BackgroundFollowing tissue injury after trauma, the activation of innate immune pathways results in systemic inflammation, organ failure and an increased risk of infections. The objective of this study was to characterize the kinetics of the S100A8/S100A9 complex, a new-recognized alarmin, as well as its soluble receptor sRAGE, over time after trauma as potential early biomarkers of the risk of organ damage.MethodsWe collected comprehensive data from consenting patients admitted to an ICU following severe trauma. The blood samples were taken at Day 0 (admission), Day1, 3 and 5 S100A8/A9 and sRAGE were measured by ELISA. Biomarkers levels were reported as median (IQR).ResultsThirty-eight patients sustaining in majority a blunt trauma (89%) with a median ISS of 39 were included. In this cohort, the S100A8/A9 complex increased significantly over time (p = 0.001), but its levels increment over time (D0 to D5) was significantly smaller in patients developing infection (7.6 vs 40.1 mcg/mL, p = 0.011). The circulating level of sRAGE circulating levels decreased over time (p < 0.0001) and was higher in patients who remained in shock on day 3 (550 vs 918 pg/mL; p = 0.02) or 5 (498 vs 644 pg/mL; p = 0.045). Admission sRAGE levels were significantly higher in non-survivors (1694 vs 745 pg/mL; p = 0.015) and was higher in patients developing renal failure (1143 vs 696 pg/mL, p = 0.011).DiscussionOur findings reveal an interesting association between the biomarker S100A8/9 least increase over time and the presence of infectious complication after trauma. We describe that the sRAGE decline over time is in relation with shock and markers of ischemic injury. We also confirm the association of sRAGE levels measured at admission with mortality and the development of renal failure.ConclusionsThis work illustrates the importance of following the circulating level of biomarker overtime. The utilization of S1008/9 as a tool to stratify infection risk and trigger early interventions need to be validated prospectively.

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ObjectivesVasopressors are not recommended by current trauma guidelines, but recent reports indicate that they are commonly used. We aimed to describe the early hemodynamic management of trauma patients outside densely populated urban centers.MethodsWe conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study in a Canadian regional trauma center. All adult patients treated for traumatic injury in 2013 who died within 24 hours of admission or were transferred to the intensive care unit were included. A systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg, a mean arterial pressure <60 mmHg, the use of vasopressors or ≥2 L of intravenous fluids defined hemodynamic instability. Main outcome measures were use of intravenous fluids and vasopressors prior to surgical or endovascular management.ResultsOf 111 eligible patients, 63 met our criteria for hemodynamic instability. Of these, 60 (95%) had sustained blunt injury and 22 (35%) had concomitant severe traumatic brain injury. The subgroup of patients referred from a primary or secondary hospital (20 of 63, 32%) had significantly longer transport times (243 vs. 61 min, p<0.01). Vasopressors, used in 26 patients (41%), were independently associated with severe traumatic brain injury (odds ratio 10.2, 95% CI 2.7–38.5).ConclusionsIn this cohort, most trauma patients had suffered multiple blunt injuries. Patients were likely to receive vasopressors during the early phase of trauma care, particularly if they exhibited signs of neurologic injury. While these results may be context-specific, determining the risk-benefit trade-offs of fluid resuscitation, vasopressors and permissive hypotension in specific patients subgroups constitutes a priority for trauma research going forwards.

Background:Multiple classifications can be used to define the magnitude of aortic injury. The Vancouver Classification (VC) is a new and simplified computed tomography-based Blunt Aortic Injury (BAI) grading system correlating with clinical outcomes.Objectives:The objectives of this study are: 1) to describe the severity of aortic injury in a center with a predominantly surgical approach to BAI; 2) to correlate the severity of aortic trauma to hospital survival rate and rate of adverse events according to the type of interventions performed during the hospital stay; and 3) to evaluate VC.Patients and Methods:All patients referring to the Sacre-Coeur Hospital of Montreal between August 1998 and April 2011 for management of BAI were studied. Two radiologists reviewed all CT scan images individually and classified the aortic injuries using VC.Results:Among the 112 patients presenting with BAI, 39 cases had local CT scans available for reconstruction. Seven patients were identified as suffering from grade I injuries (flap or thrombus of less than 1 cm), 6 from grade II injuries (flap or thrombus of more than 1 cm), and 26 from grade III injuries (pseudoaneurysm). Among the patients with grade I injuries, 57% were treated surgically and 43% medically with a survival rate of 100%. Among the patients with grade II injuries (67% treated surgically and 33% treated medically) survival was also 100%. Among patients with grade III injuries (85% treated surgically, 7% had Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) and 8% treated medically) survival was 95%, 95% and 50%, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups as to clinical outcome. Inter-rater reliability was 0.81.Conclusions:VC is easy to use and has low inter-observer variability. Low grades of injury were associated with low mortality related to medical treatment.