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Balanced resuscitation: application to the paediatric trauma population
Nathan Georgette1, Galina Lipton, Joyce Li
1Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) in children requires balanced resuscitation. Early blood products, particularly a 1:1 plasma to pRBC ratio, may improve outcomes, but more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma Care
- Hemorrhagic Shock Management
- Coagulopathy Research
Background:
- Trauma is a leading cause of death in children over five years old.
- Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is a significant factor in early mortality.
- Balanced resuscitation strategies aim to mitigate TIC effects.
Approach:
- Review of current evidence on balanced resuscitation in pediatric trauma.
- Analysis of crystalloid fluid versus early blood product administration.
- Evaluation of massive transfusion protocols (MTP) and optimal blood product ratios.
Key Points:
- Crystalloid fluids may be associated with adverse events in pediatric trauma.
- Optimal implementation of early blood products and MTP indications require further investigation.
- A 1:1 plasma to packed red blood cell (pRBC) ratio is suggested but needs prospective validation.
Conclusions:
- Balanced resuscitation with minimal crystalloids and early blood products shows improved morbidity in pediatric trauma.
- While MTPs with a 1:1 plasma:pRBC ratio may enhance morbidity, mortality benefits are unclear.
- Further research is essential to establish definitive mortality benefits and optimal protocols.
Purpose Of Review:
Trauma is the leading cause of death in children over 5 years old. Early mortality is associated with trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), with balanced resuscitation potentially mitigating the effects of TIC. We review TIC, balanced resuscitation and the best evidence for crystalloid fluid versus early blood products, massive transfusion protocol (MTP) and the optimal ratio for blood products.
Recent Findings:
Crystalloid fluids have been associated with adverse events in paediatric trauma patients. However, the best way to implement early blood products remains unclear; MTP has only shown improved time to blood products without clear clinical improvement. The indications to start blood products are also currently under investigation with several scoring systems and clinical indications being studied. Current studies on the blood product ratio suggest a 1 : 1 ratio for plasma:pRBC is likely ideal, but prospective studies are needed to further support its use.
Summary:
Balanced resuscitation strategies of minimal crystalloid use and early administration of blood products are associated with improved morbidity in paediatric trauma patients but unclear mortality benefit. Current evidence suggests that the utilization of MTPs with 1 : 1 plasma:pRBC ratio may improve morbidity, but more research is needed.
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Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
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