Increased number of coagulation products in relationship to red blood cell products transfused improves mortality in trauma patients.
BACKGROUND
Recent data from military and civilian centers suggest that mortality is decreased in massive transfusion patients by increasing the transfusion ratio of plasma and platelet (PLT) products, and fibrinogen in relationship to red blood cell (RBC) products during damage control resuscitation and surgery. This study investigates the relationship of plasma:RBC, PLT:RBC, and cryoprecipitate:RBC transfusion ratios to mortality in massively transfused patients at a civilian Level 1 trauma center.


METHODS
Demographic, laboratory, transfusion, and outcome data were collected prospectively from February 1, 2007, to January 31, 2009, and retrospectively from February 1, 2005, to January 31, 2007, on all injured patients who underwent massive transfusion (defined as >or=10 RBC products within 24 hr). Mortality was analyzed in relation to the plasma:RBC, PLT:RBC, and cryoprecipitate:RBC transfusion ratios using both univariate and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
A total of 214 patients received massive transfusion secondary to traumatic injury. High versus low transfusion ratios were associated with improved 30-day survival: plasma:RBC 59% versus 44%, p = 0.03; PLT:RBC 63% versus 33%, p < 0.01; and cryoprecipitate:RBC 66% versus 41%, p < 0.01. By multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, increased plasma:RBC (p = 0.02) and PLT:RBC (p = 0.02), and decreased age (p = 0.02), ISS (p < 0.01) and total RBCs (p = 0.03) were statistically associated with improved 30-day survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In the civilian setting, plasma, PLT, and cryoprecipitate products significantly increased 30-day survival in trauma patients. Future prospective randomized clinical trials are required to determine the optimal transfusion ratios.
Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. bshaz@emory.edu
Beth H
BH
Shaz
Christopher J
CJ
Dente
Jeffrey
J
Nicholas
Jana B
JB
MacLeod
Andrew N
AN
Young
Kirk
K
Easley
Qiang
Q
Ling
Robert S
RS
Harris
Christopher D
CD
Hillyer
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
D000077324:Crystalloid Solutions; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; C026912:cryoprecipitate coagulum; D005169:Factor VIII; D005340:Fibrinogen