Management of bleeding following major trauma: a European guideline.
BACKGROUND
Evidence-based recommendations can be made with respect to many aspects of the acute management of the bleeding trauma patient, which when implemented may lead to improved patient outcomes.


METHODS
The multidisciplinary Task Force for Advanced Bleeding Care in Trauma was formed in 2005 with the aim of developing guidelines for the management of bleeding following severe injury. Recommendations were formulated using a nominal group process and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) hierarchy of evidence and were based on a systematic review of published literature.


RESULTS
Key recommendations include the following: The time elapsed between injury and operation should be minimised for patients in need of urgent surgical bleeding control, and patients presenting with haemorrhagic shock and an identified source of bleeding should undergo immediate surgical bleeding control unless initial resuscitation measures are successful. A damage control surgical approach is essential in the severely injured patient. Pelvic ring disruptions should be closed and stabilised, followed by appropriate angiographic embolisation or surgical bleeding control, including packing. Patients presenting with haemorrhagic shock and an unidentified source of bleeding should undergo immediate further assessment as appropriate using focused sonography, computed tomography, serum lactate, and/or base deficit measurements. This guideline also reviews appropriate physiological targets and suggested use and dosing of blood products, pharmacological agents, and coagulation factor replacement in the bleeding trauma patient.


CONCLUSIONS
A multidisciplinary approach to the management of the bleeding trauma patient will help create circumstances in which optimal care can be provided. By their very nature, these guidelines reflect the current state-of-the-art and will need to be updated and revised as important new evidence becomes available.
Spahn
Donat R
DR
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. donat.spahn@usz.ch
Cerny
Vladimir
V
Coats
Timothy J
TJ
Duranteau
Jacques
J
Fernández-Mondéjar
Enrique
E
Gordini
Giovanni
G
Stahel
Philip F
PF
Hunt
Beverley J
BJ
Komadina
Radko
R
Neugebauer
Edmund
E
Ozier
Yves
Y
Riddez
Louis
L
Schultz
Arthur
A
Vincent
Jean-Louis
JL
Rossaint
Rolf
R
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D001802:Blood Substitutes