Transfusion Practices in Severely Injured Patients at a Level 1 Trauma Center

Acute trauma resuscitation is challenging and disorganized in low- and middle-income countries as there is lack of evidence-based transfusion practices with respect to ratio, volume, trigger, cutoff points for various triggers. This study aims to study the patterns of blood use in various mechanisms of injury, by interfacility transfer status and define triggers for transfusion of various blood components. Prospective observational study, emergency department of level 1 trauma center (August 2017-August 2018).

Demographic, injury, clinical, laboratory, transfusion characteristics, and patient outcomes were collected from electronic hospital records and transfusion service records. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify triggers of transfusion of red blood cells, plasma, platelets (PLTs), cryoprecipitate, and mortality predictors.

Among 986 severely injured patients 80% were males, 92% had blunt injuries and commonest trauma was Head. The median length of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were more in a referred group. Patients brought to center directly received more massive transfusions (56, 13.05% vs. 48, 8.62%). Railway track injuries received the most total median packed red blood cells (PRBCs) units in both groups. The triggers for various blood product transfusions include: Hematocrit < 32.08 for PRBC, PT >16.9 s for plasma, PLT count <130 lakhs for platelets, MAP <89.7 mmHg and PT >18.2 s for cryoprecipitate.

Railway track injuries with inferior extremity injuries required maximum transfusion requirements and were a trigger for PRBC, plasma, PLTs, and cryoprecipitate. Smartphone-based apps and transfusion prediction models can be framed based on the triggers and cut points.