The why and how our trauma patients die: A prospective Multicenter Western Trauma Association study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Historically, hemorrhage has been attributed as the leading cause (40%) of early death. However, a rigorous, real-time classification of the cause of death (COD) has not been performed. This study sought to prospectively adjudicate and classify COD to determine the epidemiology of trauma mortality.

Methods

Eighteen trauma centers prospectively enrolled all adult trauma patients at the time of death during December 2015 to August 2017. Immediately following death, attending providers adjudicated the primary and contributing secondary COD using standardized definitions. Data were confirmed by autopsies, if performed.

Results

One thousand five hundred thirty-six patients were enrolled with a median age of 55 years (interquartile range, 32-75 years), 74.5% were

SUBMITTER: Callcut RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6754176 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature