Towards patient-specific management of trauma hemorrhage: the effect of resuscitation therapy on parameters of thromboelastometry.

Abstract

To determine the response of ROTEM profiles to therapy in bleeding trauma patients.

Patients/Methods Prospective multicentre study in bleeding trauma patients (receiving ≥ 4 red blood cell units). Blood was drawn on the emergency department, after administration of 4, 8 and 12 RBCs and 24 hours post injury. The response of ROTEM to plasma, platelets (PLTs), tranexamic acid (TXA) and fibrinogen products was evaluated in the whole cohort as well as in the subgroup of patients with ROTEM values indicative of TIC.

Results 309 bleeding and shocked patients were included. A mean dose of 3.8 grams of fibrinogen increased FIBTEMCA5 with 5.2 mm (4.1–6.3). TXA administration decreased lysis by 5.4%(4.3–6.5). PLT transfusion prevented further derangement of parameters of clot formation. The effect of PLTs on EXTEMCA5 values was more pronounced in patients with a ROTEM value indicative of TIC compared to the whole cohort. Plasma transfusion decreased EXTEM CT with 3.1 sec (‐10–3.9) in the whole cohort and with 10.6 sec (‐45–24) in the subgroup of patients with a ROTEM value indicative of TIC.

Conclusion Effects of therapy on ROTEM values were small, but prevented further derangement of test results. In patients with ROTEM values corresponding to TIC, efficacy of PLT and plasma to correct deranged ROTEM parameters is possibly more robust.