BACKGROUND: Continued hemorrhage remains a major contributor of mortality in massively transfused patients and those who survive have a higher platelet (PLT) count and a shorter prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) than nonsurvivors. It was considered that early substitution with PLTs and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) would prevent development of coagulopathy and thus improve survival. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Survival of patients undergoing surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) was compared after implementing a proactive transfusion therapy encompassing two pooled buffy-coat PLT concentrates (PBPCs) immediately when a rupture of the aorta was suspected and again 30 minutes before aortic unclamping together with FFP administered in a 1:1 ratio to the amount of red blood cells (RBCs) with that of a control group receiving transfusion therapy according to existing recommendations. RESULTS: The intervention group (n = 50) had a higher PLT count at arrival at the intensive care unit compared to the control group (n = 82; 155 x 10(9)/L vs. 69 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.0001), shorter APTT (39 sec vs. 44 sec; p < 0.001), fewer postoperative transfusions (RBCs, 2 vs. 6; FFP, 2 vs. 4; and PBPCs, 0 vs. 1; p < 0.01), and a higher 30-day survival rate (66% vs. 44%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that proactive administration of PLTs and FFP improves coagulation competence, reduces postoperative hemorrhage, and increases survival in massively bleeding rAAA patients.
BACKGROUND: Continued hemorrhage remains a major contributor of mortality in massively transfused patients and those who survive have a higher platelet (PLT) count and a shorter prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) than nonsurvivors. It was considered that early substitution with PLTs and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) would prevent development of coagulopathy and thus improve survival. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Survival of patients undergoing surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) was compared after implementing a proactive transfusion therapy encompassing two pooled buffy-coat PLT concentrates (PBPCs) immediately when a rupture of the aorta was suspected and again 30 minutes before aortic unclamping together with FFP administered in a 1:1 ratio to the amount of red blood cells (RBCs) with that of a control group receiving transfusion therapy according to existing recommendations. RESULTS: The intervention group (n = 50) had a higher PLT count at arrival at the intensive care unit compared to the control group (n = 82; 155 x 10(9)/L vs. 69 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.0001), shorter APTT (39 sec vs. 44 sec; p < 0.001), fewer postoperative transfusions (RBCs, 2 vs. 6; FFP, 2 vs. 4; and PBPCs, 0 vs. 1; p < 0.01), and a higher 30-day survival rate (66% vs. 44%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that proactive administration of PLTs and FFP improves coagulation competence, reduces postoperative hemorrhage, and increases survival in massively bleeding rAAA patients.
Authors: Lisa M Brown; Mariah S Call; M Margaret Knudson; Mitchell J Cohen; J B Holcomb; C E Wade; K J Brasel; G Vercruysse; J MacLeod; R P Dutton; J R Hess; J C Duchesne; N E McSwain; P Muskat; J Johannigamn; H M Cryer; A Tillou; J F Pittet; M A De Moya; M A Schreiber; B Tieu; S Brundage; L M Napolitano; M Brunsvold; M Brunsvold; G Beilman; A B Peitzman; M S Zenait; J Sperry; L Alarcon; M A Croce; J P Minei; R Kozar; E A Gonzalez; R M Stewart; S M Cohn; J E Mickalek; E M Bulger; B A Cotton; T C Nunez; R Ivatury; J W Meredith; P Miller; G J Pomper; B Marin Journal: J Trauma Date: 2011-08