Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications

Kevin K. Chung; Lorne H. Blackbourne; Evan M. Renz; Leopoldo C. Cancio; Jingjing Wang; Myung S. Park; Edward E. Horvath; Michael C. Albrecht; Christopher E. White; Sandra M. Wanek; David J. Barillo; Steven E. Wolf; John B. Holcomb

doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a

Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications

Kevin K. Chung, Lorne H. Blackbourne, Evan M. Renz, Leopoldo C. Cancio, Jingjing Wang, Myung S. Park, Edward E. Horvath, Michael C. Albrecht, Christopher E. White, Sandra M. Wanek, David J. Barillo, Steven E. Wolf, John B. Holcomb

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Case-control studies have suggested that air travel may be a risk factor for the development of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). Burned patients from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, are transported across three continents to our Burn Center with total ground and air transport time being approximately 24 hours spread over 3 days to 4 days. We hypothesized global evacuation results in increased VTE rates. Methods: Retrospective review of 1,107 consecutive patients admitted to our burn center from January 2003 to December 2005. Results: In the time period evaluated, no detectible differences were found in incidence of VTE between air-evacuated soldiers and those admitted to our facility from South Texas (1.31% vs. 0.83%, p = ns). The air-evacuated soldiers were younger (26 ± 7 vs. 41 ± 19, p < 0.0001) but had a higher incidence of inhalation injury (14.4% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.0001) and higher Injury Severity Score (10.9 ± 13.0 vs. 6.5 ± 9.2, p < 0.0001). No difference in average percent total body surface area involvement was found (15.8 ± 19.4 vs. 15.5 ± 18.4, p = ns). Overall, 11 of 1,107 (0.99%) burned patients developed VTE. Conclusion: Prolonged global evacuation is not associated with increased risk of VTE.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	19-24
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care
Volume	65
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a
State	Published - Jul 2008

Keywords

Air travel
Burn
Deep vein thrombosis
Evacuation
Global
Injury
Pulmonary embolism
Thromboembolism
Trauma
Venous

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Surgery
Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a

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Chung, K. K., Blackbourne, L. H., Renz, E. M., Cancio, L. C., Wang, J., Park, M. S., Horvath, E. E., Albrecht, M. C., White, C. E., Wanek, S. M., Barillo, D. J., Wolf, S. E., & Holcomb, J. B. (2008). Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications. Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care, 65(1), 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a

Chung, KK, Blackbourne, LH, Renz, EM, Cancio, LC, Wang, J, Park, MS, Horvath, EE, Albrecht, MC, White, CE, Wanek, SM, Barillo, DJ, Wolf, SE & Holcomb, JB 2008, 'Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications', Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a

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title = "Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications",

abstract = "Background: Case-control studies have suggested that air travel may be a risk factor for the development of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). Burned patients from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, are transported across three continents to our Burn Center with total ground and air transport time being approximately 24 hours spread over 3 days to 4 days. We hypothesized global evacuation results in increased VTE rates. Methods: Retrospective review of 1,107 consecutive patients admitted to our burn center from January 2003 to December 2005. Results: In the time period evaluated, no detectible differences were found in incidence of VTE between air-evacuated soldiers and those admitted to our facility from South Texas (1.31% vs. 0.83%, p = ns). The air-evacuated soldiers were younger (26 ± 7 vs. 41 ± 19, p < 0.0001) but had a higher incidence of inhalation injury (14.4% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.0001) and higher Injury Severity Score (10.9 ± 13.0 vs. 6.5 ± 9.2, p < 0.0001). No difference in average percent total body surface area involvement was found (15.8 ± 19.4 vs. 15.5 ± 18.4, p = ns). Overall, 11 of 1,107 (0.99%) burned patients developed VTE. Conclusion: Prolonged global evacuation is not associated with increased risk of VTE.",

keywords = "Air travel, Burn, Deep vein thrombosis, Evacuation, Global, Injury, Pulmonary embolism, Thromboembolism, Trauma, Venous",

author = "Chung, {Kevin K.} and Blackbourne, {Lorne H.} and Renz, {Evan M.} and Cancio, {Leopoldo C.} and Jingjing Wang and Park, {Myung S.} and Horvath, {Edward E.} and Albrecht, {Michael C.} and White, {Christopher E.} and Wanek, {Sandra M.} and Barillo, {David J.} and Wolf, {Steven E.} and Holcomb, {John B.}",

year = "2008",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1097/TA.0b013e3181271b8a",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "65",

pages = "19--24",

journal = "Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care",

issn = "0022-5282",

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T1 - Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications

AU - Chung, Kevin K.

AU - Blackbourne, Lorne H.

AU - Renz, Evan M.

AU - Cancio, Leopoldo C.

AU - Wang, Jingjing

AU - Park, Myung S.

AU - Horvath, Edward E.

AU - Albrecht, Michael C.

AU - White, Christopher E.

AU - Wanek, Sandra M.

AU - Barillo, David J.

AU - Wolf, Steven E.

AU - Holcomb, John B.

PY - 2008/7

Y1 - 2008/7

N2 - Background: Case-control studies have suggested that air travel may be a risk factor for the development of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). Burned patients from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, are transported across three continents to our Burn Center with total ground and air transport time being approximately 24 hours spread over 3 days to 4 days. We hypothesized global evacuation results in increased VTE rates. Methods: Retrospective review of 1,107 consecutive patients admitted to our burn center from January 2003 to December 2005. Results: In the time period evaluated, no detectible differences were found in incidence of VTE between air-evacuated soldiers and those admitted to our facility from South Texas (1.31% vs. 0.83%, p = ns). The air-evacuated soldiers were younger (26 ± 7 vs. 41 ± 19, p < 0.0001) but had a higher incidence of inhalation injury (14.4% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.0001) and higher Injury Severity Score (10.9 ± 13.0 vs. 6.5 ± 9.2, p < 0.0001). No difference in average percent total body surface area involvement was found (15.8 ± 19.4 vs. 15.5 ± 18.4, p = ns). Overall, 11 of 1,107 (0.99%) burned patients developed VTE. Conclusion: Prolonged global evacuation is not associated with increased risk of VTE.

AB - Background: Case-control studies have suggested that air travel may be a risk factor for the development of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). Burned patients from the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, are transported across three continents to our Burn Center with total ground and air transport time being approximately 24 hours spread over 3 days to 4 days. We hypothesized global evacuation results in increased VTE rates. Methods: Retrospective review of 1,107 consecutive patients admitted to our burn center from January 2003 to December 2005. Results: In the time period evaluated, no detectible differences were found in incidence of VTE between air-evacuated soldiers and those admitted to our facility from South Texas (1.31% vs. 0.83%, p = ns). The air-evacuated soldiers were younger (26 ± 7 vs. 41 ± 19, p < 0.0001) but had a higher incidence of inhalation injury (14.4% vs. 8.0%, p < 0.0001) and higher Injury Severity Score (10.9 ± 13.0 vs. 6.5 ± 9.2, p < 0.0001). No difference in average percent total body surface area involvement was found (15.8 ± 19.4 vs. 15.5 ± 18.4, p = ns). Overall, 11 of 1,107 (0.99%) burned patients developed VTE. Conclusion: Prolonged global evacuation is not associated with increased risk of VTE.

KW - Air travel

KW - Burn

KW - Deep vein thrombosis

KW - Evacuation

KW - Global

KW - Injury

KW - Pulmonary embolism

KW - Thromboembolism

KW - Trauma

KW - Venous

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AN - SCOPUS:67649971209

SN - 0022-5282

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JO - Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care

JF - Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care

IS - 1

ER -

Global evacuation of burn patients does not increase the incidence of venous thromboembolic complications

Abstract

Keywords

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