title: Ten-year analysis of transfusion in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom: increased plasma and platelet use correlates with improved survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Joint Theater Trauma Registry database, begun early in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, created a comprehensive repository of information that facilitated research efforts and produced rapid changes in clinical care. New clinical practice guidelines were adopted throughout the last decade. The damage-control resuscitation clinical practice guideline sought to provide high-quality blood products in support of tissue perfusion and hemostasis. The goal was to reduce death from hemorrhagic shock in patients with severe traumatic bleeding. This 10-year review of the Joint Theater Trauma Registry database reports the military's experience with resuscitation and coagulopathy, evaluates the effect of increased plasma and platelet (PLT)-to-red blood cell ratios, and analyzes other recent changes in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of US active duty service members at least 18 years of age who were admitted to a military hospital from March 2003 to February 2012 were entered into a database. Those who received at least one blood product (n = 3,632) were included in the analysis. Data were analyzed with respect to interactions within and between categories (demographics, admission characteristics, hospital course, and outcome). Transfusions were analyzed with respect to time, survival, and effect of increasing transfusion ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coagulopathy was prevalent upon presentation (33% with international normalized ratio ≥ 1.5), correlated with increased mortality (fivefold higher), and was associated with the need for massive transfusion. High transfusion ratios of fresh frozen plasma and PLT to red blood cells were correlated with higher survival but not decreased blood requirement. Survival was most correlated with PLT ratio, but high fresh frozen plasma ratio had an additive effect (PLT odds ratio, 0.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 10-year evaluation supports earlier studies reporting the benefits of damage-control resuscitation strategies in military casualties requiring massive transfusion. The current analysis suggests that defects in PLT function may contribute to coagulopathy of trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiologic study, level IV.
authors.affiliation: US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA. ANDRE.P.CAP@US.ARMY.MIL
authors.forename: Heather F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pidcoke
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Aden
authors.forename: Alejandra G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Borgman
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Spinella
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dubick
authors.forename: Lorne H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Blackbourne
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cap
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010949:Plasma; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012042:Registries; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult