Activation of blood coagulation in pigs following lower limb gunshot trauma

A standardized, quantifiable gunshot trauma to one hind leg of fourteen anaesthetized and sedated pigs was used to investigate the extent to which an isolated gunshot trauma causes activation of blood coagulation. The traumatized pigs were mechanically ventilated in intensive care for 48 h before they were euthanized. Blood samples were drawn at baseline (t = 0), 24, 27 and 48 h after trauma to examine the late effects on haemostasis. The median energy absorption in the pigs was 27.57 (22.6-31.7) J/kg. This gunshot injury caused increased creatine kinase and body temperature and led to a combined metabolic and respiratory alkalosis; the pigs remained circulatory stable. Within the haemostatic system the trauma caused increased activated partial thromboplastin time at 48 h (P < 0.05), prothrombin time at 24 and 27 h (P < 0.05), fibrinogen and soluble fibrin concentration at 48 h (P < 0.05), and 24 h (P < 0.05), respectively. The platelet count, protein C activity, tissue factor concentration and trombin-antithrombin concentration decreased throughout the experiment (P < 0.05); the changes of antithrombin activity did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, this study in pigs demonstrates that a standardized gunshot trauma to a hind leg activates blood coagulation without signs of organ failure or disseminated intravascular coagulation within 48 h.