Triage Revised Trauma Score change between first assessment and arrival at the hospital to predict mortality

OBJECTIVE To assess among seriously injured accident victims whether change of the Triage Revised Trauma Score (T-RTS) between first assessment and arrival at the hospital independently predicts mortality. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS The study analysed data on 507 trauma patients with multiple injuries and with a Hospital Trauma Index-Injury Severity Score (HTI-ISS) of 16 or higher, who were presented directly by ambulance services to the Accident & Emergency Department of the University Medical Centre Utrecht (the Netherlands) in 1999 and 2000. RESULTS Compared to non-intubated patients whose T-RTS remained unchanged (reference category), the mortality risk was 3.1 times higher [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-6.3, p = 0.001] for patients with deteriorating T-RTS, 2.9 times higher (95% CI: 1.3-6.5, p < 0.001) for patients who had an initially good T-RTS but were nevertheless intubated and 5.7 times higher (95% CI: 3.6-9.0, p < 0.001) for patients who had an initially poor T-RTS and were intubated. These associations were independent of factors that could be assumed to have a direct effect on T-RTS, that is intravenous therapy, oxygen administration and being attended to by a mobile medical team at the scene of the accident. Along with T-RTS change, more advanced age was associated with a higher mortality risk. CONCLUSION Intubation and a deteriorating T-RTS between the time of the accident and patient's arrival at the hospital are powerful independent predictors of mortality after hospitalisation. Together with advanced age, a deteriorating T-RTS should be the main aspect guiding the preclinical procedures.