Intra-abdominal packing with laparotomy pads and QuikClot™ during damage control laparotomy: A safety analysis

Damage control surgery for life-threatening blunt chest trauma

A 31-year-old male sustained life-threatening chest contusions and recovered after damage control surgery. The patient was in an unwitnessed accident where his motorcycle was struck by a car. Upon admission, blood pressure was 69/58 mmHg, heart rate was 126 bpm, and oxygen saturation was 85%. Chest computed tomography revealed fractures to right ribs 1-9 and left ribs 1-7, lung contusions, multiple lung lacerations, and right hemopneumothorax. Upon presentation to the intensive care unit, hemostasis was achieved by suturing a deeply lacerated lung and applying gauze packing. The patient was placed on veno-veno type extracorporeal membrane oxygenation using both femoral veins after surgery until the 5th hospital day. The gauze was removed during the second operation on the 6th day. The third operation on the 13th hospital day was an open reduction of ribs 3-7 on the right. The patient was discharged on the 47th day without complications.

Use of clinical biological tests of haemostasis to evaluate topical haemostatics

INTRODUCTION

In addition to traditional means, topical haemostatics are currently used to avoid haemorrhage during surgery. Although they have been reported to be effective, there is a low level of proof of their clinical efficacy, which is at odds with their levels of use. This study used two methods to better understand their in vitro mechanism of action.

METHODS

Two clinical biology assays were used to measure the action of topical haemostatics on primary and secondary haemostasis. Calibrated samples of collagen sponges and polypropylene non-woven gauze were tested. Platelet aggregation was assessed using a multichannel aggregometer. A thrombin generation assay (TGA) was used with a fluorogenic readout. Tissue factor solutions were used to activate coagulation.

RESULTS

In terms of primary haemostasis, collagen sponges stimulated platelet aggregation, in particular between 2 and 5 min after incubation with platelet-rich plasma and with no dose effect. In regard to coagulation, the kinetics of thrombin generation was enhanced. Polypropylene non-woven gauze did not exhibit any effect on platelet aggregation, although it did have a weak effect on the kinetics of thrombin generation.

CONCLUSION

Collagen is well known to exert a haemostatic effect due to its action on platelet aggregation. By contrast, polypropylene non-woven gauze has not been shown to have any effect on platelet aggregation other than a minor impact on thrombin generation. The results obtained with the devices tested are in agreement with the literature. Platelet aggregation biological assays and TGA measurements appear to be suitable for evaluation of these medical products.

The use of a kaolin-based hemostatic dressing to attenuate bleeding in dogs: A series of 4 cases

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of a synthetic hemostatic dressing, QuikClot Combat Gauze (QCG), in dogs with bleeding wounds.

CASE SERIES SUMMARY

Two dogs presented with bleeding traumatic wounds, and QCG was used to achieve hemostasis during stabilization of these dogs. In the other 2 dogs, QCG was used to help attenuate bleeding associated with a surgical procedure.

NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED

While hemostatic dressings have been widely studied and used in human medicine, there is minimal information on the use and efficacy of these hemostatic dressings in veterinary medicine. This case series describes the use of QCG in dogs with hemorrhaging wounds. QCG could be a valuable resource in veterinary emergency and critical care settings.

Use of Kaolin-Impregnated Gauze Aids in Hemostasis and Blood Loss Mitigation in a Penetrating Injury to the Bladder and Small Bowel

Hemorrhage control can be technically challenging in penetrating injuries to the pelvis. In an era of decreased availability of blood, rapid hemostasis is critical to minimize blood loss, limit transfusions, and control contamination from hollow viscus injuries. QuikClot Control+® 12x12 Hemostatic Device(C+) (Teleflex Medical OEM, Plymouth, MN), a form of kaolin-impregnated gauze, maybe a helpful adjunct to ebb the flow of hemorrhage from large surface area wounds. We present a case in which C+ was utilized in the preperitoneal packing of a gunshot wound to the pelvis and aided in obtaining hemostasis while simultaneously allowing the team time to complete the remainder of the case. Though further large randomized control trials are required to identify the role of C+ in trauma laparotomy, it remains a tool in the surgeon's armamentarium when dealing with hemorrhage.

The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma: sixth edition

BACKGROUND

Severe trauma represents a major global public health burden and the management of post-traumatic bleeding continues to challenge healthcare systems around the world. Post-traumatic bleeding and associated traumatic coagulopathy remain leading causes of potentially preventable multiorgan failure and death if not diagnosed and managed in an appropriate and timely manner. This sixth edition of the European guideline on the management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following traumatic injury aims to advise clinicians who care for the bleeding trauma patient during the initial diagnostic and therapeutic phases of patient management.

METHODS

The pan-European, multidisciplinary Task Force for Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma included representatives from six European professional societies and convened to assess and update the previous version of this guideline using a structured, evidence-based consensus approach. Structured literature searches covered the period since the last edition of the guideline, but considered evidence cited previously. The format of this edition has been adjusted to reflect the trend towards concise guideline documents that cite only the highest-quality studies and most relevant literature rather than attempting to provide a comprehensive literature review to accompany each recommendation.

RESULTS

This guideline comprises 39 clinical practice recommendations that follow an approximate temporal path for management of the bleeding trauma patient, with recommendations grouped behind key decision points. While approximately one-third of patients who have experienced severe trauma arrive in hospital in a coagulopathic state, a systematic diagnostic and therapeutic approach has been shown to reduce the number of preventable deaths attributable to traumatic injury.

CONCLUSION

A multidisciplinary approach and adherence to evidence-based guidelines are pillars of best practice in the management of severely injured trauma patients. Further improvement in outcomes will be achieved by optimising and standardising trauma care in line with the available evidence across Europe and beyond.

Coagulopathy management of multiple injured patients - a comprehensive literature review of the European guideline 2019

The European guideline on the management of trauma-induced major bleeding and coagulopathy summarises the most relevant recommendations for trauma coagulopathy management. The management of trauma-induced major bleeding should interdisciplinary follow algorithms which distinguish between life-threatening and non-life-threatening bleeding. Point-of-care viscoelastic methods (VEM) assist target-controlled haemostatic treatment. Neither conventional coagulation assays nor VEM should delay treatment in life-threatening trauma-induced bleeding. Adjustments may be rational due to local circumstances, including the availability of blood products, pharmaceuticals, and employees.

Effectiveness of kaolin-impregnated hemostatic gauze use in preperitoneal pelvic packing for patients with pelvic fractures and hemodynamic instability: A propensity score matching analysis

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the effectiveness of kaolin-impregnated hemostatic gauze use in preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) for patients with hemodynamic instability due to severe pelvic fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2014 and October 2018, 53 of 75 patients who underwent PPP due to hemodynamic instability induced by pelvic fracture were enrolled. Their medical records were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. QuikClot combat gauze (hydrophilic gauze impregnated with kaolin) and general surgical tape were used in 21 patients, while general surgical tape was used in the remaining 32 patients.

RESULTS

As there were differences in the characteristics of patients between the hemostatic gauze (HG) group and control group, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to adjust for age, sex, and lactate levels. After PSM, the clinical characteristics between the two groups became similar. There were no differences in the rates of mortality and hemorrhage-induced mortality between the two groups. However, the packed red blood cell (RBC) requirement for an additional 12 hours in the HG group was significantly lower than that in the control group (4.1 ± 3.5 vs. 7.6 ± 6.1 units, p = 0.035). The lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays tended to be shorter in the HG group than in the control group (11.6 vs. 18.5 days, p = 0.1582; 30.8 vs. 47.4 days, p = 0.1861, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of HG during PPP did not reduce hemorrhage-induced mortality, but did reduce the need for additional packed RBC transfusions in patients with hemodynamic instability due to severe pelvic fractures.

A Novel Rat Model to Test Intra-Abdominal Anti-adhesive Therapy

Background: Adhesion formation after abdominal surgery is considered almost inevitable and a major cause of morbidity. Novel treatments have been proposed, however there is a lack of suitable small animal models for pre-clinical evaluation, mainly due to inconsistency in adhesion formation in positive control animals. Here, we propose a new rat model of abdominal adhesions using Kaolin as the adhesion-inducing agent at an optimized dosage for testing newer agents in respect to their anti-adhesive property.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult (8–10 week old) male Wistar albino rats underwent midline laparotomy and caecal abrasion and were randomized to receive topical applications of normal saline or different concentrations and volumes of a Kaolin-based formulation. At day 14 rats were humanely killed, and adhesions graded macroscopically by an investigator blinded to the treatment groups, using pre-determined adhesion scores and microscopically using histopathology.

Results: Kaolin at 0.005 g/mL caused consistent adhesions without compromising rat viability. At higher doses significant morbidity and mortality was observed in the animals treated.

Conclusions: Kaolin induced adhesion in a rat abdominal surgery model is reliable and can be safely used to test the efficacy of novel anti-adhesive formulations to prevent intra-abdominal adhesions.

Hemostatic agents for prehospital hemorrhage control: a narrative review

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in combat trauma and the secondary cause of death in civilian trauma. A significant number of deaths due to hemorrhage occur before and in the first hour after hospital arrival. A literature search was performed through PubMed, Scopus, and Institute of Scientific Information databases for English language articles using terms relating to hemostatic agents, prehospital, battlefield or combat dressings, and prehospital hemostatic resuscitation, followed by cross-reference searching. Abstracts were screened to determine relevance and whether appropriate further review of the original articles was warranted. Based on these findings, this paper provides a review of a variety of hemostatic agents ranging from clinically approved products for human use to newly developed concepts with great potential for use in prehospital settings. These hemostatic agents can be administered either systemically or locally to stop bleeding through different mechanisms of action. Comparisons of current hemostatic products and further directions for prehospital hemorrhage control are also discussed.

Damage-Control Surgery for Obstetric Hemorrhage

Damage-control surgery (abdominopelvic packing followed by a period of medical stabilization in the intensive care unit) is a life-saving intervention usually reserved for critically injured patients who may not survive an attempt to achieve hemostasis and complete repair of the damage in the operating room. Most obstetricians have little or no experience in this area, although the use of damage-control surgery in selected cases may be life-saving. This approach should be considered when arterial bleeding has been controlled and persistent bleeding is deemed to be secondary to coagulopathy that is refractory to blood product replacement, particularly in the presence of hypothermia, acidosis, and vasopressor requirement. A prototypical (albeit hypothetical) case is described here in which damage-control surgery is indicated.

The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma: fifth edition

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic injury continues to present challenges to healthcare systems around the world, and post-traumatic bleeding remains a leading cause of potentially preventable death among injured patients. Now in its fifth edition, this document aims to provide guidance on the management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following traumatic injury and encourages adaptation of the guiding principles described here to individual institutional circumstances and resources.

METHODS

The pan-European, multidisciplinary Task Force for Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma was founded in 2004, and the current author group included representatives of six relevant European professional societies. The group applied a structured, evidence-based consensus approach to address scientific queries that served as the basis for each recommendation and supporting rationale. Expert opinion and current clinical practice were also considered, particularly in areas in which randomised clinical trials have not or cannot be performed. Existing recommendations were re-examined and revised based on scientific evidence that has emerged since the previous edition and observed shifts in clinical practice. New recommendations were formulated to reflect current clinical concerns and areas in which new research data have been generated.

RESULTS

Advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of post-traumatic coagulopathy have supported improved management strategies, including evidence that early, individualised goal-directed treatment improves the outcome of severely injured patients. The overall organisation of the current guideline has been designed to reflect the clinical decision-making process along the patient pathway in an approximate temporal sequence. Recommendations are grouped behind the rationale for key decision points, which are patient- or problem-oriented rather than related to specific treatment modalities. While these recommendations provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of major bleeding and coagulopathy, emerging evidence supports the author group's belief that the greatest outcome improvement can be achieved through education and the establishment of and adherence to local clinical management algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary approach and adherence to evidence-based guidance are key to improving patient outcomes. If incorporated into local practice, these clinical practice guidelines have the potential to ensure a uniform standard of care across Europe and beyond and better outcomes for the severely bleeding trauma patient.

Pelvic Packing for Intractable Obstetric Hemorrhage After Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy: A Review

Importance

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Even after emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH), bleeding may occur in the setting of acquired coagulopathy. This type of bleeding resistant to clipping, ligating, or suturing could be successfully controlled with a pelvic packing.

Objective

This review provides an overview of the different pelvic packing techniques used after the failure of an EPH to control severe PPH. It aims to highlight the outcome of patients after packing, the morbidity and complications of packing, the timing and indications of packing, and finally the optimal duration of packing.

Evidence Acquisition

Literature relating to pelvic packing after EPH in a PPH setting was reviewed.

Results

Packing techniques can be divided into 2 types: pads or roller gauze and balloon pack. The overall success rate was as high as 78.8% with a mortality rate of 12.5%. No major morbidity related to the pelvic packing was documented. The optimal duration of packing is in the range of 36 to 72 hours.

Conclusions

Pelvic packing should be part of the armamentarium available to the obstetrician whenever intractable pelvic hemorrhage is encountered. It is quite simple and quick to perform and requires no special medical materials, the rate of complications is very low, and the success rate is high.

Relevance

The pelvic packing should be particularly useful in developing countries where more advanced technologies such as selective arterial embolization are not always available. In developed countries, the pelvic packing may be a valuable temporary measure pending transport to a tertiary care facility.