Alec C. Beekley

The ratio of fibrinogen to red cells transfused affects survival in casualties receiving massive transfusions at an army combat support hospital.

BACKGROUND To treat the coagulopathy of trauma, some have suggested early and aggressive use of cryoprecipitate as a source of fibrinogen. Our objective was to determine whether increased ratios of fibrinogen to red blood cells (RBCs) decreased mortality in combat casualties requiring massive transfusion. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of 252 patients at a U.S. Army combat support hospital who received a massive transfusion (>or=10 units of RBCs in 24 hours). The typical amount of fibrinogen within each blood product was used to calculate the fibrinogen-to-RBC (F:R) ratio transfused for each patient. Two groups of patients who received either a low (<0.2 g fibrinogen/RBC Unit) or high (>or=0.2 g fibrinogen/RBC Unit) F:R ratio were identified. Mortality rates and the cause of death were compared between these groups, and logistic regression was used to determine if the F:R ratio was independently associated with survival. RESULTS Two-hundred and fifty-two patients who received a massive transfusion with a mean (SD) ISS of 21 (+/-10) and an overall mortality of 75 of 252 (30%) were included. The mean (SD) F:R ratios transfused for the low and high groups were 0.1 grams/Unit (+/-0.06), and 0.48 grams/Unit (+/-0.2), respectively (p < 0.001). Mortality was 27 of 52 (52%) and 48 of 200 (24%) in the low and high F:R ratio groups respectively (p < 0.001). Additional variables associated with survival were admission temperature, systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin, International Normalized Ratio (INR), base deficit, platelet concentration and Combined Injury Severity Score (ISS). Upon logistic regression, the F:R ratio was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.171-0.812, p = 0.013). The incidence of death from hemorrhage was higher in the low F:R group, 23/27 (85%), compared to the high F:R group, 21/48 (44%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with combat-related trauma requiring massive transfusion, the transfusion of an increased fibrinogen: RBC ratio was independently associated with improved survival to hospital discharge, primarily by decreasing death from hemorrhage. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the best source of fibrinogen and the optimal empiric ratio of fibrinogen to RBCs in patients requiring massive transfusion.

Prehospital tourniquet use in Operation Iraqi Freedom: effect on hemorrhage control and outcomes.

BACKGROUND Up to 9% of casualties killed in action during the Vietnam War died from exsanguination from extremity injuries. Retrospective reviews of prehospital tourniquet use in World War II and by the Israeli Defense Forces revealed improvements in extremity hemorrhage control and very few adverse limb outcomes when tourniquet times are less than 6 hours. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesized that prehospital tourniquet use decreased hemorrhage from extremity injuries and saved lives, and was not associated with a substantial increase in adverse limb outcomes. METHODS This was an institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of the 31st combat support hospital for 1 year during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Inclusion criteria were any patient with a traumatic amputation, major extremity vascular injury, or documented prehospital tourniquet. RESULTS Among 3,444 total admissions, 165 patients met inclusion criteria. Sixty-seven patients had prehospital tourniquets (TK); 98 patients had severe extremity injuries but no prehospital tourniquet (No TK). Extremity Acute Injury Scores were the same (3.5 TK vs. 3.4 No TK) in both groups. Differences (p < 0.05) were noted in the numbers of patients with arm injuries (16.2% TK vs. 30.6% No TK), injuries requiring vascular reconstruction (29.9% TK vs. 52.5% No TK), traumatic amputations (41.8% TK vs. 26.3% No TK), and in those patients with adequate bleeding control on arrival (83% TK vs. 60% No TK). Secondary amputation rates (4 (6.0%) TK vs. 9 (9.1%) No TK); and mortality (3 (4.4%) TK vs. 4 (4.1%) No TK) did not differ. Tourniquet use was not deemed responsible for subsequent amputation in severely mangled extremities. Analysis revealed that four of seven deaths were potentially preventable with functional prehospital tourniquet placement. CONCLUSIONS Prehospital tourniquet use was associated with improved hemorrhage control, particularly in the worse injured (Injury Severity Score >15) subset of patients. Fifty-seven percent of the deaths might have been prevented by earlier tourniquet use. There were no early adverse outcomes related to tourniquet use.

Warm Fresh Whole Blood Is Independently Associated With Improved Survival for Patients With Combat-Related Traumatic Injuries

BACKGROUND Increased understanding of the pathophysiology of the acute coagulopathy of trauma has lead many to question the current transfusion approach to hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized that warm fresh whole blood (WFWB) transfusion would be associated with improved survival in patients with trauma compared with those transfused only stored component therapy (CT). METHODS We retrospectively studied US Military combat casualty patients transfused >or=1 unit of red blood cells (RBCs). The following two groups of patients were compared: (1) WFWB, who were transfused WFWB, RBCs, and plasma but not apheresis platelets and (2) CT, who were transfused RBC, plasma, and apheresis platelets but not WFWB. The primary outcomes were 24-hour and 30-day survival. RESULTS Of 354 patients analyzed there were 100 in the WFWB and 254 in the CT group. Patients in both groups had similar severity of injury determined by admission eye, verbal, and motor Glasgow Coma Score, base deficit, international normalized ratio, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and injury severity score. Both 24-hour and 30-day survival were higher in the WFWB cohort compared with CT patients, 96 of 100 (96%) versus 223 of 254 (88%), (p = 0.018) and 95% to 82%, (p = 0.002), respectively. An increased amount (825 mL) of additives and anticoagulants were administered to the CT compared with the WFWB group, (p < 0.001). Upon multivariate logistic regression the use of WFWB and the volume of WFWB transfused was independently associated with improved 30-day survival. CONCLUSIONS In patients with trauma with hemorrhagic shock, resuscitation strategies that include WFWB may improve 30-day survival, and may be a result of less anticoagulants and additives with WFWB use in this population.

Effect of plasma and red blood cell transfusions on survival in patients with combat related traumatic injuries.

BACKGROUND The amount and age of stored red blood cells (RBCs) are independent predictors of multiorgan failure and death in transfused critically ill patients. The independent effect of plasma transfusion on survival has not been evaluated. Our objective was to determine the independent effects of plasma and RBC transfusion on survival for patients with combat-related traumatic injuries receiving any blood products. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of 708 patients transfused at least one unit of a blood product at one combat support hospital between November 2003 and December 2004. Admission vital signs, laboratory values, amount of blood products transfused in a 24-hour period, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression to determine independent associations with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Seven hundred and eight of 3,287 (22%) patients admitted for traumatic injuries were transfused a blood product. Median ISS was 14 (range, 9-25). In-hospital mortality was 12%. Survival was associated with admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, SBP, temperature, hematocrit, base deficit, INR, amount of RBCs transfused, and massive transfusion. Each transfused FFP unit was independently associated with increased survival (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: [1.06-1.29]; p = 0.002); each transfused RBC unit was independently associated with decreased survival (OR: 0.86; [0.8-0.92]; p = 0.001). A subset analysis of patients (n = 567) without massive transfusion (1-9 RBC/FWB units) also revealed an independent association between each FFP unit and improved survival (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: [1.0-1.48]; p = 0.05) and between each RBC unit and decreased survival (OR: 0.77; [0.64-0.92]; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION For trauma patients transfused at least one unit of a blood product, FFP and RBC amounts were independently associated with increased survival and decreased survival, respectively. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether the early and increased use of plasma and decreased use of RBCs affect mortality for patients with traumatic injuries requiring transfusion.

Socioeconomic disparities in eligibility and access to bariatric surgery: a national population-based analysis

BACKGROUND To analyze the socioeconomics of the morbidly obese patient population and the impact on access to bariatric surgery using 2 nationally representative databases. Bariatric surgery is a life-changing and potentially life-saving intervention for morbid obesity. Access to bariatric surgical care among eligible patients might be adversely affected by a variety of socioeconomic factors. METHODS The national bariatric eligible population was identified from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and compared with the adult noneligible population. The eligible cohort was then compared with patients who had undergone bariatric surgery in the 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and key socioeconomic disparities were identified and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 22,151,116 people were identified as eligible for bariatric surgery using the National Institutes of Health criteria. Compared with the noneligible group, the bariatric eligible group had significantly lower family incomes, lower education levels, less access to healthcare, and a greater proportion of nonwhite race (all P <.001). Bariatric eligibility was associated with significant adverse economic and health-related markers, including days of work lost (5 versus 8 days, P <.001). More than one third (35%) of bariatric eligible patients were either uninsured or underinsured, and 15% had incomes less than the poverty level. A total of 87,749 in-patient bariatric surgical procedures were performed in 2006. Most were performed in white patients (75%) with greater median incomes (80%) and private insurance (82%). Significant disparities associated with a decreased likelihood of undergoing bariatric surgery were noted by race, income, insurance type, and gender. CONCLUSION Socioeconomic factors play a major role in determining who does and does not undergo bariatric surgery, despite medical eligibility. Significant disparities according to race, income, education level, and insurance type continue to exist and should prompt focused public health efforts aimed at equalizing and expanding access.

An Evaluation of the Impact of Apheresis Platelets Used in the Setting of Massively Transfused Trauma Patients

INTRODUCTION Trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Of patients arriving to trauma centers, patients requiring massive transfusion (MT, >or=10 units in 24 hours) are a small patient subset but are at the highest risk of mortality. Transfusion of appropriate ratios of blood products to such patients has recently been an area of interest to both the civilian and military medical community. Plasma is increasingly recognized as a critical component, though less is known about appropriate ratios of platelets. Combat casualties managed at the busiest combat hospital in Iraq provided an opportunity to examine this question. METHODS In-patient records for 8,618 trauma casualties treated at the military hospital in Baghdad more than a 3-year interval between January 2004 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed and patients requiring MT (n = 694) were identified. Patients who required MT in the first 24 hours and did not receive fresh whole blood were divided into study groups defined by source of platelets: (1) patient receiving a low ratio of platelets (<1:16 apheresis platelets per stored red cell unit, aPLT:RBC) (n = 214), (2) patients receiving a medium ratio of platelets (1:16 to <1:8 aPLT:RBC) (n = 154), and (3) patients receiving a high ratio of platelets (>or=1:8 aPLT:RBC) (n = 96). The primary endpoint was survival at 24 hours and at 30 days. RESULTS At 24 hours, patients receiving a high ratio of platelets had higher survival (95%) as compared with patients receiving a medium ratio (87%) and patients receiving the lowest ratio of platelets (64%) (log-rank p = 0.04 and p < 0.001, respectively). The survival benefit for the high and medium ratio groups remained at 30 days as compared with those receiving the lowest ratio of platelets (75% and 60% vs. 43%, p < 0.001 for both comparisons). On multivariate regression, plasma:RBC ratios and aPLT:RBC were both independently associated with improved survival at 24 hours and at 30 days. CONCLUSION Transfusion of a ratio of >or=1:8 aPLT:RBC is associated with improved survival at 24 hours and at 30 days in combat casualties requiring a MT within 24 hours of injury. Although prospective study is needed to confirm this finding, MT protocols outside of investigational research should consider incorporation of appropriate ratios of both plasma and platelets.

The effect of recombinant activated factor VII on mortality in combat-related casualties with severe trauma and massive transfusion

BACKGROUND The majority of patients with potentially survivable combat-related injuries die from hemorrhage. Our objective was to determine whether the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) decreased mortality in combat casualties with severe trauma who received massive transfusions and if its use was associated with increased severe thrombotic events. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a database of combat casualty patients with severe trauma (Injury Severity Score [ISS] >15) and massive transfusion (red blood cell [RBCs] >/=10 units/24 hours) admitted to one combat support hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, between December 2003 and October 2005. Admission vital signs and laboratory data, blood products, ISS, 24-hour and 30-day mortality, and severe thrombotic events were compared between patients who received rFVIIa (rFVIIa) and did not receive rFVIIa (rFVIIa). RESULTS Of 124 patients in this study, 49 patients received rFVIIa and 75 did not. ISS, laboratory values, and admission vitals did not differ between rFVIIa and rFVIIa groups, except for systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) 105 +/- 33 and 92 +/- 28, p = 0.02 and temperature ( degrees F) 96.3 +/- 2.1 and 95.2 +/- 2.4, p = 0.03, respectively. Interactions between all vital signs and laboratory values measured upon admission, to include systolic blood pressure and temperature, were not significant when measured between rFVIIa use and 30-day mortality. Twenty-four-hour mortality was 7 of 49 (14%) in rFVIIa and 26 of 75 (35%) in rFVIIa, (p = 0.01); 30-day mortality was 15 of 49 (31%) and 38 of 75 (51%), (p = 0.03). Death from hemorrhage was 8 of 14 (57%) for rFVIIa patients compared with 29 of 37 (78%) for rFVIIa patients, (p = 0.12). The incidence of severe thrombotic events was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS The early use of rFVIIa was associated with decreased 30-day mortality in severely injured combat casualties requiring massive transfusion, but was not associated with increased risk of severe thrombotic events.

Risks associated with fresh whole blood and red blood cell transfusions in a combat support hospital

Objective:Fresh whole blood (FWB) and red blood cells (RBCs) are transfused to injured casualties in combat support hospitals. We evaluated the risks of FWB and RBCs transfused to combat-related casualties. Design:Retrospective chart review. Setting:Deployed U.S. Army combat support hospitals. Subjects:Donors of FWB and recipients of FWB and RBCs. Measurements and Results:The storage age of RBCs at transfusion was measured as an indicator of overall risk associated with the storage lesion of RBCs between January 2004 and December 2004 at one combat support hospital. Between April 2004 and December 2004, FWB was prescreened only at one combat support hospital for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B surface antigen before transfusion. To estimate the general incidence of infectious agent contamination in FWB units, samples collected between May 2003 and February 2006 were tested retrospectively for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C virus, and human lymphotropic virus. Results were compared between FWB samples prescreened and not prescreened for infectious agents before transfusion. At one combat support hospital in 2004, 87 patients were transfused 545 units of FWB and 685 patients were transfused 5,294 units of RBCs with a mean age at transfusion of 33 days (±6 days). Retrospective testing of 2,831 samples from FWB donor units transfused in Iraq and Afghanistan between May 2003 and February 2006 indicated that three of 2,831 (0.11%) were positive for hepatitis C virus recombinant immunoblot assay, two of 2,831 (0.07%) were positive for human lymphotropic virus enzyme immunoassay, and none of 2,831 were positive for both human immunodeficiency virus 1/2 and hepatitis B surface antigen by Western blot and neutralization methods, respectively. The differences in the incidence of hepatitis C virus contamination of FWB donor units between those prescreened for hepatitis C virus (zero of 406; 0%) and not prescreened (three of 2,425; 0.12%) were not significant (p = .48). Conclusions:The risk of infectious disease transmission with FWB transfusion can be minimized by rapid screening tests before transfusion. Because of the potential adverse outcomes of transfusing RBCs of increased storage age to combat-related trauma patients, the risks and benefits of FWB transfusions must be balanced with those of transfusing old RBCs in patients with life-threatening traumatic injuries.

The impact of advanced age on trauma triage decisions and outcomes: A statewide analysis

BACKGROUND Physiologic variables used in trauma triage criteria may be significantly affected by age, decreasing their predictive value in geriatric trauma. METHODS The study population was all adult patients in the Washington State Trauma Registry from 2000 to 2004. Elderly patients were defined as those aged >65 years. Multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between age and trauma triage decisions, need for emergent interventions, and outcomes. RESULTS Of 51,227 trauma admissions, 13,820 (27%) were for elderly patients. Elderly patients were significantly less likely to have trauma team activation (14% vs 29%, P <.01), despite a similar percentage of severe injuries (injury severity score > 15), and more often required urgent craniotomy (10% vs 6%, P <.01) and orthopedic procedures (67% vs 51%, P <.01). Heart rate and blood pressure were not predictive of severe injury for those aged >65 years. Undertriaged elderly patients had 4 times the mortality rate and discharge disability of younger patients (both P values <.001). CONCLUSIONS Elderly trauma victims are less likely to undergo rapid trauma evaluation and have significantly worse outcomes compared with younger patients. Standard physiologic triage variables may not identify severe injury in older patients.

An analysis of in-hospital deaths at a modern combat support hospital

BACKGROUND Analysis of the epidemiology and attribution of in-hospital deaths is a critical component of learning and process improvement for any trauma center. We sought to perform a detailed analysis of in-hospital deaths at a combat support hospital. METHODS All patients with trauma who survived to admission and subsequently died before transfer or discharge during a 1-year period were included. The timing, location, pathogenesis, and circumstances surrounding the death were recorded. Opportunities for improvement (OI) of care were identified for analysis. Cases were presented to a panel of experts, and preventability of the deaths was scored on a continuous 10-point scale. RESULTS There were 151 deaths, with the predominant mechanisms of gunshot wounds (GSW) (47%) and blast injuries (42%). Most had severe injuries, with a mean Injury Severity Score of 38, pH of 7.09, and base deficit of 12. Predominant causes of death were head injury (45%) and hemorrhage (32%), and 78% died within 1 hour of admission. Most deaths occurred during the intensive care (35%) or resuscitation phases (31%), but the majority of deaths among nonexpectant patients occurred during the operative phase (38%). OI were identified in 74 deaths (49%), and were found in 78% of nonexpectant deaths. Most improvement opportunities occurred during the resuscitation and transport phases. Most potential improvements were identified at the system level (54%) or individual provider level (42%). Preventability scoring showed excellent inter-rater reliability (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). Deaths with high preventability scores (mean >54) were primarily related to delays in hemorrhage control during the transportation (47%) or resuscitation (43%) phases, and attributed to the system (63%) and individual provider levels (70%). CONCLUSIONS In-hospital combat trauma-related deaths at a modern Combat support hospital differ significantly from their civilian counterparts, and present multiple OI of care and potential salvage. Delays in prehospital and in-hospital hemorrhage control are the primary contributors to potential preventability.