The role of perfusion index in patients admitted with thoracic trauma

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the prognosis of the perfusion index (PI) value measured at the time of admission in cases who applied to the emergency department due to thoracic trauma. Methods: The study was carried out in 150 cases over the age of 18, who applied to the Emergency Department of Manisa Celal Bayar Medical Faculty Hospital with thoracic trauma and whose PI measurement was recorded at the time of admission. In addition to the PI measurement, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and clinical features of the cases were recorded. Results: 78% of the cases were male and the mean age was 44.74 ± 17.66 years. 12.7% of the cases were intubated, 22% were discharged, 26.7% were hospitalized in clinics, 50% were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1.3% died. Peripheral PI value (ODDS ratio 0.112 times) and ISS score (ODDS ratio 2.077 times) were found to be statistically significant in determining ICU admission and mortality, independent of other variables. When PI measurement was compared with other screening tests in terms of predicting ICU admission and mortality in patients presenting with thoracic trauma, it was found that the sensitivity of the time of arrival perfusion index for the cut-off 0.95 was 83.6% and the specificity was 81.8%. It was determined that the admission PI value showed a significant correlation with clinical scores (GCS, RTS, ISS), heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure and SPO2 values. Conclusion: It was observed that PI and ISS, which were evaluated at the time of admission, were associated with prognosis in patients who presented to the emergency department with thoracic trauma, independent of other parameters. Peripheral PI is promising as a parameter to be used in determining the prognosis in cases with thoracic trauma that may require 41 immediate treatment or intervention, as it is a non-invasive, easy to apply, rapid, and reproducible test.