Process measure aimed at reducing time to haemorrhage control: outcomes associated with Code Crimson activation in exsanguinating truncal trauma

Activating Code Crimson in the emergency department: Expediting definitive care for trauma patients with severe haemorrhage in Singapore

"Trauma activation" is a process adopted across all emergency departments of public healthcare institutions in Singapore, with the aim of rapidly mobilising personnel and resources to care for patients with major trauma. A subset of trauma patients with exsanguinating haemorrhage has a particularly high mortality rate, and they require an additional response beyond the usual trauma activation for definitive haemorrhage control. To address this need, Code Crimson has been developed at Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand and other jurisdictions as a step-up response. This is aimed at early activation of the massive transfusion protocol for haemostatic resuscitation, involvement of additional multidisciplinary teams for rapid decision-making, and expediting definitive haemorrhage control. At present, there is no protocol for activation of Code Crimson in Singapore. Code Crimson may be effective in Singapore, as it has been in other jurisdictions, to reduce morbidity and mortality in major trauma patients with severe haemorrhage.

The Red Blanket Protocol in a tertiary centre in Aotearoa New Zealand: does this trauma protocol improve time to surgery and clinical outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Patients who are haemodynamically unstable from surgical emergencies require prompt surgical intervention, and delay to surgery may lead to poorer clinical outcomes. The Red Blanket Protocol (RBP) is a communication algorithm intended to facilitate surgery as expediently and safely as possible. By developing a protocol for these channels of communication, RBP may reduce the time to surgical intervention and improve patient outcomes. Our aim was to identify whether patient outcomes, including time to surgery, blood product use and survival were improved by the Red Blanket protocol.

METHODS

Haemodynamically unstable adults in Middlemore Hospital, Aotearoa New Zealand from 1/1/2014 to 31/12/2015 were compared with RBP patients from 1/4/2017 to 1/4/2020. Time from emergency department (ED) to knife-to-skin (KTS) was compared between the groups. The number of blood products used, LOS and 30- and 90-day survival were also compared between the pre-protocol and RBP groups.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were identified in the pre-protocol group, and 25 in the RBP group. The median time from ED to KTS reduced from 84 to 70.5 min after the implementation of RBP (P = 0.044). The median number of blood products was 21 pre-protocol and 11.5 in the RBP group (P = 0.102). The median LOS was 8 versus 4 days in the RBP group (P = 0.204). 30-day survival rate was comparable in the two groups (65% versus 60% (P 0.71)).

CONCLUSION

RBP was associated with a shorter time to knife-to-skin for haemodynamically unstable patients. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Larger studies are required to assess clinical outcomes of the RBP.

Haemorrhagic death from severe liver trauma has decreased in the era of haemostatic resuscitation

BACKGROUND

Severe liver trauma can cause major haemorrhage and death. Haemostatic resuscitation principles are associated with improved survival in trauma patients with major haemorrhage. We hypothesised death from liver haemorrhage decreased in parallel with the introduction of haemostatic resuscitation.

AIM

To establish the incidence of haemorrhagic death in patients with severe liver trauma and review how outcomes in two time periods associate with changes in resuscitation practice.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all adult patients admitted to Auckland City Hospital with liver trauma was undertaken for a 14-year period. Resuscitation fluid for patients with grade V liver trauma or death from liver haemorrhage was compared between the first and second half of the study (2006-2013 vs. 2013-2020).

RESULTS

Four hundred and fifty patients were admitted with liver trauma during the 14-year period. Mortality from haemorrhage in patients with severe liver trauma (grade IV and V) decreased between the first and second half of the study (p = 0.009). Pre-hospital and emergency department crystalloid fluid use decreased (p = 0.002). Fresh frozen plasma in ED (p = 0.076) and total cryoprecipitate use (p = 0.072) increased. Tranexamic acid use increased (p = 0.002). Use of colloid fluid was abandoned (p = 0.013). There was no significant difference in pre-hospital time or time from hospital arrival until haemorrhage control laparotomy.

CONCLUSION

Death from liver haemorrhage decreased in association with the introduction of haemostatic resuscitation while the incidence, severity and surgical management of liver trauma was comparable.

Improving trauma care in exsanguinating patients with CHOP (critical haemorrhage to operating-room patient) resuscitation protocol-A cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis

INTRODUCTION

The standard protocol for exsanguinating trauma patients involves initial evaluation and resuscitation in the emergency department which then sets the stage for subsequent definitive care and disposition. This involves major coordination and mobilisation of resources which may cause a delay in intervention especially when most of these cases present after office hours. Our centre has employed a second-tier activation system (CHOP protocol) that immediately mobilises all respective trauma specialists including interventional radiologists and allows rapid access to the operating room.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesised that exsanguinating patients managed by CHOP protocol have better overall outcome and survival.

METHODS

We identified trauma patients that fulfilled CHOP criteria from 2016 to 2019 and divided them into two groups: preCHOP (standard protocol) and CHOP. Data was extracted from a prospectively maintained trauma registry. Demographics, injury pattern and in-hospital data were analysed. The key outcome studied was the impact of CHOP protocol on the mortality rate. Success and failure of the two groups were analysed using CUSUM methodology.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were managed by CHOP protocol since its introduction in March 2018 compared to 36 patients who underwent standard protocol. Majority of the cases were blunt trauma (89% CHOP vs 92% preCHOP). The mean Injury Severity Score was 37 for CHOP group and 39 for preCHOP group. We observed a significant improvement in time to intervention in CHOP patients (78 min vs 113 min), both during and after office hours. CHOP patients had lower mortality compared to preCHOP group (11% vs 31%) and the effectiveness of the protocol was seen in achieving significantly lower mortality compared to the predicted model. CHOP protocol was able to produce a consistent trend of desired outcomes leading to the CUSUM curve exhibiting a sustained downward slope.

CONCLUSION

The CHOP protocol, a relatively novel system in the local context, was able to achieve sustained improved outcomes compared to standard protocol. The CUSUM analysis concurred that implementation of CHOP protocol has helped to achieve consistent desired outcomes. It also suggested that the uptake and use of this protocol has integrated well into the existing workflow.