Classification of trauma-related preventable death; a Delphi procedure in The Netherlands

Trauma-related preventable death is considered death as a consequence of moderate to severe injury under (sub)optimal trauma care conditions and is used as a criterion to evaluate the management and quality of trauma care worldwide. A validated definition of trauma-related preventable death is still lacking due to differences in classification. To reach consensus on a definition and assess the necessity of an additional trauma prediction algorithm, a Delphi procedure was performed.

A digital three-round Delphi procedure was performed. Trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, forensic medicine physicians, anesthesiologists, and emergency care physicians working at a Level 1 or affiliated trauma center in the Netherlands were invited to participate. An electronic questionnaire was administered to assess the most suitable category of trauma-related preventable death (clinical definition, trauma prediction algorithm, clinical definition and trauma prediction algorithm or other) and the additional benefit of a trauma prediction algorithm.

Fifty-four panelists completed the study: 23 trauma surgeons, 13 emergency care physicians, 10 anesthesiologists, 4 neurosurgeons and 4 forensic medicine physicians. In the first round, a clinical definition and a clinical definition and trauma prediction algorithm (Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score and a combination of algorithms) were favored. The results were fed back to the panelists. In the final round, there was a tendency towards group consensus in favor of a clinical definition and trauma prediction algorithm (63 %). Consensus was reached on the most suitable algorithm: the Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score combined with the Probability of survival.

The identification of trauma-related preventable death is essential in the evaluation of trauma care. This study elucidates the difficulty of multidisciplinary consensus. However, a propensity towards consensus on a clinical definition, and consensus on the additional benefit of the PS, based on the TRISS, seems to be present.