Patient throughput and mortality rate in a trauma service.

Abstract

Trauma centre standards of the American College of Surgeons set a minimum annual volume of cases for trauma surgeons. The volume requirement, however, lacks an objective basis. The author reviews a personal series of cases revealing considerably lower volume than recommended, while injury severity and mortality were comparable to published data. No death was considered preventable on review. Possibly, lower individual caseloads are acceptable for trauma surgeons.