Accuracy of shock index versus ABC score to predict need for massive transfusion in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Various scoring systems have been developed to predict need for massive transfusion in traumatically injured patients. Assessments of Blood Consumption (ABC) score and Shock Index (SI) have been shown to be reliable predictors for Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP) activation. However, no study has directly compared these two scoring systems to determine which is a better predictor for MTP activation. The primary objective was to determine whether ABC or SI better predicted the need for MTP in adult trauma patients with severe hemorrhage. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study which included all injured patients who were trauma activations between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 at an urban Level I trauma center. Patients <18 years old or with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were excluded. ABC and SI were calculated for each patient. MTP was defined as need for >10 units PRBC transfusion within 24h of emergency department arrival. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were used to evaluate scoring systems' ability to predict effective MTP utilization. RESULTS: A total of 645 patients had complete data for analysis. Shock Index ≥1 had sensitivity of 67.7% (95% CI 49.5%-82.6%) and specificity of 81.3% (95% CI 78.0%-84.3%) for predicting MTP, and ABC score ≥2 had sensitivity of 47.0% (95% CI 29.8%-64.9%) and specificity of 89.8% (95% CI 87.2%-92.1%). AUROC analyses showed SI to be the strongest predictor followed by ABC score with AUROC values of 0.83 and 0.74, respectively. SI had a significantly greater sensitivity (P=0.035), but a significantly weaker specificity (P<0.001) compared to ABC score. CONCLUSION: ABC score and Shock Index can both be used to predict need for massive transfusion in trauma patients, however SI is more sensitive and requires less technical skill than ABC score.

Pre-Operative Antisepsis Protocol Compliance and the Effect on Bacterial Load Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Adequate skin preparation is essential to preventing surgical site infection. Many products are available, each with specific manufacturers' directions. This lack of standardization may lead to incorrect use of the agents and affect the bacterial load reduction. We hypothesize that a lack of adherence to utilization protocols for surgical skin antiseptics affects bacterial load reduction. METHODS: Thirty subjects who routinely perform surgical skin preparation were recruited from four hospitals. Participants completed a questionnaire of both demographics and familiarity with two of the most common skin prep formulas: Chlorhexidine gluconate-isopropyl alcohol (CHG-IPA) and povidone-iodine (PVI) scrub and paint. Randomly selecting one formula, subjects performed skin preparation for ankle surgery on a healthy standardized patient. This was repeated using the second formula on the opposite ankle. Performance was recorded and reviewed by two independent evaluators using standardized dichotomous checklists created against the manufacturer's recommended application. Swabs of the patients' first interweb space and medial malleolus were obtained before, 1 min after, and 30 min after prep, and plated on Luria Bertani agar. Bacterial loads were measured in colony forming units (CFUs) for each anatomical site. Data was analyzed using a univariate linear regression. RESULTS: Subjects had an average of 12.7 ± 2.2 y operating room experience and 8.8 ± 1.5 y of skin prep experience. Despite this, no participant performed 100% of the manufacturers' steps correctly. All essential formula-specific steps were performed 90% of the time for CHG-IPA and 33.3% for PVI (p = 0.0001). No correlation was found between experience or familiarity and number of correct steps for either formula. Average reduction in CFUs was not different between CHG-IPA and PVI at 30 min for all anatomical sites (75.2 ± 5.4% vs. 73.7 ± 4.5%, p = 0.7662). Bacterial reductions at 30 min following skin prep were not substantially correlated with operator experience, protocol compliance, or total prep time for either formula. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates existing problems with infection prevention as those tasked with pre-operative skin preparation do so with tremendous incongruence according to manufacturer guidelines. No effect on bacterial load was identified, however with a larger sample size this may be noted. Standardization of the prep solutions as well as simplification and education of the correct techniques may enhance protocol compliance.

Impact of inverse ratios on patients with exsanguinating vascular injuries: should more be the new paradigm?

BACKGROUND: Resuscitation strategies in patients with severe hemorrhage have evolved throughout the years. Optimal resuscitation ratios for civilian exsanguinating vascular injuries has not been determined. We hypothesize improved outcomes in patients with exsanguinating vascular injuries when an aggressive hemostatic resuscitation is used with an inverse ratio of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to packed red blood cell (PRBC). METHODS: This is a 5-year retrospective analysis of vascular injuries requiring hemostatic resuscitation. Resuscitation groups by ratios of FFP/PRBC were inverse (>1:1), high (1-1:2), and low (<1:2). Patients with 10 or greater units of PRBC (massively transfused patients) were evaluated in each of the resuscitation groups. Demographics and complications throughout hospital length of stay and were compared between the resuscitation groups. Survivability Kaplan-Meier curves were generated at 6 hours and 5 days. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients with vascular injuries required component therapy resuscitation (low, n = 78; high, n = 156; inverse, n = 24). Massively transfused patients (n = 162, 62.7%) showed a significant Kaplan-Meier survivability difference at 6 hours (low, 65.0% vs. high, 75.0% vs. inverse, 100%, p = 0.024) and at 5 days (low, 52.5% vs. high, 62.0% vs. inverse, 100%, p = 0.008). Moreover, for massively transfused patients with extremity vascular injuries (n = 65, 39%), a relationship between resuscitation ratio and amputations was significant (low vs. high vs. inverse was 36.8% vs. 12.8% vs. 0%, respectively; p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: This is the first study that highlights the potential outcomes benefits of an inverse ratio of FFP-PRBC in patients with exsanguinating vascular injuries. Multi-institutional prospective analysis is needed to potentially elucidate the cytoprotective effect of FFP to validate these results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, level IV; diagnostic study, level III.