A mixed psychiatric and somatic care unit for trauma patients: 10 years of experience in an urban level I trauma center in the Netherlands.
Lisette DekkerHansje M HellerJessica E van der MeijAnnelies E J ToorLeo M G GeeraedtsPublished in: European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society (2019)
Trauma patients that were admitted to the MPU of an urban level I trauma center had serious psychiatric comorbidity as well as high injury severity. Penetrating injury was much more common than in the overall trauma patient population. A high complication rate was noted. The high psychiatric comorbidity and the complicated care warrants combined psychiatric and somatic (nursing) care for this subpopulation of trauma patients. This should be taken into account in the prehospital triage to a trauma center. The institution of a MPU in level I trauma centers is recommended.