Urine toxicology screening in Austrian trauma patients: a prospective study

The question as to whether the patient consumed drugs prior to the trauma and which drugs were consumed, is of prime importance for the anesthesia required during surgery. However, many patients are unwilling or unable (including those with multiple trauma or impaired consciousness, or unconscious patients) to answer this question. The purpose of our prospective multicenter study was to collect data about drug consumption in Austria to determine whether drugs are identifiable in the urine of recently injured individuals and to establish the types of drugs consumed.