Researchers performed a retrospective review of ICUs in two Level I trauma centers covered by one group of surgical intensivists — one of the centers had a dedicated TICU, while the other had a mixed ICU. They reviewed 3,833 patients, and they stratified them for demographics and clinical characteristics.
They found that trauma patients admitted to a TICU had significantly lower chance of developing a postinjury complication and overall mortality.
“Factors such as trauma nursing experience, education and unit management structure should be further explored to elucidate the observed improved outcomes,” the study concludes.
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