Decision-Making in Management of the Complex Trauma Patient: Changing the Mindset of the non-trauma Surgeon

Background European surgeons are frequently subspecialized and trained primarily in elective surgical techniques. As trauma leaders, they may occasionally have to deal with complex polytrauma, advanced management techniques, differing priorities, and the need for multidisciplinary care. There is a l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	World journal of surgery 2018-08, Vol.42 (8), p.2392-2397
Main Authors:	Sonesson, Linda, Boffard, Kenneth, Lundberg, Lars, Rydmark, Martin, Karlgren, Klas
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Abdominal Surgery Cardiac Surgery Damage detection Decision making Education Environmental impact Environmental management Ethics General Surgery Kirurgi Management Medical personnel Medicin och hälsovetenskap Medicine Medicine & Public Health Military Original Scientific Report Patients Priorities Resource management Resuscitation Skills Surgeons Surgery technology Thoracic Surgery Time management Trauma Vascular Surgery
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Summary:	Background European surgeons are frequently subspecialized and trained primarily in elective surgical techniques. As trauma leaders, they may occasionally have to deal with complex polytrauma, advanced management techniques, differing priorities, and the need for multidisciplinary care. There is a lack of expertise, experience, and a low trauma volume, as well as a lack of research, with limited support as to the decision-making and teaching challenges present. We studied what experienced trauma experts describe as the challenges that are specific to the advanced surgical decision-making required, whether civilian, humanitarian, or military. Methods Design-based research using combined methods including interviews, reviews of authentic trauma cases, and video-recorded resuscitations performed at a high-volume civilian academic trauma center. Results Several educational dilemmas were identified: (1) thinking physiologically, (2) the application of damage control resuscitation and surgery, (3) differing priorities and time management, (4) impact of environment, (5) managing limited resources, (6) lack of general surgical skills, (7) different cultural behavior, and (8) ethical issues. Conclusion The challenges presented, and the educational domains identified, constitute a basis for improved development of education and training in complex surgical decision-making. This study contributes new knowledge about the mindset required for decision-making in patients with complex multisystem trauma and competing priorities of care. This is, especially important in countries having a low intensity of trauma in both military and civilian environments, and consequential limited skills, and lack of expertise. Guidelines focused on the same decision-making process, using virtual patients and blended learning, can be developed.
ISSN:	0364-2313 1432-2323 1432-2323