Abstract
Background: Hemorrhage is a leading cause of early mortality following trauma. A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) to guide resuscitation while bleeding is definitively controlled may improve outcomes. Prompts to initiate massive transfusion (MT) include shock index (SI) and the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) score.
Objective: To compare SI with the ABC score for association with transfusion requirement, need for emergency hemorrhage interventions, and early mortality.
Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of trauma MTP activations at our Level I trauma center was conducted from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. The study data were obtained from the Trauma Registry and the blood bank. An SI cutoff of 1.0 was chosen for comparison with the positive ABC score.
Results: The study cohort included 146 patients. Shock index >= 1 had significant association with MT requirement (p = .002) whereas a positive ABC score did not (p = .65). More patients with SI >= 1 required bleeding control interventions (67% surgery, 47% interventional radiology) than patients having a positive ABC score (49% surgery, 29% interventional radiology). For geriatric patients who received MT, 65% had SI >= 1 but only 30% had a positive ABC score. Three-hour mortality following emergency department arrival was similar (60% SI >= 1, 62% positive ABC score).
Conclusion: Shock index >= 1 outperformed a positive ABC score for association with MT requirement. Shock index is a simple tool registered nurses can independently utilize to anticipate MT.