Improvement of mortality in severe liver injury after trauma center implementation: a propensity score matched study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the management and outcome of severe liver injury after trauma center implementation. METHODS: Trauma patients with severe liver injury (organ injury scale score >/= 4) treated between January 2011 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A trauma center was built in 2016 at our institution, and patients were dichotomized into two groups: before trauma center (BTC) and after trauma center (ATC) group. Treatment methods and outcomes were compared between the groups with 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: We included 50 patients in the BTC group and 104 patients in the ATC group. Patients in the ATC group had frequent utilization of angiography (16% vs 47.1%, p < 0.001), faster transfusion [84 (37-152) min vs 17 (10-79) min, p < 0.001], and less fluid administration within 24 h [8.3 (5.7-13.7) L vs 5.7 (3.1-10.1) L, p = 0.002]. However, mortality rate was not significantly different between the groups (26.0% vs 20.2%, p = 0.416). 1:1 propensity score matching was performed using the variables of age, injury severity score, systolic blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, and initial base excess level. After matching, the mortality rate (26.0% vs 10.0%, p = 0.037) and ventilator application (74.0% vs 54.0%, p = 0.037) significantly improved. CONCLUSION: Severe liver injury management improved after trauma center implementation.