A Delphi study to establish consensus on a definition of major bleeding in adult trauma

Life-threatening hemorrhage as defined by the critical administration threshold in nontraumatic critical bleeding: A descriptive observational study

BACKGROUND

Evaluations of critical bleeding and massive transfusion have focused on traumatic hemorrhage. However, most critical bleeding in hospitalized patients occurs outside trauma. The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth description examining the critical administration threshold (CAT; ≥3 units red blood cells (RBCs) in a 1-h period) occurrences in nontraumatic hemorrhage. This will assist in establishing the framework for future investigations in nontraumatic hemorrhage.

METHODS

This is an observational cohort study of adults experiencing critical bleeding defined as being CAT+ during hospitalization from 2016 to 2021 at a single academic institution. A CAT episode started with administration of the first qualifying RBC unit and ended at the time of completion of the last allogeneic unit prior to a ≥4-h gap without subsequent transfusion. The primary goal was to describe demographic, clinical and transfusion characteristics of participants with nontraumatic critical bleeding.

RESULTS

2433 patients suffered critical bleeding, most often occurring in the operating room (71.1%) followed by the intensive care unit (20.8%). 57% occurred on the initial day of hospitalization, with a median duration of 138 (36, 303) minutes. The median number of RBCs transfused during the episode was 5 (4, 8), with median total allogeneic units of 9 (4, 9). Hospital mortality was 19.2%. The most common cause of death was multi-organ failure (50.3%), however death within 24 h was due to exsanguination (72.7%).

DISCUSSION

The critical administration threshold may be employed to identify critical bleeding in non-trauma settings of life-threatening hemorrhage, with a mortality rate of approximately 20%.

Markers of Futile Resuscitation in Traumatic Hemorrhage: A Review of the Evidence and a Proposal for Futility Time-Outs during Massive Transfusion

The reduction in the blood supply following the 2019 coronavirus pandemic has been exacerbated by the increased use of balanced resuscitation with blood components including whole blood in urban trauma centers. This reduction of the blood supply has diminished the ability of blood banks to maintain a constant supply to meet the demands associated with periodic surges of urban trauma resuscitation. This scarcity has highlighted the need for increased vigilance through blood product stewardship, particularly among severely bleeding trauma patients (SBTPs). This stewardship can be enhanced by the identification of reliable clinical and laboratory parameters which accurately indicate when massive transfusion is futile. Consequently, there has been a recent attempt to develop scoring systems in the prehospital and emergency department settings which include clinical, laboratory, and physiologic parameters and blood products per hour transfused as predictors of futile resuscitation. Defining futility in SBTPs, however, remains unclear, and there is only nascent literature which defines those criteria which reliably predict futility in SBTPs. The purpose of this review is to provide a focused examination of the literature in order to define reliable parameters of futility in SBTPs. The knowledge of these reliable parameters of futility may help define a foundation for drawing conclusions which will provide a clear roadmap for traumatologists when confronted with SBTPs who are candidates for the declaration of futility. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the literature regarding the definition of futile resuscitation for patients with trauma-induced hemorrhagic shock, and we propose a concise roadmap for clinicians to help them use well-defined clinical, laboratory, and viscoelastic parameters which can define futility.

Association between whole blood ratio and risk of mortality in massively transfused trauma patients: retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although whole blood (WB) transfusion was reported to improve survival in trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock, little is known whether a higher proportion of WB is associated with an improved survival. This study aimed to evaluate the association between whole blood ratio (WBR) and the risk of mortality in trauma patients requiring massive blood transfusion.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study from the ACS-TQIP between 2020 and 2021. Patients were aged ≥ 18 years and received WB within 4 h of hospital arrival as a part of massive blood transfusion. Study patients were categorized into four groups based on the quartiles of WBR. Primary outcome was 24-h mortality and secondary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, fitted with generalized estimating equations, was performed to adjust for confounding factors and accounted for within-hospital clustering.

RESULTS

A total of 4087 patients were eligible for analysis. The median age was 37 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 27-53 years), and 85.0% of patients were male. The median number of WB transfusions was 2.3 units (IQR 2.0-4.0 units), and the total transfusion volume was 4940 ml (IQR 3350-8504). When compared to the lowest WBR quartile, the highest WBR quartile had lower adjusted 24-h mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.81) and 30-day mortality (AOR 0.58; 95% CI 0.45-0.75).

CONCLUSION

The probability of mortality consistently decreased with higher WBR in trauma patients requiring massive blood transfusion.

Characteristics of traumatic major haemorrhage in a tertiary trauma center

BACKGROUND

Major traumatic haemorrhage is potentially preventable with rapid haemorrhage control and improved resuscitation techniques. Although advances in prehospital trauma management, haemorrhage is still associated with high mortality. The aim of this study was to use a recent pragmatic transfusion-based definition of major bleeding to characterize patients at risk of major bleeding and associated outcomes in this cohort after trauma.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study including all trauma patients (n = 7020) admitted to a tertiary trauma center from January 2015 to June 2020. The major bleeding cohort (n = 145) was defined as transfusion of 4 units of any blood components (red blood cells, plasma, or platelets) within 2 h of injury. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for 24-hour and 30-day mortality post trauma admission.

RESULTS

In the major bleeding cohort (n = 145; 145/7020, 2.1% of the trauma population), there were 77% men (n = 112) and 23% women (n = 33), median age 39 years [IQR 26-53] and median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 22 [IQR 13-34]. Blunt trauma dominated over penetrating trauma (58% vs. 42%) where high-energy fall was the most common blunt mechanism and knife injury was the most common penetrating mechanism. The major bleeding cohort was younger (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98 to 0.998, P = 0.012), less female gender (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.98, P = 0.04), and had more penetrating trauma (OR 4.54; 95% CI 3.24 to 6.36, P = 0.001) than the rest of the trauma cohort. A prehospital (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.34 to 4.28; P = 0.003) and emergency department (ED) (OR 6.91; 95% CI 4.49 to 10.66, P = 0.001) systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg was associated with the major bleeding cohort as well as ED blood gas base excess < -3 (OR 7.72; 95% CI 5.37 to 11.11; P < 0.001) and INR > 1.2 (OR 3.09; 95% CI 2.16 to 4.43; P = 0.001). Emergency damage control laparotomy was performed more frequently in the major bleeding cohort (21.4% [n = 31] vs. 1.5% [n = 106]; OR 3.90; 95% CI 2.50 to 6.08; P < 0.001). There was no difference in transportation time from alarm to hospital arrival between the major bleeding cohort and the rest of the trauma cohort (47 [IQR 38;59] vs. 49 [IQR 40;62] minutes; P = 0.17). However, the major bleeding cohort had a shorter time from ED to first emergency procedure (71.5 [IQR 10.0;129.0] vs. 109.00 [IQR 54.0; 259.0] minutes, P < 0.001). In the major bleeding cohort, patients with penetrating trauma, compared to blunt trauma, had a shorter alarm to hospital arrival time (44.0 [IQR 35.5;54.0] vs. 50.0 [IQR 41.5;61.0], P = 0.013). The 24-hour mortality in the major bleeding cohort was 6.9% (10/145). All fatalities were due to blunt trauma; 40% (4/10) high energy fall, 20% (2/10) motor vehicle accident, 10% (1/10) motorcycle accident, 10% (1/10) traffic pedestrian, 10% (1/10) traffic other, and 10% (1/10) struck/hit by blunt object. In the logistic regression model, prehospital cardiac arrest (OR 83.4; 95% CI 3.37 to 2063; P = 0.007) and transportation time (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99, P = 0.02) were associated with 24-hour mortality.

RESULTS

Early identification of patients at high risk of major bleeding is challenging but essential for rapid definitive haemorrhage control. The major bleeding trauma cohort is a small part of the entire trauma population, and is characterized of being younger, male gender, higher ISS, and exposed to more penetrating trauma. Early identification of patients at high risk of major bleeding is challenging but essential for rapid definitive haemorrhage control.

Seeking a Relevant Description of Major Trauma Bleeding: Comparison of Four Major Bleeding Definitions

BACKGROUND

The traditional definition of massive transfusion is 10 red blood cell units transfused within 24 hr. This definition has been faulted for excluding patients who die early from exsanguination. Alternative major bleeding definitions in the trauma literature include time-based (e.g., Resuscitation Intensity) and event based (e.g., Sharpe) transfusion thresholds.

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to compare four definitions of major bleeding, including a modification to the Sharpe definition, on clinically relevant processes and outcomes.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients admitted from the field to a Level I trauma center from 2014 to 2019. Data sources were the trauma registry, blood bank, and electronic medical records. Transfusion thresholds were defined as follows: Resuscitation Intensity-4 units of any combination of crystalloids, colloids, or blood products within the first 30 min of arrival; Sharpe-10 red blood cell units from trauma bay presentation to inpatient admission (a proxy for the interval of hemorrhage control); Modified Sharpe-10 units of any combination of blood products during the same interval. The study analysis consisted of descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The cohort contained 187 subjects. Of 39 deaths, 28 (72%) occurred within 6 hr following arrival. Modified Sharpe captured 27 (96%) of these 28 subjects, whereas Resuscitation Intensity captured 20 (71%). Sharpe and the traditional definition each captured 22 subjects (79%). Modified Sharpe captured 17%-25% of deaths missed by the other definitions.

CONCLUSION

Modified Sharpe may optimally indicate major bleeding during trauma resuscitation.

Establishing internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing through expert consensus: a Delphi study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to establish internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing.

DESIGN

A three-round Delphi study was conducted.

SETTING

This study was conducted virtually using an online survey platform.

PARTICIPANTS

This study involved an international, multidisciplinary panel of experts. The expert panel (n=48) represented 26 countries across five continents, numerous expert groups and a variety of years of experience with social prescribing, with the average being 5 years (range=1-20 years).

RESULTS

After three rounds, internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing were established. The definitions were transformed into the Common Understanding of Social Prescribing (CUSP) conceptual framework.

CONCLUSION

This foundational work offers a common thread-a shared sense of what social prescribing is, which may be woven into social prescribing research, policy and practice to foster common understanding of this concept.

Definitions of massive transfusion in adults with critical bleeding: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Definitions for massive transfusion (MT) vary widely between studies, contributing to challenges in interpretation of research findings and practice evaluation. In this first systematic review, we aimed to identify all MT definitions used in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to date to inform the development of consensus definitions for MT.

METHODS

We systematically searched the following databases for RCTs from inception until 11 August 2022: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Transfusion Evidence Library. Ongoing trials were sought from CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to fulfil all the following three criteria: (1) be an RCT; (2) include an adult patient population with major bleeding who had received, or were anticipated to receive, an MT in any clinical setting; and (3) specify a definition for MT as an inclusion criterion or outcome measure.

RESULTS

Of the 8,458 distinct references identified, 30 trials were included for analysis (19 published, 11 ongoing). Trauma was the most common clinical setting in published trials, while for ongoing trials, it was obstetrics. A total of 15 different definitions of MT were identified across published and ongoing trials, varying greatly in cut-offs for volume transfused and time period. Almost all definitions specified the number of red blood cells (RBCs) within a set time period, with none including plasma, platelets or other haemostatic agents that are part of contemporary transfusion resuscitation. For completed trials, the most commonly used definition was transfusion of ≥ 10 RBC units in 24 h (9/19, all in trauma), while for ongoing trials it was 3-5 RBC units (n = 7), with the timing for transfusion being poorly defined, or in some trials not provided at all (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

Transfusion of ≥ 10 RBC units within 24 h was the most commonly used definition in published RCTs, while lower RBC volumes are being used in ongoing RCTs. Any consensus definitions should reflect the need to incorporate different blood components/products for MT and agree on whether a 'one-size-fits-all' approach should be used across different clinical settings.

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Xa-Guided Versus Fixed Dosing of Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Trauma patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We summarize the comparative efficacy and safety of anti-Xa-guided versus fixed dosing for low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the prevention of VTE in adult trauma patients.

METHODS

We searched Medline and Embase from inception through June 1, 2022. We included randomized controlled trials or observational studies comparing anti-Xa-guided versus fixed dosing of LMWH for thromboprophylaxis in adult trauma patients. We incorporated primary data from 2 large observational cohorts. We pooled effect estimates using a random-effects model. We assessed risk of bias using the ROBINS-I tool for observational studies and assessed certainty of findings using GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

We included 15 observational studies involving 10,348 patients. No randomized controlled trials were identified. determined that, compared to fixed LMWH dosing, anti-Xa-guided dosing may reduce deep vein thrombosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR); 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40-0.69], pulmonary embolism (aOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30-0.78) or any VTE (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.42-0.69), though all estimates are based on low certainty evidence. There was an uncertain effect on mortality (aOR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.85-1.32) and bleeding events (aOR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.50-1.39), limited by serious imprecision. We used several sensitivity and subgroup analyses to confirm the validity of our assumptions.

CONCLUSION

Anti-Xa-guided dosing may be more effective than fixed dosing for prevention of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and VTE for adult trauma patients. These promising findings justify the need for a high-quality randomized study with the potential to deliver practice changing results.

Establishing the research priorities for major trauma in the United Kingdom: A Delphi study of nurses and allied health professionals

BACKGROUND

Research prioritisation exercises are used to determine which areas of research are important. In major trauma care, nurses and allied health professionals are central to the delivery of evidence-based care but their opinions on research priorities are under-represented in the literature. We aimed to identify the research priorities of major trauma nurses and allied health professionals in the UK.

METHODS

A three-round electronic Delphi study was conducted in the UK between November 2019 and May 2021. Round one aimed to generate research questions with rounds two and three questions in order of priority. In stages two and three responses were analysed using descriptive statistics to compute frequencies and proportions for the ranking of each question.

RESULTS

Survey rounds were completed by 180, 100 and 91 respondents respectively. The first round generated 285 statements that were condensed into 71 research questions. Analysis of rankings in subsequent rounds prioritised 54 research questions across themes of adult / children's acute care, psychological care and workforce, training and education.

DISCUSSION

Nurses and AHPs are well-positioned to determine research priorities in major trauma care. Focusing on these priorities will guide future research and help to build an evidence-base in trauma care.

Major haemorrhage: past, present and future

Major haemorrhage is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Successful treatment requires early recognition, planned responses, readily available resources (such as blood products) and rapid access to surgery or interventional radiology. Major haemorrhage is often accompanied by volume loss, haemodilution, acidaemia, hypothermia and coagulopathy (factor consumption and fibrinolysis). Management of major haemorrhage over the past decade has evolved to now deliver a 'package' of haemostatic resuscitation including: surgical or radiological control of bleeding; regular monitoring of haemostasis; advanced critical care support; and avoidance of the lethal triad of hypothermia, acidaemia and coagulopathy. Recent trial data advocate for a more personalised approach depending on the clinical scenario. Fresh frozen plasma should be given as early as possible in major trauma in a 1:1 ratio with red blood cells until the results of coagulation tests are available. Tranexamic acid is a cheap, life-saving drug and is advocated in major trauma, postpartum haemorrhage and surgery, but not in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Fibrinogen levels should be maintained > 2 g.l^-1 in postpartum haemorrhage and > 1.5 g.l^-1 in other haemorrhage. Improving outcomes after major traumatic haemorrhage is now driving research to include extending blood-product resuscitation into prehospital care.

Establishing Internationally Accepted Conceptual and Operational Definitions of Social Prescribing Through Expert Consensus: A Delphi Study Protocol

Introduction

There is currently no agreed definition of social prescribing. This is problematic for research, policy, and practice, as the use of common language is the crux of establishing a common understanding. Both conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing are needed to address this gap. Therefore, the aim of the study that is outlined in this protocol is to establish internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing.

Methodology

A Delphi study will be conducted to develop internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing with an international, multidisciplinary panel of experts. It is anticipated that this study will involve approximately 40 participants (range = 20-60 participants) and consist of 3-5 rounds. Consensus will be defined a priori as ≥80% agreement.

Discussion

Not only will these definitions serve to unite the social prescribing community, but they will also inform research, policy, and practice. By laying the groundwork for the formation of a robust evidence base, this foundational work will support the advancement of social prescribing and help to unlock the full potential of the social prescribing movement.

Conclusion

This important work will be foundational and timely, given the rapid spread of the social prescribing movement around the world.

The conundrum of the definition of haemorrhagic shock: a pragmatic exploration based on a scoping review, experts' survey and a cohort analysis

PURPOSE

Traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) is a complex, dynamic process and, no consensual definition of THS is available. This study aims (1) to explore existing definitions of traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS), (2) to identify essential components of these definitions and (3) to illustrate in a pragmatic way the consequences of applying five of these definitions to a trauma registry.

METHODS

We conducted (1) a scoping review to identify the definitions used for traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS); (2) an international experts survey to rank by relevance a selection of components extracted from these definitions and (3) a registry-based analysis where several candidate definitions were tested in a large trauma registry to evaluate how the use of different definitions affected baseline characteristics, resources use and patient outcome.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight studies were included revealing 52 distinct definitions. The most frequently used was "a systolic blood pressure (SBP) less than or equal to 70 mmHg or between 71 and 90 mmHg if the heart rate is greater than or equal to 108 beats per min". The expert panel identified base excess, blood lactate concentration, SBP and shock index as the most relevant physiological components to define THS. Five definitions of THS were tested and highlighted significant differences across groups on important outcomes such as the proportion of massive transfusion, the need for surgery, in-hospital length of stay or in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a large heterogeneity in the definitions of THS suggesting a need for standardization. Five candidate definitions were identified in a three-step process to illustrate how each shapes study cohort composition and impacts outcome. The results inform research stakeholders in the choice of a consensual definition.

Role of Transfusion Volume and Transfusion Rate as Markers of Futility During Ultramassive Blood Transfusion in Trauma

BACKGROUND

Using a large national database, we evaluated the relationship between RBC transfusion volume, RBC transfusion rate, and in-hospital mortality to explore the presence of a futility threshold in trauma patients receiving ultramassive blood transfusion.

STUDY DESIGN

The ACS-TQIP 2013 to 2018 database was analyzed. Adult patients who received ultramassive blood transfusion (≥20 units of RBC/24 hours) were included. RBC transfusion volume and rate were captured at the only 2 time points available in TQIP (4 hours and 24 hours), or time of death, whichever came first.

RESULTS

Among 5,135 patients analyzed, in-hospital mortality rate was 62.1% (n = 3,190), and 4-hour and 24-hour mortality rates were 17.53% (n = 900) and 42.41% (n = 2,178), respectively. RBC transfusion volumes at 4 hours (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.59 [95% CI 0.57 to 0.60]) and 24 hours (AUROC 0.59 [95% CI 0.57 to 0.60]) had low discriminatory ability for mortality and were inconclusive for futility. Mean RBC transfusion rates calculated within 4 hours (AUROC 0.65 [95% CI 0.63 to 0.66]) and 24 hours (AUROC 0.85 [95% CI 0.84 to 0.86]) had higher discriminatory ability than RBC transfusion volume. A futility threshold was not found for the mean RBC transfusion rate calculated within 4 hours. All patients with a final mean RBC transfusion rate of ≥7 U/h calculated within 24 hours of arrival experienced in-hospital death (n = 1,326); the observed maximum length of survival for these patients during the first 24 hours ranged from 24 hours for a rate of 7 U/h to 4.5 hours for rates ≥21 U/h.

CONCLUSION

RBC transfusion volume within 4 or 24 hours and mean RBC transfusion rate within 4 hours were not markers of futility. The observed maximum length of survival per mean RBC transfusion rate could inform resuscitation efforts in trauma patients receiving ongoing transfusion between 4 and 24 hours.

What do health professionals need to know about young onset dementia? An international Delphi consensus study

Background

People with young onset dementia (YOD) have unique needs and experiences, requiring care and support that is timely, appropriate and accessible. This relies on health professionals possessing sufficient knowledge about YOD. This study aims to establish a consensus among YOD experts about the information that is essential for health professionals to know about YOD.

Methods

An international Delphi study was conducted using an online survey platform with a panel of experts (n = 19) on YOD. In round 1 the panel individually responded to open-ended questions about key facts that are essential for health professionals to understand about YOD. In rounds 2 and 3, the panel individually rated the collated responses in terms of their importance in addition to selected items from the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale. The consensus level reached for each statement was calculated using the median, interquartile range and percentage of panel members who rated the statement at the highest level of importance.

Results

The panel of experts were mostly current or retired clinicians (57%, n = 16). Their roles included neurologist, psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist, psychologist, neuropsychologist and geropsychologist, physician, social worker and nurse practitioner. The remaining respondents had backgrounds in academia, advocacy, or other areas such as law, administration, homecare or were unemployed. The panel reached a high to very high consensus on 42 (72%) statements that they considered to be important for health professionals to know when providing care and services to people with YOD and their support persons. Importantly the panel agreed that health professionals should be aware that people with YOD require age-appropriate care programs and accommodation options that take a whole-family approach. In terms of identifying YOD, the panel agreed that it was important for health professionals to know that YOD is aetiologically diverse, distinct from a mental illness, and has a combination of genetic and non-genetic contributing factors. The panel highlighted the importance of health professionals understanding the need for specialised, multidisciplinary services both in terms of diagnosing YOD and in providing ongoing support. The panel also agreed that health professionals be aware of the importance of psychosocial support and non-pharmacological interventions to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Conclusions

The expert panel identified information that they deem essential for health professionals to know about YOD. There was agreement across all thematic categories, indicating the importance of broad professional knowledge related to YOD identification, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. The findings of this study are not only applicable to the delivery of support and care services for people with YOD and their support persons, but also to inform the design of educational resources for health professionals who are not experts in YOD.

Efficacy and Safety of Low Molecular Weight Heparin Versus Unfractionated Heparin for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Trauma patients are at high risk of VTE. We summarize the efficacy and safety of LMWH versus UFH for the prevention of VTE in trauma patients.

METHODS

We searched 6 databases from inception through March 12, 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational studies comparing LMWH versus UFH for thromboprophylaxis in adult trauma patients. We pooled effect estimates across RCTs and observational studies separately, using random-effects model and inverse variance weighting. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool for RCTs and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies (ROBINS)-I tool for observational studies and assessed certainty of findings using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations methodology.

RESULTS

We included 4 RCTs (879 patients) and 8 observational studies (306,747 patients). Based on pooled RCT data, compared to UFH, LMWH reduces deep vein thrombosis (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.88, moderate certainty) and VTE (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.90, moderate certainty). As compared to UFH, LMWH may reduce pulmonary embolism [adjusted odds ratio from pooled observational studies 0.56 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.62)] and mortality (adjusted odds ratio from pooled observational studies 0.54, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.65), though based on low certainty evidence. There was an uncertain effect on adverse events (RR from pooled RCTs 0.80, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.33, very low certainty) and heparin induced thrombocytopenia [RR from pooled RCTs 0.26 (95% CI 0.03 to 2.38, very low certainty)].

CONCLUSIONS

Among adult trauma patients, LMWH is superior to UFH for deep vein thrombosis and VTE prevention and may additionally reduce pulmonary embolism and mortality. The impact on adverse events and heparin induced thrombocytopenia is uncertain.

Investigating the Implementation of SMS and Mobile Messaging in Population Screening (the SIPS Study): Protocol for a Delphi Study

BACKGROUND

The use of mobile messaging, including SMS, and web-based messaging in health care has grown significantly. Using messaging to facilitate patient communication has been advocated in several circumstances, including population screening. These programs, however, pose unique challenges to mobile communication, as messaging is often sent from a central hub to a diverse population with differing needs. Despite this, there is a paucity of robust frameworks to guide implementation.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this protocol is to describe the methods that will be used to develop a guide for the principles of use of mobile messaging for population screening programs in England.

METHODS

This modified Delphi study will be conducted in two parts: evidence synthesis and consensus generation. The former will include a review of literature published from January 1, 2000, to October 1, 2021. This will elicit key themes to inform an online scoping questionnaire posed to a group of experts from academia, clinical medicine, industry, and public health. Thematic analysis of free-text responses by two independent authors will elicit items to be used during consensus generation. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement groups will be convened to ensure that a comprehensive item list is generated that represents the public's perspective. Each item will then be anonymously voted on by experts as to its importance and feasibility of implementation in screening during three rounds of a Delphi process. Consensus will be defined a priori at 70%, with items considered important and feasible being eligible for inclusion in the final recommendation. A list of desirable items (ie, important but not currently feasible) will be developed to guide future work.

RESULTS

The Institutional Review Board at Imperial College London has granted ethical approval for this study (reference 20IC6088). Results are expected to involve a list of recommendations to screening services, with findings being made available to screening services through Public Health England. This study will, thus, provide a formal guideline for the use of mobile messaging in screening services and will provide future directions in this field.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of mobile messaging has grown significantly across health care services, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic, but its implementation in screening programs remains challenging. This modified Delphi approach with leading experts will provide invaluable insights into facilitating the incorporation of messaging into these programs and will create awareness of future developments in this area.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/32660.

Epidemiology of Massive Transfusion - A Common Intervention in Need of a Definition

While massive transfusion (MT) recipients account for a small proportion of all transfused patients, they account for approximately 10% of blood products issued. Furthermore, MT events pose organizational and logistical challenges for health care providers, laboratory and transfusion services. Overall, the majority of MT events are to support major bleeding in surgical patients, trauma and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The clinical context in which the bleeding event occurred, the number of blood products required, patient age and comorbidities are the most important predictors of outcomes for short- and long-term survival. These data are important to inform blood services, clinicians and health care providers in order to improve care and outcomes for patients with major bleeding. There is no standard accepted definition of MT, with most definitions based on number of blood components administered within a certain time-period or activation of MT protocol. The type of definition used has implications for the clinical characteristics of MT recipients included in epidemiological and interventional studies. In order to understand trends in incidence of MT, variation in blood utilization and patient outcomes, and to harmonize research outcomes, a standard and universally accepted definition of MT is urgently required.