The efficacy of a trauma call system: challenges in managing severe trauma at a rural emergency center without full‐time emergency physicians

Abstract

Aims There have been some reports about the efficacy of trauma team activation. In November 2015, we implemented a trauma call system, wherein a general surgeon, neurosurgeon, and orthopedic surgeon are called to the emergency department when severe trauma patients are transferred to our emergency department. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of this trauma call system. Methods The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a trauma call system for trauma cases with an Injury Severity Score ≥16. We compared the mortality of trauma cases and the time from arrival to the start of the examination and intervention before and after implementing this trauma call system. Results There was no significant difference in the mortality rates before and after the implementation of the trauma call system. The median time from arrival to the start of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography or transcatheter arterial embolization improved from 54 to 19 min (P = 0.015) and 171 to 84 min (P = 0.030), respectively, after the implementation of the trauma call system. Conclusion Our trauma call system did not significantly improve the mortality of trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score ≥16. However, it was effective for reducing the time from the arrival to the start of contrast‐enhanced computed tomography or transcatheter arterial embolization.

Keywords

• Contrast‐enhanced CT
• transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)
• trauma
• trauma call
• trauma team activation