Pre-existing cirrhosis is associated with increased mortality of traumatic patients: analysis of cases from a trauma center in east China.

AIM: To determine the impact of cirrhosis on trauma patients and define the factors predicting death.
METHODS: The data on patients admitted to the trauma center from January 2000-2005 were studied retrospectively. The clinical variables were recorded and compared to identify the factors differentiating cirrhotic trauma survivors from non survivors. Child's classification criteria were derived from the reviewed charts of cirrhotic trauma patients to evaluate their predictive value in cirrhotic trauma. Trauma registry was also used to generate a trauma control group by matching for age, sex, abbreviated injury score (AIS) over the same period of time. The outcome variables compared were mortality rate, time of ICU and hospital stay. Results were expressed as mean +/- SD. These data were analyzed by SPSS.11.0 statistical software. Univariate analysis was performed to identify significant medical factors for survivor and non survivors subjected to chi-square test. Fisher's exact test and Student's t test were performed to determine the statistical difference between cirrhotic and control groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Poor prognosis of traum patients was associated with one or more of the following findings: ascitcs, yperbilirubinemia (more than 2 mg/dL), hypoalbuminemia (less than 3.5 mg/dL), and prolonged prothrombin time (more than 12.5 s). Although Child's classification was used to predict the outcome in cirrhotic patients undergoing portacaval shunt procedures, no significant difference was found in mortality rate as a function of Child's classification.
CONCLUSION: Cirrhosis is associated with a higher mortality, a longer time of ICU and hospital stay of trauma patients. It seems that treatment of trauma patients with pre-existing severe liver disease is a challenge to surgeons.