Jassin M. Jouria

Do all trauma patients benefit from tranexamic acid

BACKGROUND This study tested the hypothesis that early routine use of tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in a subset of the most critically injured trauma intensive care unit patients. METHODS Consecutive trauma patients (n = 1,217) who required emergency surgery (OR) and/or transfusions from August 2009 to January 2013 were reviewed. At surgeon discretion, TXA was administered at a median of 97 minutes (1-g bolus then 1-g over 8 hours) to 150 patients deemed high risk for hemorrhagic death. With the use of propensity scores based on age, sex, traumatic brain injury (TBI), mechanism of injury, systolic blood pressure, transfusion requirements, and Injury Severity Score (ISS), these patients were matched to 150 non-TXA patients. RESULTS The study population was 43 years old, 86% male, 54% penetrating mechanism of injury, 25% TBI, 28 ISS, with 22% mortality. OR was required in 78% at 86 minutes, transfusion was required in 97% at 36 minutes, and 75% received both. For TXA versus no TXA, more packed red blood cells and total fluid were required, and mortality was 27% versus 17% (all p < 0.05). The effects of TXA were similar in those with or without TBI, although ISS, fluid, and mortality were all higher in the TBI group. Mortality associated with TXA was influenced by the timing of administration (p < 0.05), but any benefit was eliminated in those who required more than 2,000-mL packed red blood cells, who presented with systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mm Hg or who required OR (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION For the highest injury acuity patients, TXA was associated with increased, rather than reduced, mortality, no matter what time it was administered. This lack of benefit can probably be attributed to the rapid availability of fluids and emergency OR at this trauma center. Prospective studies are needed to further identify conditions that may override the benefits from TXA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV.

Hypercoagulability and other risk factors in trauma intensive care unit patients with venous thromboembolism

BACKGROUND Thromboelastography (TEG) on hospital admission can identify hypercoagulable trauma patients at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the value of TEGs obtained after multiple interventions, including tranexamic acid (TXA), has not been defined. We test the following hypotheses. (1) TEG on intensive care unit (ICU) admission can help stratify patients screened with Greenfield’s risk assessment profile (RAP) for VTE. (2) TXA is a VTE risk factor, and its effect on fibrinolysis can be identified with TEG. METHODS Trauma patients who survived to the ICU with RAP ≥ 10 received serial venous duplex ultrasound examinations and blood samples for coagulation analysis at admission to the ICU and weekly thereafter. RESULTS Six hundred seventy-eight patients were screened and 121 were enrolled; 76% blunt injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS) 27, 13% mortality. Thromboprophylaxis was administered to 90% of the patients and was started a median of 2 days after hospital admission. VTE was detected in 28% (n = 34) of the patients (27 deep vein thrombosis and 7 pulmonary emboli) and occurred a median 10 days after admission. Twenty-nine percent (n = 10) of VTE occurred within 2 days of admission. Most variables were similar between those with and without VTE, but the VTE group received more operations (3 (2) vs. 2 (2), p = 0.044), had increased ICU days (25 (34) days vs. 15 (18) days, p = 0.004), and was more likely to have abdominal injury with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score > 2 (59% vs. 39%, p = 0.050). Upon ICU admission, standard coagulation markers were within normal limits, while TEG demonstrated hypercoagulability, but neither was associated with VTE. Repeat TEG one week after admission (n = 58) remained hypercoagulable but transitioned to a different pattern with increased clot strength. TXA was associated with reduced fibrinolysis on initial TEG (p < 0.05) but was not associated with VTE. CONCLUSION Trauma ICU patients with RAP ≥ 10 are hypercoagulable at admission to ICU and remain so during recovery. They have a ≥ 25% rate of VTE, despite thromboprophylaxis. TXA is associated with reduced fibrinolysis but does not increase VTE rates. Neither TEG nor standard coagulation markers (measured on ICU admission) stratify high-risk patients who develop VTE from those who do not. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.

Decreased mortality after prehospital interventions in severely injured trauma patients.

BACKGROUND We test the hypothesis that prehospital interventions (PHIs) performed by skilled emergency medical service providers during ground or air transport adversely affect outcome in severely injured trauma patients. METHODS Consecutive trauma activations (March 2012 to June 2013) transported from the scene by air or ground emergency medical service providers were reviewed. PHI was defined as intubation, needle decompression, tourniquet, cricothyroidotomy, or advanced cardiac life support. RESULTS In 3,733 consecutive trauma activations (71% blunt, 25% penetrating, 4% burns), age was 39 years, 74% were male, Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 5, and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 15, with 32% traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 7% overall mortality. Those who received PHI (n = 130, 3.5% of the trauma activations) were more severely injured: ISS (26 vs. 5), GCS (3 vs. 15), TBI (57% vs. 31%), Revised Trauma Score (RTS, 5.45 vs. 7.84), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS, 1.32 vs. 4.89), and mortality (56% vs. 5%) were different (all p < 0.05) than those who received no PHI. Air crews transported 22% of the patients; more had TBI, blunt injury, high ISS, and long prehospital times (all p < 0.05), but mortality was similar to those transported by ground. In the most severely injured patients with signs of life who received a PHI, the ISS, prehospital times, and proportions of TBI, blunt trauma, and air transport were similar, but mortality was significantly lower (43% vs. 23%, p= 0.021). CONCLUSION In our urban trauma system, PHIs are associated with a lower incidence of mortality in severely injured trauma patients and do not delay transport to definitive care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

Long-term coagulation changes after resection of thoracoabdominal malignancies

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term coagulation status of patients undergoing malignancy resection. STUDY DESIGN A prospective observational trial was conducted with informed consent in 52 patients (age 66 ± 10 years and 60% male) with thoracoabdominal tumors (pancreas [n = 18, 35%], esophagus [n = 13, 25%], liver [n = 7, 14%], stomach [n = 6, 12%], bile duct [n = 3, 6%], retroperitoneal [n = 3, 6%], and duodenum [n = 2, 4%]) with 6- to 12-month follow-up. Coagulation was evaluated with rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) on whole blood and with a panel of hemostatic markers on stored plasma. RESULTS Maximum clot firmness (MCF) in the intrinsic, extrinsic, and fibrinogen pathways increased immediately postoperatively and then decreased by 9.2 ± 4.1 months (p < 0.05). Markers of thrombin generation (prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, fibrinolysis [D-dimer], and endothelial activation [coagulation factor VIII]) were elevated at all time points. The ROTEM pattern depended on histologic type and cancer location. All esophageal tumors were adenocarcinoma and demonstrated similar patterns to the overall population, with MCF differences over time in all 3 pathways (all p < 0.05). Regarding tumors of the pancreas or liver, there were no statistically significant differences when comparing all 3 time periods, but there were time-related differences when evaluating only primary adenocarcinomas of the liver (all p < 0.05). Three patients (6%) developed venous thromboembolism (VTE) and had decreased clot formation time, increased angle, and increased MCF (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Cancer patients at risk for VTE can be identified with a point-of-care ROTEM test and may benefit from additional anticoagulation. Biomarkers reflecting different functional hemostasis activity groups (fibrinolysis, thrombin generation, and endothelial activation) confirm the ongoing prothrombotic state. The ROTEM demonstrated increased hypercoagulability postoperatively, which returned to baseline in long-term follow-up. Reversal of cancer-induced hypercoagulability occurred in some patients and varied with tumor histology and location.

Differences between blunt and penetrating trauma after resuscitation with hydroxyethyl starch.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a single bolus of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES 450/0.7 in lactated electrolyte injection) during initial resuscitation has a differential effect in blunt and penetrating trauma patients. METHODS Consecutive admissions to the trauma service were reviewed. Patients who died within 24 hours were excluded. Multivariate analysis defined individual predictors for the primary outcomes, acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality within 90 days. Data were expressed as mean ± SD, and significance was assessed at p < 0.05. RESULTS There were 1,410 patients (76% male; mean ± SD, age 43 ± 18 years; 68% blunt trauma; mean ± SD Injury Severity Score [ISS] 14 ± 11; AKI, 4.4%; and mortality, 3.4%). HES (0.5–1.5 L) was administered to 216 patients (15.3%). After multiple logistic regression, HES remained a significant independent predictor of AKI after blunt trauma (odds ratio [OR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–5.19; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC], 0.809) but not penetrating trauma (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.23–3.60; AUROC, 0.849). In separate logistic regression models, HES was a significant predictor of mortality after blunt trauma (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 0.91–0.97; AUROC, 0.921) but not penetrating trauma (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.13–3.94; AUROC, 0.904). CONCLUSION HES is an independent risk factor for AKI and death after blunt, but not penetrating, trauma, which underscores a fundamental difference between these two injury types. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.

Does traumatic brain injury increase the risk for venous thromboembolism in polytrauma patients

BACKGROUND Trauma is a major risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is generally considered to further increase the VTE risk, which should prompt routine thromboprophylaxis. However, the associated risk for intracranial hemorrhage often delays anticoagulants. We test the hypothesis that TBI associated with polytrauma results in a higher rate of VTE than polytrauma without TBI. METHODS From August 2011 to June 2013, a prospective observational trial with informed consent was performed in 148 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with a Greenfield Risk Assessment Profile score of 10 or greater. RESULTS Demographics, Greenfield Risk Assessment Profile scores, the incidence of polytrauma, and mortality were similar, but TBI patients had worse Injury Severity Scores (ISS) (32 vs. 22), longer ICU lengths of stay (21 days vs. 12 days), more hypercoagulable thromboelastogram values on admission (94% vs. 79%), more received unfractionated heparin prophylaxis (65% vs. 36%), and the prophylaxis start date was more than a day later (all p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the VTE rate with TBI was similar to that without TBI (25% vs. 26%, p = 0.507). Furthermore, VTE occurred at similar time points after ICU admission with and without TBI. In both groups, about 30% of the VTEs were detected within 2 days of ICU admission and 50% of the VTEs occurred within 10 days of admission despite chemical and mechanical thromboprophylaxis. CONCLUSION In complex polytrauma patients who survived to ICU admission and who were prescreened for high VTE risk, TBI did not further increase the risk for VTE. The most likely explanation is that no single risk factor is necessary or sufficient for VTE development, especially in those who routinely receive chemical and mechanical thromboprophylaxis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level III.

Novel prehospital monitor with injury acuity alarm to identify trauma patients who require lifesaving intervention

BACKGROUND A miniature wireless vital signs monitor (MWVSM, www.athena.gtx.com) has been designed according to US Special Operations Command specifications for field monitoring of combat casualties. It incorporates an injury acuity algorithm termed the Murphy Factor (MF), which is calculated from whatever vital signs are available at the moment and changes in the last 30 seconds. We tested the hypothesis that MF can identify civilian trauma patients during prehospital transport who will require a lifesaving intervention (LSI) upon hospital admission. METHODS From December 2011 to June 2013, a prospective trial was conducted in collaboration with prehospital providers. The MWVSM detects skin temperature, pulse oximetry (SpO2), heart rate (HR), pulse wave transit time, and MF. LSIs included: intubation, tube thoracostomy, central line insertion, blood product transfusion, and operative intervention. Prehospital MWVSM data were compared with simultaneous vital signs (SaO2, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and HR) from a conventional vital signs monitor. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and area under the receiving operating characteristic curves were calculated. RESULTS Ninety-six trauma patients experienced predominantly blunt trauma (n = 80, 84%), were mostly male (n = 79, 82%), and had a mean ± SD age of 48 ± 19 years and an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 10 (17). Those who received an LSI (n = 48) had similar demographics but higher ISS (18 vs. 5) and mortality (23% vs. 0%) (all p < 0.05). The most common LSIs were intubation (n = 24, 25%), blood product transfusion (n = 19, 20%), and emergency surgery (n = 19, 20%). Compared with HR > 100 beats/min, SBP < 90 mm Hg, SaO2 < 95% alone or in combination, MF > 3 during the entire transport time had the largest area under the receiving operating characteristic curves (0.620, p = 0.081). MF greater than 3 had a specificity of 81%, sensitivity of 39%, positive predictive value of 68%, and negative predictive value of 57% for the need for LSI. CONCLUSION A single numeric value has the potential to summarize overall patient status and identify prehospital trauma patients who need an LSI. Prehospital monitoring combined with algorithms that include trends over time could improve prehospital care for both civilian and military trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prospective observational, level II.