Impact of the age of stored blood on trauma patient mortality: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the age of stored red blood cells on mortality in patients sustaining traumatic injuries requiring transfusion of blood products is unknown. The objective of this systematic review was to identify and describe the available literature on the use of older versus newer blood in trauma patient populations. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Lilac and the Cochrane Database for published studies comparing the transfusion of newer versus older red blood cells in adult patients sustaining traumatic injuries. Studies included for review reported on trauma patients receiving transfusions of packed red blood cells, identified the age of stored blood that was transfused and reported patient mortality as an end point. We extracted data using a standardized form and assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Seven studies were identified (6780 patients) from 3936 initial search results. Four studies reported that transfusion of older blood was independently associated with increased mortality in trauma patients, while 3 studies did not observe any increase in patient mortality with the use of older versus newer blood. Three studies associated the transfusion of older blood with adverse patient outcomes, including longer stay in the intensive care unit, complicated sepsis, pneumonia and renal dysfunction. Studies varied considerably in design, volumes of blood transfused and definitions applied for old and new blood.. CONCLUSION: The impact of the age of stored packed red blood cells on mortality in trauma patients is inconclusive. Future investigations are warranted.

CONTEXTE: On ne connaît pas l'incidence de la durée de stockage des globules rouges sur la mortalité des patients atteints de lésions traumatiques qui ont besoin de transfusions de produits sanguins. L'objectif de cette revue systématique était de trouver et d'analyser la documentation scientifique qui compare les transfusions de sang chez les patients adultes victimes de trauma en fonction de la durée de stockage du sang. MÉTHODES: Nous avons effectué des recherches sur PubMed, Embase et Lilac et dans la Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Les études retenues portaient sur des transfusions de concentré de globules rouges chez les patients atteints de lésions traumatiques, tenaient compte de la durée de stockage du sang transfusé et faisaient état des décès de patients. Nous avons extrait les données à l'aide d'un formulaire normalisé et évalué la qualité des études selon l'échelle Newcastle­Ottawa. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons sélectionné 7 études (totalisant 6780 patients) parmi les 3936 résultats de la recherche initiale. D'un côté, 4 études rapportaient que la transfusion de sang dont la durée de stockage était longue était indépendamment associée à l'augmentation de la mortalité chez les patients atteints de lésions traumatiques; de l'autre, 3 études ne faisaient état d'aucune augmentation de la mortalité en fonction de la durée de stockage du sang transfusé. Trois études associaient la transfusion de sang stocké depuis longtemps à des résultats indésirables, notamment un séjour prolongé aux soins intensifs ainsi que la septicémie compliquée, la pneumonie et l'insuffisance rénale. Le modèle d'étude, le volume des transfusions et les définitions de ce qui constitue une longue ou une courte durée de stockage du sang variaient considérablement d'une étude à l'autre. CONCLUSION: Les résultats de cette revue systématique des effets de la durée de stockage des concentrés de globules rouges sur la mortalité des patients atteints de lésions traumatiques ne sont pas concluants. D'autres recherches devront être menées pour éclaircir la question.

Patient management in the emergency department by advanced care paramedics.

We describe an emergency department process using Advanced Care Paramedics in the management of patients identified as ambulatory and low acuity, or those able to be managed without an emergency nurse. Patients streamed in this way had shorter stays than other emergency patients, without affecting the care of the latter. The process was associated with improved patient flow indicators in spite of an increased patient burden.

Procedural sedation by advanced care paramedics for emergency gastrointestinal endoscopy.

OBJECTIVES: At the QEII Health Sciences Centre Emergency Department (ED) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, advanced care paramedics (ACPs) perform procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) for many indications, including orthopedic procedures. We have begun using ACPs as sedationists for emergent upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy. This study compares ACP-performed ED PSA for UGI endoscopy and orthopedic procedures in terms of adverse events, airway intervention, vasopressor requirement, and PSA medication use. METHODS: A data set was built from an ED PSA quality control database matching 61 UGI endoscopy PSAs to 183 orthopedic PSAs by propensity scores calculated using age, gender, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification. Outcomes assessed were hypotension (systolic BP30 sec), vomiting, arrhythmias, death, airway intervention, vasopressor requirement, and PSA medication use. RESULTS: UGI endoscopy patients experienced hypotension more frequently than orthopedic patients (OR=4.11, CI: 2.05-8.22) and required airway repositioning less often (OR=0.24, CI: 0.10-0.59). They received ketamine more frequently (OR=15.7, CI: 4.75-67.7) and fentanyl less often (OR=0.30, CI: 0.15-0.63) than orthopedic patients. Four endoscopy patients received phenylephrine, and one required intubation. No patient died in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In ACP-led sedation for UGI endoscopy and orthopedic procedures, adverse events were rare with the notable exception of hypotension, which was more frequent in the endoscopy group. Only endoscopy patients required vasopressor treatment and intubation. We provide preliminary evidence that ACPs can manage ED PSA for emergent UGI endoscopy, although priorities must shift from pain control to hemodynamic optimization.