Scoring systems and blood lactate concentrations in relation to the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure in severely traumatized patients.

In 56 patients with multiple trauma with ISSs > or = 33 we prospectively collected data of seven scoring systems (ISS, TS, TRISS, GCS, PTS, APACHE II, SSS) and sequentially determined blood lactate concentrations. These data were analyzed in relation to the patients later developing adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure (MOF). Twenty-two patients developed ARDS, and 18 developed MOF. Of the mentioned scoring systems only ISS, PTS, and SSS were predictive of subsequent ARDS, and only ISS and SSS were predictive of subsequent MOF. Lactate concentrations at days 2, 3, and 4 were significantly different between patients with and without subsequent ARDS, MOF, or both. Surprisingly, APACHE II scores did not correlate with subsequent ARDS or MOF, nor did they show any significant relation with lactate concentrations at any time. By stepwise regression analysis ISS, SSS, and lactate level at day 3 were the most significant variables toward the development of ARDS and MOF. It is concluded that scoring systems directly grading the severity of groups of trauma patients have predictive value for late and remote complications such as ARDS and MOF, whereas scoring systems that grade the physiologic response to trauma--although clearly related to mortality--have no such predictive value.