[Therapy of trauma-induced coagulopathy - what is the evidence?]

Abstract

The increasing understanding of trauma-induced coagulopathy has led to an expansion of treatment strategies in the acute management of trauma patients. The aim of this manuscript is to give a summary of current recommendations for the treatment of trauma-induced coagulopathy based on current literature and valid guidelines. Thetrauma-induced coagulopathyis an independentacutemultifactorial diseasewith significantimpact on the mortalityof severelyinjured patients. Largely responsible for the occurrence and severity of trauma-induced coagulopathy seems to be tissue trauma and shock-induced hypoperfusion. Coagulopathy is amplified by accompanying factors such as hypothermia or dilution. Diagnosis and therapy of deranged coagulation should start as soon as possible. Routinely tested coagulation parameters are of limited use to confirm diagnosis. Therapy follows the concept of "damage control resuscitation". Infusion of large volumes should be avoided and a mean arterial pressure of 65mmHg (in consideration of contraindications!) may be aimed.A specific protocol for massive transfusion should be introduced and continued.Acidaemia should be prevented and treated by appropriate shock therapy.Loss of body temperature should be prevented and treated. Hypocalcaemia <0.9 mmol/l should be avoided and may be treated. For actively bleeding patients, packed red blood cells (pRBC) may be given at haemoglobin<10g/dl(0,62mmol/l). If massive transfusion is performed using fresh frozen plasma (FFP), a ratio of FFP to pRBC of 1:2 to 1:1 should be achieved.For treatment of hyperfibrinolysis after severe trauma the use of tranexamic acid should be considered at an early stage. Fibrinogen should be substituted at levels <1,5g/l (4,41μmol/l). Prothrombin complex concentrates may be helpfull for treatment of diffuse bleeding or anticoagulativemedikation. In acute bleeding, platelets may be transfused at a platet count <100000/μl. For diffuse bleeding or thrombocytopathic patients desmopressin might be a therapeutic option.If a factor XIII (FXIII) measurement is not promptly available, a factor XIII blind-dose should be considered in severe ongoing bleeding. The use of recombinant activated coagulation factor VII (rFVIIa) be considered if major bleeding persists despite standard attempts to control bleeding and best practice use of blood components.