Resuscitative Thoracotomy Practices

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Resuscitative thoracotomies (RT) are an effective life saving measure in appropriate populations [1-8]. Unfortunately, when used outside of these populations the mortality rate is typically more than 90% [1-8]. Western Trauma Association and Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma have provided guidelines for which trauma patients are a candidate for RT [1-3].

Detailed Description
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EPIC and trauma registry will be queried for demographic information, admission dates, discharge diagnoses, inpatient cognitive function, routine testing (imaging and labs) reports, and surgical histories to determine number of patients who underwent RT, survived the RT, deficits from their cardiac arrest, and if they were COVID-19 positive. A full list of variables to be extracted from the chart review is in Appendix B. Chart review and data collection for these patients should be completed by December of 2024.

Official Title
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Resuscitative Thoracotomy Practices

Conditions
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Resuscitative Thoracotomy Practices

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Resuscitative thoracotomies


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Trauma patients who underwent RT in the emergency department (ED), operating room (OR), or intensive care unit (ICU) from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023. Exclusion Criteria: Trauma patients who did not have a RT in the ED, OR, or ICU or were less than 16 years old from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Procedure: Resuscitative thoracotomies|Resuscitative thoracotomies is an effective life saving measure in appropriate populations [1-8]. Unfortunately, when used outside of these populations the mortality rate is typically more than 90% [1-8]. Western Trauma Association and Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma have provided guidelines for which trauma patients are a candidate for RT [1-|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total number of RT (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic) | Determine the rate of RT at MDMC. Particularly, if there was an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would lead to greater exposure to transmissible disease | 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| • Cognitive deficits of any survivors of RT (GCS, assessments by neurology, mental status exams, and/or similar assessments documented in the EMR) | • Determine the rate of RT at MDMC. Particularly, if there was an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would lead to greater exposure to transmissible disease | 2 yrs |