongst the TIC patients as it results in different sequelae and impacts on clinical decision in the use of antifibrinolytic agents as compared to hypocoagulopathy.
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    The impact of thromboelastography on patients with penetrating abdominal trauma requiring intensive care
    (2022) Hannington, Matthew Ross; Navsaria, Pradeep H
    Background Trauma induced coagulopathy is a complex multifaceted process which contributes to higher mortality rates in severely injured trauma patients. Thromboelastography (TEG) is an effective test to detect TIC which assists in instituting goal directed therapy as part of damage control resuscitation. Methods This retrospective study included all adult patients over a 36-month period with penetrating abdominal trauma who required a laparotomy, blood product transfusion and admission for critical care. Analysis included: demographics, admission data, 24-hour interventions, TEG parameters and 30-day outcomes. Results Eighty-four patients with a median age of 28 years were included. The majority (93%) suffered from a gunshot injury with 75% receiving a damage control laparotomy. Forty-eight patients (57%) had a TEG. Injury Severity Score and total fluid & blood product administered in the first 24 hours were all significantly higher in patients that had a TEG (p< 0.05). TEG profiles were: 42% normal, 42% hypocoagulable, 12% hypercoagulable and 4% mixed parameters. Fibrinolysis profiles were: 48% normal, 44% fibrinolysis shutdown and 8% hyperfibrinolysis. Mortality rate was 5% at 24 hours and 26% at 30 days, with no difference between the two groups. High grade complication rates, days on a ventilator and intensive care unit length of stay were all significantly higher in patients who did not have a TEG. Conclusion Trauma induced coagulopathy is common in severely injured penetrating trauma patients. The usage of a thromboelastogram did not impact on 24-hour or 30-day mortality but did result in a decreased intensive care stay and a decreased high grade complication rate.
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    Trauma Unit volumes: Is there a relationship with weather, sporting events and week/month-end times? An audit at an urban tertiary trauma unit in Cape Town
    (2015) Milford, Karen; Navsaria, Pradeep H; Nicol, Andrew J
    Background: The Trauma Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital is a mature, tertiary, high-volume trauma referral centre. The number of patients being treated in the unit at any given time can vary greatly. There is evidence to suggest that these fluctuations may be related to external and environmental factors, such as time of the day, week and month, local weather and significant home-team sport matches. Objective: The objective of this audit was to determine the relationship between volumes of patients in the unit, and environmental factors. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether the numbers of patients presenting after motor vehicle collisions and interpersonal violence was related in any way to temporal factors (time of day, week and month), weather variables (temperature and precipitation), and whether or not major or home-team soccer matches were being played. Methods: Trauma Unit admission records were examined retrospectively, and the numbers of patients presenting to the unit per shift for a total of 17 months was recorded. Patients were grouped according to their presenting complaints. Weather data, Premier Soccer League and Bafana Bafana match locations and results, and information regarding public holidays and long weekends were obtained for the relevant shifts. Average daily attendances for interpersonal violence (IPV)-related injuries and motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) were compared across the various external factors described. Poisson regression models were fitted using Stata 13 (StataCorp. 2013. Stata Statistical Software: Release 13. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP). and used to express the relative incidence of attendances. These results were expressed using incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Results: In total, 16 706 attendances were recorded over 1 074 shifts. Of these, 7 350 (44%) attendances were due to injuries sustained as a result of interpersonal violence (IPV), and 3 188 (19%) were due to MVCs. Predictors of increased attendances due to MVC-related injuries were week day shifts, and night shifts on long weekends, and on weekends that fell on the last day of the month. Weekend nights shifts were busier than week night shifts from this perspective. Public holiday shifts were shown to have less MVC-related attendances than an ordinary week day. The presence of precipitation was also shown to increase the number of MVC-related attendances. IPV-related attendances were always increased on night shifts compared to day shifts, except on public holidays, long weekends, and on weekends that fell on the last day of the month. All weekend shifts were busier than their corresponding week day shifts from an IPV-related perspective, and this effect was enhanced on weekends that fell on the last day of the month. Long weekends showed very similar trends to ordinary weekends, and public holidays showed similar trends to ordinary week days. Increasing temperatures are associated with increased attendances due to IPV. Soccer matches and their outcomes have no significant effect on attendances due to IPV. Conclusions: Temporal and weather factors can be used to predict which trauma unit shifts will be busiest.
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    Video-assisted Thoracoscopic pericardial window for penetrating cardiac trauma
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2006) Navsaria, Pradeep H; Nicol, Andrew J
    Objective: To report our experience with thoracoscopic pericardial window (TPW) for occult penetrating cardiac injury. Patients and methods: During the study period (1 January - 31 December 2000), a small group of haemodynamically stable patients with anterior leftsided praecordial wounds were selected for TPW. All patients underwent general anaesthesia with doublelumen intubation and collapse of the left lung. A rigid laparoscope was inserted through a 2 cm incision in the 5th intercostal space in the anterior axillary line. Another 3 cm incision was made in the fourth intercostal space over the cardiac silhouette. Conventional instruments were used to grasp and open the pericardium. Any myocardial injury identified was an indication to proceed to sternotomy. In the absence of a myocardial injury and bleeding, the procedure was terminated and considered therapeutic. Results: Seventy-one patients with suspected penetrating cardiac injuries were seen. TPW was successfully completed in 13 patients. All were men, with a mean age of 29.8 (range 19 - 38) years. Ten and 3 patients sustained stab and gunshot wounds, respectively. The mean revised trauma score was 7.84. Ultrasound was performed in 12 patients; the results were equivocal for 2 patients, and positive for an effusion in 4 patients. Haemopericardium was found in 3 patients, 2 of whom proceeded to sternotomy. No cardiac injury was found in 1, a left ventricular contusion was identified in the second, and the third patient had no further procedure after good video-thoracoscopic visualisation of the anterior myocardium revealed no injury. In another patient, pericardial bruising was evident without any haemopericardium. The mean operative time was 13.4 (range 10 - 15) minutes, with a mean hospital stay of 5.4 (range 3 - 8) days. There were no complications. The use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube increased the cost of TPW by 23% when compared with subxiphoid pericardial window (SPW). Conclusion: TPW is a feasible, although in our setting not cost-effective, diagnostic option for occult penetrating cardiac injuries.