Background: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is typically associated with significant mechanisms of injury and the effects of acceleration-deceleration forces on brain tissues. The prognosis of DAI remains a matter of active investigation, but little is known about outcome differences between adult and pediatric populations with DAI.
Methods:We performed a retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients with DAI between the years 1997 and 2018 from the Israeli National Trauma Registry. The patients were divided to pediatric (age <15 years) and adult (age >15 years) groups, with subsequent comparison of demographics and outcomes.Results: Diffuse axonal injury was identified in 1983 patients, including 469 pediatric victims (23.6%) and 1514 adults (76.4%). Adults had higher Injury Severity Score (20.5% vs 13.2%, P = 0.0004), increased mortality (17.7% vs 13.4%, P < 0.0001), longer hospitalizations (58.4% vs 44.4%, P < 0.001), and higher rehabilitation need rates (56.4% vs 41.8%, P < 0.0001). Associated extracranial injuries were also more common in adults, particularly to the chest.Conclusions: Pediatric patients with DAI have improved outcomes and fewer associated injuries than adult counterparts.
Objective
To describe the challenges facing the obstetric division following a cyberattack and discuss ways of preparing for and overcoming another one.
Methods
A retrospective descriptive study conducted in a mid‐sized medical center. Division activities, including the number of deliveries, cesarean sections, emergency room visits, admissions, maternal–fetal medicine department occupancy, and ambulatory encounters, from 2 weeks before the attack to 8 weeks following it (a total of 11 weeks), were compared with the retrospective period in 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19). In addition, we present the challenges and adaptation measures taken at the division and hospital levels leading up to the resumption of full division activity.
Results
On the day of the cyberattack, critical decisions were made. The media announced the event, calling on patients not to come to our hospital. Also, all elective activities other than cesarean deliveries were stopped. The number of deliveries, admissions, and both emergency room and ambulatory clinic visits decreased by 5%–10% overall for 11 weeks, reflecting the decrease in division activity. Nevertheless, in all stations, there were sufficient activities and adaptation measures to ensure patient safety, decision‐making, and workflow of patients were accounted for.
Conclusions
The risk of ransomware cyberattacks is growing. Healthcare systems at all levels should recognize this threat and have protocols for dealing with them once they occur.
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