Browsing by Author "Biffl, Walter L."

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    Diagnosis and Management of Esophageal Injuries: A Western Trauma Association Critical Decisions Algorithm
    (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2015-06) Biffl, Walter L.; Moore, Ernest E.; Feliciano, David V.; Albrecht, Roxie A.; Croce, Martin; Karmy-Jones, Riyad; Namias, Nicholas; Rowell, Susan; Schreiber, Martin; Shatz, David V.; Brasel, Karen; Department of Surgery, IU School of Medicine
    ABSTRACT: This is a recommended management algorithm from the Western Trauma Association addressing the diagnostic evaluation and management of esophageal injuries in adult patients. Because there is a paucity of published prospective randomized clinical trials that have generated Class I data, the recommendations herein are based primarily on published observational studies and expert opinion of Western Trauma Association members. The algorithms and accompanying comments represent a safe and sensible approach that can be followed at most trauma centers. We recognize that there will be patient, personnel, institutional, and situational factors that may warrant or require deviation from the recommended algorithm. We encourage institutions to use this guideline to formulate their own local protocols. The algorithm contains letters at decision points; the corresponding paragraphs in the text elaborate on the thought process and cite pertinent literature. The annotated algorithm is intended to (a) serve as a quick bedside reference for clinicians; (b) foster more detailed patient care protocols that will allow for prospective data collection and analysis to identify best practices; and (c) generate research projects to answer specific questions concerning decision making in the management of adults with esophageal injuries.
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    Establishing a core outcome set for blunt cerebrovascular injury: an EAST modified Delphi method consensus study
    (BMJ, 2023-06-15) Ziesmann, Markus; Byerly, Saskya; Yeh, Daniel Dante; Boltz, Melissa; Gelbard, Rondi; Haut, Elliott R.; Smith, Jason W.; Stein, Deborah M.; Zarzaur, Ben L.; Bensard, Denis D.; Biffl, Walter L.; Boyd, April; Brommeland, Tor; Burlew, Clay Cothren; Fabian, Timothy; Lauerman, Margaret; Leichtle, Stefan; Moore, Ernest E.; Timmons, Shelly; Vogt, Kelly; Nahmias, Jeffry; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Objectives: Our understanding of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) has changed significantly in recent decades, resulting in a heterogeneous description of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes in the literature which is not suitable for data pooling. Therefore, we endeavored to develop a core outcome set (COS) to help guide future BCVI research and overcome the challenge of heterogeneous outcomes reporting. Methods: After a review of landmark BCVI publications, content experts were invited to participate in a modified Delphi study. For round 1, participants submitted a list of proposed core outcomes. In subsequent rounds, panelists used a 9-point Likert scale to score the proposed outcomes for importance. Core outcomes consensus was defined as >70% of scores receiving 7 to 9 and <15% of scores receiving 1 to 3. Feedback and aggregate data were shared between rounds, and four rounds of deliberation were performed to re-evaluate the variables not achieving predefined consensus criteria. Results: From an initial panel of 15 experts, 12 (80%) completed all rounds. A total of 22 items were considered, with 9 items achieving consensus for inclusion as core outcomes: incidence of postadmission symptom onset, overall stroke incidence, stroke incidence stratified by type and by treatment category, stroke incidence prior to treatment initiation, time to stroke, overall mortality, bleeding complications, and injury progression on radiographic follow-up. The panel further identified four non-outcome items of high importance for reporting: time to BCVI diagnosis, use of standardized screening tool, duration of treatment, and type of therapy used. Conclusion: Through a well-accepted iterative survey consensus process, content experts have defined a COS to guide future research on BCVI. This COS will be a valuable tool for researchers seeking to perform new BCVI research and will allow future projects to generate data suitable for pooled statistical analysis with enhanced statistical power.