Geriatric consultation with trauma surgeons improves care, outcomes for elderly accident victims

Editor's Note

An immediate consultation between trauma surgeons and a geriatrician improved care and outcomes for elderly accident victims in this study.

Researchers compared processes of care and clinical outcomes before and after a trauma surgery program began in September 2013 that automatically referred trauma patients aged 70 years and older for geriatric consultations.

In-hospital mortality decreased from 9.30% to 5.24% and 30-day mortality decreased from 11.63% to 6.81%. Intensive care readmission rates dropped from 8.26% to 1.96%. 

In addition, more patients were referred for cognitive evaluation (from 2.33% to 14.21%), and patients with DNR and do-not-intubate status increased from 10.23% to 38.22%.

Ensuring involvement of geriatricians can help reduce adverse outcomes in geriatric trauma patients, the authors say.