Predictors of massive transfusion protocols activation in patients with trauma in Korea: a systematic review

Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) implementation improves clinical outcomes of the patient's resuscitation with hemorrhagic trauma. Various predictive scoring system have been used and studied worldwide to improve clinical decision. However, such research has not yet been studied in Korea. This systematic review aimed to assess the predictors of MTPs activation in patients with trauma in Korea.

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Research Information Sharing Service databases, KoreaMed, and KMbase were searched from November 2022. All studies conducted in Korea that utilized predictors of MTPs activation in adult patients with trauma were included.

Ten articles were eligible for analysis, and the predictors were assessed. Clinical assessments such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, shock index (SI), prehospital modified SI, modified early warning system (MEWS) and reverse SI multiplied by the Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) were used. Laboratory values such as lactate level, fibrinogen degradation product/fibrinogen ratio, and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were used. Imaging examinations such as pelvic bleeding score were used as predictors of MTPs activation.

Our systematic review identified predictors of MTPs activation in patients with trauma in Korea; predictions were performed using tools that requires clinical assessments, laboratory values or imaging examinations only. Among them, ROTEM, rSIG, MEWS, SI, and lactate level showed good effects for predictions of MTPs activation. The application of predictors for MTP's activation should be individualized based on hospital resource and skill set, also should be performed as a clinical decision supporting tools.