title: Massive transfusion: outcome in blunt trauma patients.
abstract: Over a 54-month period 6,142 patients were consecutively admitted to our Level I trauma center. Ninety-two blunt trauma patients required massive transfusion (MT) of 20 or more units of packed red blood cells (range, 20-126). Eighty-two per cent of all transfused blood was given within 24 hours of admission. Forty-eight patients (52%) were long-term survivors. Twenty-six patients died (28%) within 24 hours and 21 of these exsanguinated. Eighteen patients died greater than 24 hours: nine (50%) died from multiple organ failure, and nine (50%) died from severe closed head injury (CHI). Clinical predictors of increased mortality were: shock on admission, closed head injury, and age. Forty-three survivors were followed for a mean of 2.5 years (range, 1-5 years). No patient died during followup. All patients were home at 1 year; only four patients required continued medical assistance. Thirty-two patients (74%) returned to work. We conclude that: 1) blunt and penetrating trauma patients receiving MT have similar survival rates of 50%; 2) shock, closed head injury, and age predict increased mortality but do not preclude survival; 3) long-term outcome in blunt patients requiring MT is excellent. Post-discharge death is rare and 3/4 of the survivors return to work, justifying the high cost of acute care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37212.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wudel
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bass
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy