Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma

Acute coagulopathy is prevalent in adult and pediatric trauma patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While reasonable hypotheses have been created to explain the underlying perturbations of adult trauma coagulopathy (i.e., tissue factor-related increase in thrombin genera...

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Main Authors: Thorsten Haas, Melissa M. Cushing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.600501/full
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author Thorsten Haas
Melissa M. Cushing
author_facet Thorsten Haas
Melissa M. Cushing
author_sort Thorsten Haas
collection DOAJ
description Acute coagulopathy is prevalent in adult and pediatric trauma patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While reasonable hypotheses have been created to explain the underlying perturbations of adult trauma coagulopathy (i.e., tissue factor-related increase in thrombin generation, protein C activation, hypoperfusion, and hyperfibrinolysis), only a small number of studies have been performed to prove whether these mechanisms can likewise be detected in pediatric trauma patients. In addition, severe hypofibrinogenemia (<100 mg/dL) is a frequent finding in pediatric trauma patients (>20%). Although the probability of life-threatening coagulopathy is low with minor to moderate injury, it is present in almost all patients with an injury severity score >25, hypotension, hypothermia, and acidosis. As these multifactorial changes in hemostasis cannot be adequately and rapidly measured using standard laboratory testing, the use of viscoelastic measurements has been established in adult trauma management, but prospective studies in children are urgently needed. Apart from diagnostic challenges, several studies have focused on the impact of blood product ratios on the treatment of massively bleeding pediatric trauma patients. The majority of these studies were unable to show improved survival by using higher plasma to red blood cell ratios or higher platelet to red blood cells ratios, but there are no published randomized trials to definitively answer this question. A goal-directed transfusion protocol using viscoelastic tests together with early substitution with an antifibrinolytic and fibrinogen replacement is a promising alternative to traditional ratio-based interventions. Another crucial factor in treating trauma-induced coagulopathy is the early detection of hypofibrinogenemia, a common condition in massively transfused patients. Early treatment of hypofibrinogenemia is associated with improved morbidity and mortality in adults, but needs to be further studied in future pediatric trials. Pediatric trauma patients are not only threatened by coagulopathy-related bleeding but are also at higher risk for venous thromboembolism. Pediatric trauma patients with brain injury, central venous catheters, immobilization, or surgical procedures are at highest risk for developing a deep venous thrombosis. There are no specific pediatric guidelines established to prevent venous thromboembolism in children suffering from traumatic injury.
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spelling doaj.art-a9093db8e2e04b9aaf67c1dceca9a9e62022-12-22T00:53:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602020-11-01810.3389/fped.2020.600501600501Hemostatic Balance in Severe TraumaThorsten Haas0Melissa M. Cushing1Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Zurich University Children's Hospital, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United StatesAcute coagulopathy is prevalent in adult and pediatric trauma patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While reasonable hypotheses have been created to explain the underlying perturbations of adult trauma coagulopathy (i.e., tissue factor-related increase in thrombin generation, protein C activation, hypoperfusion, and hyperfibrinolysis), only a small number of studies have been performed to prove whether these mechanisms can likewise be detected in pediatric trauma patients. In addition, severe hypofibrinogenemia (<100 mg/dL) is a frequent finding in pediatric trauma patients (>20%). Although the probability of life-threatening coagulopathy is low with minor to moderate injury, it is present in almost all patients with an injury severity score >25, hypotension, hypothermia, and acidosis. As these multifactorial changes in hemostasis cannot be adequately and rapidly measured using standard laboratory testing, the use of viscoelastic measurements has been established in adult trauma management, but prospective studies in children are urgently needed. Apart from diagnostic challenges, several studies have focused on the impact of blood product ratios on the treatment of massively bleeding pediatric trauma patients. The majority of these studies were unable to show improved survival by using higher plasma to red blood cell ratios or higher platelet to red blood cells ratios, but there are no published randomized trials to definitively answer this question. A goal-directed transfusion protocol using viscoelastic tests together with early substitution with an antifibrinolytic and fibrinogen replacement is a promising alternative to traditional ratio-based interventions. Another crucial factor in treating trauma-induced coagulopathy is the early detection of hypofibrinogenemia, a common condition in massively transfused patients. Early treatment of hypofibrinogenemia is associated with improved morbidity and mortality in adults, but needs to be further studied in future pediatric trials. Pediatric trauma patients are not only threatened by coagulopathy-related bleeding but are also at higher risk for venous thromboembolism. Pediatric trauma patients with brain injury, central venous catheters, immobilization, or surgical procedures are at highest risk for developing a deep venous thrombosis. There are no specific pediatric guidelines established to prevent venous thromboembolism in children suffering from traumatic injury.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.600501/fulltraumamassive bleedingthrombosisviscoelastic testingtransfusionpediatrics
spellingShingle Thorsten Haas
Melissa M. Cushing
Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
Frontiers in Pediatrics
trauma
massive bleeding
thrombosis
viscoelastic testing
transfusion
pediatrics
title Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
title_full Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
title_fullStr Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
title_full_unstemmed Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
title_short Hemostatic Balance in Severe Trauma
title_sort hemostatic balance in severe trauma
topic trauma
massive bleeding
thrombosis
viscoelastic testing
transfusion
pediatrics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.600501/full
work_keys_str_mv AT thorstenhaas hemostaticbalanceinseveretrauma
AT melissamcushing hemostaticbalanceinseveretrauma