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The use of whole blood in traumatic bleeding: a systematic review
Cruciani M, Franchini M, Mengoli C, Marano G, Pati I, Masiello F, Veropalumbo E, Pupella S, Vaglio S, Agostini V, et al
Internal and emergency medicine. 2020
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Abstract
Hemostatic resuscitation is currently considered a standard of care for the management of life-threatening hemorrhage, but in some critical settings the access to high quantities of blood components is problematic. Whole blood (WB) transfusion has been proposed as an alternative modality for hemostatic resuscitation of traumatic major bleeding. To assess the efficacy and safety of WB in trauma-associated massive bleeding, we performed a systematic review of the literature. We selected studies comparing WB transfusions to transfusion of blood components (COMP) in massive trauma bleeding; both randomized clinical trial (RCT) and observational studies were considered. The outcomes were mortality (30-day/in-hospital and 24-h mortality) and adverse events/transfusion reactions. The effect sizes were crude odds ratio (OR), adjusted OR and hazard ratio (HR). The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs, and the ROBIN-1 tool for observational studies. The overall quality of the available evidence was assessed with the GRADE system. One RCT (2 reports) and 6 cohort studies were included (3642 adult patients; 675 receiving WB, 2967 receiving COMP). Three studies were conducted in military setting, and 4 in civilian setting. In the overall analysis, 30-day/in-hospital and 24-h mortality did not differ significantly between groups (very low quality of the evidence due to high risk of bias, imprecision and inconsistency). After adjustment for baseline covariates in three cohort studies, the OR for mortality was significantly lower in WB recipients compared to COMP (OR 0.22; 95% CIs 0.10/0.45) (moderate grade of evidence). Adverse events and transfusion reactions were overlooked and not consistently reported. The available evidence does not allow to draw definite conclusions on the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of WB transfusion compared to COMP transfusion. Further well designed research is needed.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with massive trauma bleeding (7 studies, n= 3642).
Intervention
Whole blood (WB) transfusion (n= 675).
Comparison
Blood components (COMP), (n= 2967).
Outcome
In the overall analysis, 30-day/in-hospital and 24-h mortality did not differ significantly between groups. After adjustment for baseline covariates in three cohort studies, the odds ratio for mortality was significantly lower in WB recipients compared to COMP. Adverse events and transfusion reactions were overlooked and not consistently reported.
2.
The use of fibrinogen concentrate for the management of trauma-related bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mengoli C, Franchini M, Marano G, Pupella S, Vaglio S, MariettaM, Liumbruno GM
Blood Transfusion.. 2017;15((4)):318-324.
Abstract
Haemorrhage following injury is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The role of fibrinogen concentrate in trauma-induced coagulopathy has been the object of intense research in the last 10 years and has been systematically analysed in this review. A systematic search of the literature identified six retrospective studies and one prospective one, involving 1,650 trauma patients. There were no randomised trials. Meta-analysis showed that fibrinogen concentrate has no effect on overall mortality (risk ratio: 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 0.83-1.38). Although the meta-analytic pooling of the current literature evidence suggests no beneficial effect of fibrinogen concentrate in the setting of severe trauma, the quality of data retrieved was poor and the final results of ongoing randomised trials will help to further elucidate the role of fibrinogen concentrate in traumatic bleeding.