Introduction
Trauma related hypotension and coagulopathy worsen secondary brain injury in patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Early damage control resuscitation with blood products may mitigate hypotension and coagulopathy. Preliminary data suggest resuscitation with plasma in large animals improve neurologic function after TBI; however, data in humans are lacking.
Methods
We retrospectively identified all poly-trauma patients age >15 years with head injuries undergoing prehospital resuscitation with blood products at a single level I trauma center from 01/2002 to 12/2013. Inclusion criteria were prehospital resuscitation with either packed red blood cells (pRBC) or thawed plasma as sole colloid resuscitation. Patients who died in hospital and those using anticoagulants were excluded. Primary outcomes were Glasgow Outcomes Score Extended (GOSE) and Disability Rating Score (DRS) at dismissal and during follow up.
Results
Of 76 patients meeting inclusion criteria 53% (n=40) received pre-hospital pRBC and 47% (n=36) received thawed plasma. Age, gender, injury severity (ISS) or TBI severity, arrival laboratory values, and number of prehospital units were similar (all p>0.05). Patients that received thawed plasma had an improved neurologic outcome compared to those receiving pRBC (median GOSE 7 [7–8] vs 5.5 [3–7], p<0.001). Additionally, patients that received thawed plasma had improved functionality compared to pRBC (median DRS 2 [1–3.5] vs 9 [3–13], p<0.001). Calculated GOSE and DRS scores during follow up, median 6 [5–7] months, demonstrated increased function in those resuscitated with thawed plasma compared to pRBC by both median GOSE (8 [7–8] vs 6 [6–7] p<0.001) and DRS (0 [0–1] vs 4 [2–8] p<0.001).
Conclusion
In critically injured trauma patients with TBI, early resuscitation with thawed plasma is associated with improved neurologic and functional outcomes at discharge and during follow up compared to pRBC alone. These preliminary data support the further investigation and use of plasma in the resuscitation of critically injured TBI patients.
Level of evidence
Level V – Retrospective Study
Study type
Retrospective single institution study