Prehospital parameters can help to predict coagulopathy and massive transfusion in trauma patients.
Vox Sanguinis · 2017-06-14 · Observational study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of prehospital parameters, including vital signs and resuscitation (fluids, vasopressor), to predict trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC, fibrinogen <1·5 g/l or PTratio > 1·5 or platelet count <100 × 109 /l), and a massive transfusion (MT, ≥10 RBC units within the first 24 h). METHODS: From a trauma registry (2011-2015), in which patients are prospectively included, we retrospectively retrieved the heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), volume of prehospital fluids and administration of noradrenaline. We calculated the shock index (SI: HR/SBP), the MGAP prehospital triage score and the Injury Severity Score (ISS). We also identified patients who had positive criteria from the Resuscitation Outcome Consortium (ROC, SBP < 70 mmHg or SBP 70-90 and HR > 107 pulse/min). For these parameters, we drew a ROC curve and defined a cut-off value to predict TIC or MT. The strength of association between prehospital parameters and TIC as well as MT was assessed using logistic regression, and cut-off values were determined using ROC curves. RESULTS: Among the 485 patients included in the study, TIC was observed in 112 patients (23%) and MT in 22 patients (5%). For the prediction of TIC, ISS had good accuracy (AUC: 0·844, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0·799-0·879), as did the volume of fluids (>1000 ml) given during prehospital care (AUC: 0·801, 95% CI: 0·752-0·842). For the prediction of MT, ISS had excellent accuracy (AUC: 0·932, 95% CI: 0·866-0·966), whereas good accuracy was found for SI (> 0·9; AUC: 0·859, 95% CI: 0·705-0·936), vasopressor administration (AUC: 0·828, 95% CI: 0·736-0·890) and fluids (>1000 ml; AUC: 0·811, 95% CI: 0·737-0·867). Vasopressor administration, ISS and SI were independent predictors of TIC and MT, whereas fluid volume and ROC criteria were independent predictor of TIC but not MT. No independent relationship was found between MGAP and TIC or MT. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital parameters including the SI and resuscitation may help to better identify the severity of bleeding in trauma patients and the need for blood product administration at admission.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Blood products · Cardiovascular drugs · Crystalloids · Fluids & blood · Mortality & survival · Vasopressors
Related articles
- Utility and outcomes of prehospital vasopressors infusion in trauma patients: a systematic review. (Eur J Emerg Med, 2026)
- Association of Early Norepinephrine Administration With 24-Hour Mortality Among Patients With Blunt Trauma and Hemorrhagic Shock. (JAMA Netw Open, 2022)
- Prehospital coagulation management and fluid replacement therapy in patients with multiple and/or severe injuries - A systematic review and clinical practice guideline update. (Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg, 2025)
- [Prehospital management in trauma patients and the increasing number of helicopter EMS transportations : An epidemiological study of the TraumaRegister DGU®]. (Unfallchirurgie (Heidelb), 2024)
- Effect of an Early Resuscitation Protocol on In-hospital Mortality Among Adults With Sepsis and Hypotension: A Randomized Clinical Trial. (JAMA, 2017)
- The concept of damage control: extending the paradigm in the prehospital setting. (Ann Fr Anesth Reanim, 2013)