title: [Current practice in coagulation and transfusion therapy in multiple trauma patients: A German nation-wide online survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the treatment of trauma-associated coagulopathy and bleeding has advanced enormously. The aim of this study was to assess the current practice of coagulation and transfusion management in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 2011 until January 2012 we conducted a survey via online-questionnaire that was sent per E-Mail to all members of the German Society for Trauma Surgery. It comprised 12 questions with respect to current treatment of coagulopathy and haemorrhage in trauma patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 145/3006 (5 %). The respondents had following specialties: 77.2 % trauma surgery 15.9 % anesthesiology, 6.9 % others. 64 % of respondents were employed by a Level 1 trauma centre, wheras 17 % worked in a local level 3 centre. The majority (94 %) claimed to treat hypothermia regularly. Only about half of the participants reported to follow a massive transfusion protocol in their institution. The potential components of these protocols were reported in varying rates, being it well-established components (e.g. FFP 78 %; Fibrinogen 75 %) or therapies with poor evidence in multiple trauma (Desmopressin 39 %, rFVIIa 47 %). Calcium was provided by only 48 % of respondents although generally recommended in all guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study suggests that in Germany strategies and principles regarding management of trauma-associated coagulopathy are standardized only poorly. Level 1 centres appear to apply a more advanced approach, however to much variability exists with respect to the components of the transfusion protocols. The low response rate indicates that most German trauma surgeons consider coagulation and hemorrhage as "expert-topics" beyond their field of duty.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland. wafaisadea@kliniken-koeln.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wafaisade
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wyen
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutschler
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lendemans
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bouillon
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall- und Handchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flohe
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paffrath
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maegele
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tjardes
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Sporttraumatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke am Klinikum Köln-Merheim, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Probst
mesh_terms: D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015984:Causality; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Bleeding; Coagulation; Multiple trauma; Survey; Transfusion