This retrospective study of Swiss trauma patients looked at blood gas oxygen levels within 3 hours of arrival to the trauma bay in severely injured patients over age 16. When comparing hypoxic, hyperoxic and normo-oxic patients there was no difference in 28 day mortality. Those with above normal oxygen levels tended toward longer hospital stays. The above normal oxygen cohort also were more likely to be intubated in the field.
This study fits with others showing around 20% of trauma patients arrive to our trauma bays over oxygenated. More research is needed to see the impact this has on care. Be mindful of over oxygenation especially in intubated trauma patients.
References
Iten, M., Pietsch, U., Knapp, J. et al. Hyperoxaemia in acute trauma is common and associated with a longer hospital stay: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med32, 75 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-024-01247-5
