Management in certified acute care surgery trauma centers was associated with shorter hospital stays (p=0.045) and lower complication rates (p=0.041) compared with other trauma and non-trauma centers.
Observational (n=131,410)
Yes
Does management in certified acute care surgery programs improve outcomes in patients undergoing emergency general surgery?
Management in trauma centers with certified acute care surgery programs is associated with shorter hospital stays and lower complication rates for emergency general surgery compared to other centers.
p-value: p=0.045
BACKGROUND: Differences in outcomes among trauma centers (TCs) and non-TCs (NTCs) in patients undergoing emergency general surgery (EGS) are well established. However; the impact of development of certified acute care surgery (ACS) programs on patient outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients undergoing EGS across TCs, NTCs, and TCs with ACS (ACS-TC). METHODS: National estimates for EGS procedures were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample database. Patients undergoing emergent procedures (appendectomy, cholecystectomy, hernia repair, as well as small and large bowel resections) were included. TCs were identified based on American College of Surgeons' verification. ACS-TC programs were recorded from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Outcome measures were hospital length of stay, complications, and mortality. Regression analysis was performed after adjusting for age, sex, race, Charlson comorbidity index, and type of procedure. RESULTS: A total of 131,410 patients undergoing EGS were analyzed. Patients managed in ACS-TCs had shorter hospital stay (p = 0.045) and lower complication rate (p = 0.041) compared with patients managed in both TCs and NTCs. There was no difference in mortality in patients managed across the groups; however, there was a trend toward lower mortality in patients managed in ACS-TCs in comparison with TCs (p = 0.064) and NTCs (p = 0.089). The overall hospital costs were lower for patients managed in ACS-TCs compared with TCs (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: TCs with ACS have improved outcomes in EGS procedures compared with both TCs and non-TCs. ACS training with the associated infrastructure standards may contribute to these improved outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management study, level IV.
Khalil et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Emergency general surgery (n=131,410). Certified acute care surgery (ACS) programs vs. Trauma centers (TCs) and non-trauma centers (NTCs) was evaluated on Hospital length of stay, complications, and mortality (p=0.045). Management in certified acute care surgery trauma centers was associated with shorter hospital stays (p=0.045) and lower complication rates (p=0.041) compared with other trauma and non-trauma centers.