A prospective observational study of acute traumatic coagulopathy in traumatic bleeding from the battlefield

BACKGROUND

Acute trauma coagulopathy (ATC) after military trauma has not been comprehensively studied. ATC is defined as a prolonged prothrombin time ratio (PTr) or reduced clot amplitude (A5) in viscoelastic testing. Compared to civilian trauma, military trauma has more injuries from explosions and gunshot wounds (GSWs), potentially leading to a different pathophysiology for traumatic coagulopathy. This study aimed to characterize military ATC on admission to a military hospital in Afghanistan and to explore any differences due to the mechanism of injury.

METHODS

Severely injured military casualties were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken on admission and after routine testing, waste plasma was prepared, frozen, and transported to the United Kingdom for in-depth hemostatic analysis.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven percent of casualties had ATC defined by a PTr greater than 1.2 and 19% when defined by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) A5 less than 36 mm. Coagulation factor depletion correlated with degree of shock, particularly factor V (p < 0.01), factor X (p < 0.01), and fibrinogen levels (p < 0.01). Thrombin generation was well preserved. Fibrinolytic biomarkers were raised correlating with the degree of shock (p < 0.01), and 8% of casualties had hyperfibrinolysis on ROTEM analysis. Plasmin-antiplasmin complexes (p < 0.01) and d-dimer levels (p = 0.01) were higher and clot firmness lower (p = 0.02) in those injured by explosion compared to GSW's.

CONCLUSIONS

ATC was present and correlated with shock, similar to civilian trauma. Thrombin generation remained adequate. Fibrinogen and factor V levels were disproportionately low but still sufficient to allow clot formation. Fibrinolysis is a key feature, probably due to a tissue plasminogen activator surge at the time of injury. Blast injuries are associated with a greater activation of fibrinolysis than GSWs.

Closed chest compressions reduce survival in an animal model of haemorrhage-induced traumatic cardiac arrest

Closed chest compressions (CCC) are recommended for medical cardiac arrest, but there is little evidence to support their inclusion for traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA). This laboratory study evaluated CCC following haemorrhage-induced TCA and whether resuscitation with blood improved survival compared to saline. The study was conducted with the authority of UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (received institutional ethical approval and a Home Office Licence) using 39 terminally anesthetised, instrumented, juvenile Large White pigs. Following baseline measurements, animals underwent captive bolt injury to the right thigh and controlled haemorrhage (30% blood volume). Sixty minutes later there was a further haemorrhage to a MAP of 20 mmHg. The randomised resuscitation protocol was initiated within 5 min: CCC (Group 1); IV whole blood (Group 2); IV 0.9% saline (Group 3); IV whole blood + CCC (Group 4); and IV saline + CCC (Group 5). Fluid was administered as 3 × 10 ml/kg boluses using the Belmont® Rapid Infuser. The LUCAS™ II Chest Compression System delivered CCC. Primary Outcome was attainment of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC MAP ≥ 50 mmHg) at Study End (fifteen minutes post-resuscitation) and secondary outcomes included haemodynamics. Mortality (MAP≤10 mmHg) was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.0001). Resuscitation with whole blood was significantly better than saline (P = 0.0069), no animals in Group 3 attained ROSC. The addition of chest compressions to fluid resuscitation resulted in a significantly worse outcome with saline resuscitation (P = 0.0023) but not with whole blood (P = 0.4411). Cardiovascular variables at the end of the Resuscitation Phase and Study End were significantly worse for Group 5 compared to Group 3. Some significant differences were present at the end of the Resuscitation Phase for Group 4 versus Group 2 but these differences were no longer present by Study End. CCC were associated with increased mortality and compromised haemodynamics compared to intravenous fluid resuscitation. Whole blood resuscitation was better than saline.

Efficacy of acamprosate for alcohol dependence in a family medicine setting in the United States: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Acamprosate has been found to enhance rates of complete abstinence and to increase percent days abstinent (PDA) from alcohol relative to placebo treatment. As most U.S. clinical trials of acamprosate have been conducted in alcohol and other drug specialty clinics, there is a need to examine the efficacy of acamprosate in generalist settings. This study tested the efficacy of acamprosate versus placebo on the primary study outcome of PDA in the treatment of alcohol-dependent patients in a family medicine setting. Secondary study outcomes included percent heavy drinking days (%HDD) and gamma glutamyltransferase level (normal or high).

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design of acamprosate was conducted in 2 family medicine settings (North Carolina and Wisconsin). One hundred volunteers were recruited primarily by advertisement, and participants were assigned to 666 mg (2 pills) oral acamprosate 3 times daily (1,998 mg/d) or matching placebo over a 12-week period. All participants concomitantly received 5 sessions of a brief behavioral intervention from a family/primary care physician.

RESULTS

No significant treatment effect of acamprosate was found on PDA or the secondary outcomes. Significant treatment goal by time interaction effects was found on PDA and %HDD. Participants who had an initial goal of abstinence versus a reduction in alcohol use improved on average over time in PDA and had less %HDD from baseline to the end of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This clinical trial did not find evidence of efficacy for acamprosate compared to placebo among alcohol-dependent individuals recruited primarily by advertisement as studied in a primary care setting. Drinking outcomes significantly improved regardless of medication condition. A goal of abstinence was significantly associated with improved drinking outcomes, suggesting that alcohol-dependent patients with such a goal may do particularly well with counseling in a family medicine setting.

Ecological network analysis: an application to the evaluation of effects of pesticide use in an agricultural environment

Ecological network analysis is used to evaluate the impact of pesticide use on ecological systems in the context of agricultural farmland environments. The aim is to provide support for the design of effective and minimally damaging pest control strategies. The ecological network analysis can identify species that are important to the integrity of the ecological network. The methodology can be used to monitor the impact of shifts in terms of types of pesticide used on the ecological system. The authors' intention is to use this methodology to provide supporting evidence for the UK Voluntary Initiative programme aimed at convincing farmers voluntarily to make improved choices in the use of a wide range of pesticides.