Validation of the mTICCS Score as a Useful Tool for the Early Prediction of a Massive Transfusion in Patients with a Traumatic Hemorrhage

[Prehospital blood transfusion : Opportunities and challenges for the German emergency medical services]

BACKGROUND

Exsanguination is the leading cause of preventable death in severe trauma. Immediate hemorrhage control and transfusion of blood products are critical to maintain oxygen delivery and address trauma-induced coagulopathy. While prehospital blood product transfusion (PHBT) is established in neighboring countries, the fragmented configuration of Germany's emergency medical service (EMS) infrastructure has delayed the adoption of widespread PHBT programmes. This review aims to provide an updated perspective on the evolution, international practices and research needs of PHBT within the German context.

METHODS

This narrative review is based on a PubMed search using the search terms "prehospital" and "blood*". From an initial 4738 articles, 333 were directly related to PHBT and were subjected to further detailed examination. The literature, including referenced studies, was categorized into areas such as history, rationale, international practices, and evidence, and analyzed for quality.

RESULTS

The benefit of early blood transfusion in major trauma has been established since WW1, explaining the efforts to initiate this lifesaving intervention as early as possible in the care pathway, including the prehospital field. Recent randomized trials have faced design and recruitment challenges, reflecting the complexity of the research question. These trials have yielded inconclusive results regarding the survival benefits of PHBT in civilian settings. This scenario raises doubts about the capability of randomized trials to resolve questions concerning survival advantages. Despite these difficulties, there is a discernible trend indicating potential improvements in patient outcomes. In Germany, the incidence of trauma-associated shock stands at 38 per 100,000 individuals per year. It is estimated that between 300 and 1800 patients annually possibly benefit from PHBT.

CONCLUSION

Prehospital Blood Transfusion appears to be promising but identifying patient groups most likely to benefit as well as the most suitable blood products remain unresolved issues. In Germany PHBT programs are not yet widely established. Paradoxically, this situation, paired with the extensive German Trauma Registry, provides a prime opportunity for comprehensive prospective cohort studies, addressing the balance between PHBT benefits, logistical feasibility, and implementation strategies. Such studies are essential for establishing guidelines and integrating PHBT efficiently into German trauma care protocols.

Correlations between coagulation abnormalities and inflammatory markers in trauma-induced coagulopathy

Introduction

In multiple trauma patients, the occurrence of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is closely associated with tissue damage and coagulation function abnormalities in the pathophysiological process.

Methods

This study established a multiple trauma and shock model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and comprehensively utilized histological staining and radiographic imaging techniques to observe injuries in the intestine, liver, skeletal muscles, and bones. Monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), platelet (PLT) count, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and other physiological indicators revealed time-dependent alterations in coagulation function and physiological indicators. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurements of inflammatory factors Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial injury marker (Syndecan-1) were also conducted.

Results

Experimental results demonstrated significant changes in tissue structure after multiple traumas, although widespread necrosis or hemorrhagic lesions were not observed. There were time-dependent alterations in coagulation function and physiological indicators. ELISA measurements showed a strong positive correlation between the significant decrease in PLT count and the increase in TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations.

Discussion

The study provides crucial information for the early diagnosis and treatment of TIC. The findings suggest that structured monitoring of coagulation and inflammatory indicators can help in understanding the pathophysiological changes and aid in the management of TIC in multiple trauma patients.

A prediction model for massive hemorrhage in trauma: a retrospective observational study

Background

Massive hemorrhage is the main cause of preventable death after trauma. This study aimed to establish prediction models for early diagnosis of massive hemorrhage in trauma.

Methods

Using the trauma database of Chinese PLA General Hospital, two logistic regression (LR) models were fit to predict the risk of massive hemorrhage in trauma. Sixty-two potential predictive variables, including clinical symptoms, vital signs, laboratory tests, and imaging results, were included in this study. Variable selection was done using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. The first model was constructed based on LASSO feature selection results. The second model was constructed based on the first vital sign recordings of trauma patients after admission. Finally, a web calculator was developed for clinical use.

Results

A total of 2353 patients were included in this study. There were 377 (16.02%) patients with massive hemorrhage. The selected predictive variables were heart rate (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.02; P<0.001), pulse pressure (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99; P = 0.004), base excess (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.87–0.93; P<0.001), hemoglobin (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.95–0.96; P<0.001), displaced pelvic fracture (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.48–3.06; P<0.001), and a positive computed tomography scan or positive focused assessment with sonography for trauma (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.21–2.18; P = 0.001). Model 1, which was developed based on LASSO feature selection results and LR, displayed excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.894; 95% CI: 0.875–0.912), good calibration (P = 0.405), and clinical utility. In addition, the predictive power of model 1 was better than that of model 2 (AUC: 0.718; 95% CI: 0.679–0.757). Model 1 was deployed as a public web tool (http://82.156.217.249:8080/).

Conclusions

Our study developed and validated prediction models to assist medical staff in the early diagnosis of massive hemorrhage in trauma. An open web calculator was developed to facilitate the practical application of the research results.

Predictors of transfusion in trauma and their utility in the prehospital environment: a scoping review

Background: Hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable mortality from trauma, necessitating resuscitation through blood product transfusions. Early and accurate identification of patients requiring transfusions in the prehospital setting may reduce delays in time to transfusion upon arrival to hospital, reducing mortality. The purpose of this study is to characterize existing literature on predictors of transfusion and analyze their utility in the prehospital context.Objectives: The objectives of this study are to characterize the existing quantity and quality of literature regarding predictor scores for transfusion in injured patients, and to analyse the utility of predictor scores for massive transfusions in the prehospital setting and identify prehospital predictor scores for future research.Methods: A search strategy was developed in consultation with information specialists. A literature search of OVID MEDLINE from 1946 to present was conducted for primary studies evaluating the predictive ability of scoring systems or single variables in predicting transfusion in all trauma settings.Results: Of the 5824 studies were identified, 5784 studies underwent title and abstract screening, 94 studies underwent full text review, and 72 studies were included in the final review. We identified 16 single variables and 52 scoring systems for predicting transfusion. Amongst single predictor variables, fluids administered and systolic blood pressure had the highest reported sensitivity (100%) and specificity (89%) for massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activation respectively. Amongst scoring systems for transfusion, the Shock Index and Modified Shock Index had the highest reported sensitivity (96%), while the Pre-arrival Model had the highest reported specificity (95%) for MTP activation. Overall, 20 scores were identified as being applicable to the prehospital setting, 25 scores were identified as being potentially applicable, and seven scores were identified as being not applicable.Conclusions: We identified an extensive list of predictive single variables, validated scoring systems, and derived models for massive transfusion, presented their properties, and identified those with potential utility in the prehospital setting. By further validating applicable scoring tools in the prehospital setting, we may begin to administer more timely transfusions in the trauma population.

New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for the Care of the Severely Injured Patient

Severe trauma remains a leading cause of death, especially in the younger population [...].

mTICCS and its inter-rater reliability to predict the need for massive transfusion in severely injured patients

Purpose

The modified Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy Clinical Score (mTICCS) presents a new scoring system for the early detection of the need for a massive transfusion (MT). This easily applicable score was validated in a large trauma cohort and proven comparable to more established complex scoring systems. However, the inter-rater reliability of the mTICCS has not yet been investigated.

Methods

Therefore, a dataset of 15 randomly selected and severely injured patients (ISS ≥ 16) derived from the database of a level I trauma centre (2010–2015) was used. Moreover, 15 severely injured subjects that received MT were chosen from the same databank. A web-based survey was sent to medical professionals working in the field of trauma care asking them to evaluate each patient using the mTICCS.

Results

In total, 16 raters (9 residents and 7 specialists) completed the survey. Ratings from 15 medical professionals could be evaluated and led to an ICC of 0.7587 (95% Bootstrap confidence interval (BCI) 0.7149–0.8283). A comparison of working experience specific ICC (n = 7 specialists, ICC: 0.7558, BCI: 0.7076–0.8270; n = 8 residents, ICC: 0.7634, BCI: 0.7183–0.8335) showed no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.67).

Conclusion

In summary, reliability values need to be considered when making clinical decisions based on scoring systems. Due to its easy applicability and its almost perfect inter-rater reliability, even with non-specialists, the mTICCS might therefore be a useful tool to predict the early need for MT in multiple trauma.