Trauma-induced coagulopathy

The volume of infusion fluids correlates with treatment outcomes in critically ill trauma patients

Background

Appropriate fluid management is essential in the treatment of critically ill trauma patients. Both insufficient and excessive fluid volume can be associated with worse outcomes. Intensive fluid resuscitation is a crucial element of early resuscitation in trauma; however, excessive fluid infusion may lead to fluid accumulation and consequent complications such as pulmonary edema, cardiac failure, impaired bowel function, and delayed wound healing. The aim of this study was to examine the volumes of fluids infused in critically ill trauma patients during the first hours and days of treatment and their relationship to survival and outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively screened records of all consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the beginning of 2019 to the end of 2020. All adults who were admitted to ICU after trauma and were hospitalized for a minimum of 2 days were included in the study. We used multivariate regression analysis models to assess a relationship between volume of infused fluid or fluid balance, age, ISS or APACHE II score, and mortality. We also compared volumes of fluids in survivors and non-survivors including additional analyses in subgroups depending on disease severity (ISS score, APACHE II score), blood loss, and age.

Results

A total of 52 patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. The volume of infused fluids and fluid balance were positively correlated with mortality, complication rate, time on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the ICU, INR, and APTT. Fluid volumes were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors at the end of the second day of ICU stay (2.77 vs. 2.14 ml/kg/h) and non-survivors had a highly positive fluid balance (6.21 compared with 2.48 L in survivors).

Conclusion

In critically ill trauma patients, worse outcomes were associated with higher volumes of infusion fluids and a more positive fluid balance. Although fluid resuscitation is lifesaving, especially in the first hours after trauma, fluid infusion should be limited to a necessary minimum to avoid fluid overload and its negative consequences.

Evolving concepts and strategies in the management of polytrauma patients

Major trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young adults. The impact of disability on the quality of life and functionality in this younger population is worrisome. This remains a major public health concern across the globe. Immediate and early deaths account for nearly 80% of trauma deaths occurring within the first few hours of injury to the first few days, usually because of traumatic brain injury or major exsanguination and subsequently due to shock or hypoxia. Worldwide adoption of comprehensive trauma systems and evolving models of trauma care including prehospital interventions have led improvements in trauma and critical care over the last few decades. Resuscitation and damage control orthopaedics are two key pillars in the management of polytrauma patient. Trauma-related coagulopathy can be an emerging complication during resuscitation of such patients which should be recognized early so appropriate corrective measures can be undertaken. We describe the evolving models of care in the management of polytrauma and trauma associated coagulopathy.

Targeted cryoprecipitate transfusion in severe traumatic haemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic haemorrhage is the leading cause of death in young adults. Trauma Induced Coagulopathy is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon associated with severe traumatic haemorrhage. Fibrinogen is one of the first coagulation factors to become depleted in TIC and evidence suggests that severely injured trauma patients with hypofibrinogenaemia have poor outcomes. It is postulated that early fibrinogen replacement can improve clinical outcomes. This study investigated cryoprecipitate transfusion in hyopfibrinogeneamic trauma patients.

METHODS

This retrospective, single center, observational study investigated the use of cryoprecipitate in severely injured trauma patients admitted to an Australian Level I Trauma Centre. The primary outcome was time to administration of cryoprecipitate after identification of hypofibrinogenaemia using ROTEM (FIBTEM A5). Data collected included demographics, ISS, laboratory values of coagulation and blood product usage.

RESULTS

71 patients received cryoprecipitate with a median time of 61 minutes [IQR 37-93] from FIBTEM A5 result to initial cryoprecipitate administration. At 24 hours following admission to ED, Clauss Fibrinogen levels increased by 1.30g/L [IQR 0.45-1.85] and FIBTEM A5 assay increased by 8mm [IQR 3.0-11.3]. Changes in both variables were highly significant (p<0.001) and Clauss Fibrinogen versus FIBTEM A5 values showed moderate to strong correlation (R=0.75-0.80).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that early administration of cryoprecipitate was both feasible and efficacious in fibrinogen replacement in severe traumatic haemorrhage. High-level evidence supporting cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate replacement with regards to efficacy and feasibility is required to guide future clinical practice. This study provided baseline data to inform the design of further clinical trials investigating fibrinogen replacement in traumatic haemorrhage.

A review of the application of cellulose hemostatic agent on trauma injuries

Introduction

Planning for management of bleeding in trauma injuries is very important. The initial purpose in emergency situations should be immediate establishment of an efficient hemostasis, principally in its topical application. In this study, we aimed to review the major relevant articles in the case of application of cellulose hemostatic agent on trauma injuries.

Methods

We searched the online databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Wiley, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus. Two reviewers independently searched and assessed the titles and abstracts of all articles.

Results

Upon screening the titles and abstracts, 24 studies were identified for full-text review. The oxidized cellulose had the best clotting times, while it demonstrated low absorption ability. Surgical and thermosensitive chitosan hemostatic could be valuable for managing hemorrhage from liver injuries in trauma patients.

Conclusion

Recently, the application of cellulose hemostatic agents has been one of the main improvements obtained for controlling bleeding in trauma injuries. However, generally according to the literature review, the decision about using each agent should be made on a case-by-case basis. However, it can be mentioned that the perfect hemostatic agent has not been still identified.

The current understanding of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC): a focused review on pathophysiology

The emergency management of acute severe bleeding in trauma patients has changed significantly in recent years. In particular, greater attention is now being devoted to a prompt assessment of coagulation alterations, which allows for immediate haemostatic resuscitation procedures when necessary. The importance of an early trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) diagnosis has led physicians to increase the efforts to better understand the pathophysiological alterations observed in the haemostatic system after traumatic injuries. As yet, the knowledge of TIC is not exhaustive, and further studies are needed. The aim of this review is to gather all the currently available data and information in an attempt to gain a better understanding of TIC. A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE database. The bibliographies of relevant articles were screened for additional publications. In major traumas, coagulopathic bleeding stems from a complex interplay among haemostatic and inflammatory systems, and is characterized by a multifactorial dysfunction. In the abundance of biochemical and pathophysiological changes occurring after trauma, it is possible to discern endogenously induced primary predisposing conditions and exogenously induced secondary predisposing conditions. TIC remains one of the most diagnostically and therapeutically challenging condition.