Compliance with the European trauma guidelines: An observational single centre study.

OBJECTIVES: The European trauma guidelines were developed to assist clinicians in the early phase of trauma management to diagnose and treat coagulopathy and bleeding. This study aimed to determine compliance with these European trauma guidelines in a French referral trauma centre. METHODS: Medical charts of trauma patients with an injury severity score≥16 admitted between January 2013 and December 2014 were reviewed. Compliance with 21 recommendations in the first 24-hours of patient management was assessed. RESULTS: There were 145 patients with median ISS of 34 [IQR 25-41]. A good level of compliance (i.e. applied in≥80% of patients) was identified for nine recommendations, inconsistent compliance (i.e. applied in 50 to 79% of patients) for six recommendations, including fibrinogen levels at hospital admission and achievement of a target mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)>80mmHg in patients with major bleeding and TBI (55.5%), and poor compliance (i.e. applied in<50% of patients) for another six recommendations. Poorly applied recommendations included early measurement of lactate or base deficit (32%), early administration of tranexamic acid (18%), and achievement of normocapnia in patients with TBI undergoing invasive ventilation (3%). CONCLUSIONS: In a referral trauma centre, nine of the 21 evaluable recommendations in the European trauma guidelines were applied in≥80% of patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related coagulopathy was identified as an area for significant practice improvement. In patients with TBI, efforts should be made to achieve the targeted MAP and to maintain normocapnia.

Implementation and evaluation of a major haemorrhage protocol in the Emergency Department Resuscitation Area in the University-affiliated Hospital of Brest (France).

Haemorrhagic shock is a rare occurrence in emergency medicine but it can be associated with significant mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a major haemorrhage protocol on patient management in Emergency Department Resuscitation Area. METHODS: A single-centre study was conducted to compare two periods, before and after institution of a massive haemorrhage protocol including the use of massive transfusion orders and the availability of packed red blood cell concentrates prior to patient's admission. Two groups of patients (in both trauma and non-trauma settings) were defined: "before protocol" and "after protocol". The primary outcome was the median transfusion time for a unit of red blood cell concentrate. RESULTS: Forty patients were included: 22 for the "pre-protocol" group and 18 for the "post-protocol" group. The two groups were balanced with baseline characteristics. This study showed a significantly reduced median transfusion time for a unit of red blood cell concentrate from 20min pre-protocol to 9min post-protocol. The time between patient's admission and transfusion of the first red blood cell concentrate was reduced but non-significantly from 71min to 36min. CONCLUSION: The major haemorrhage protocol optimised patient management by reducing the median transfusion time for red blood cell concentrates.

How clinicians can minimize transfusion-related adverse events?

OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-related adverse events (TRAE) can contribute to patient morbidity and mortality. In this brief narrative review, the strategies that clinicians can apply at the bedside to avoid TRAE are discussed. METHODS: Strategies to avoid the following five types of TRAE were reviewed: transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), transfusion-associated hypothermia (TAH), transfusion-related allergic reactions (TRAR) and acute haemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTR). RESULTS: Minimizing exposure to blood components is fundamental to TRAE avoidance. Pre-transfusion assessment can identify patients at risk of TACO, TRAR and TAH, and avoidance steps implemented. Preventive strategies for TACO include lower transfusion rate, 'one unit at a time' transfusion policy and possibly diuretic medication. Patients with past history of TRAR should preferably be given plasma-free blood components; anti-histamine medication prior to transfusion could be considered. TAH is common in the massive transfusion setting, particularly trauma patients. Warming of patients are key strategies to avoid TAH. Identification of patients at risk of TRALI is more opaque; however, any measures that limit pulmonary inflammation prior to transfusion may decrease the risk of TRALI. Causes of AHTR are commonly due to human error and failure to apply rigorous cross-checks of patient and issued RBC component blood groups. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial strategies to avoid TRAE include judicious use of blood components, identification of high-risk patients, adherence to recommended clinical processes and awareness of TRAE pathophysiology. More evidence is warranted to better guide clinicians in the prevention of TRAE.

Plasma for direct therapeutic use, for today and tomorrow: A short critical overview.

Plasma for direct therapeutic use is a fast-evolving blood component in terms of its production and presentation. More than a dozen forms are available worldwide, which is often overlooked since most countries apply policies making only one or very few forms available for treating patients in need. It is most often reserved for the same three clinical indications, i.e. overall clotting-factor deficiency, reversal of vitamin K antagonists in the context of active bleeding or prior to urgent surgery, and therapeutic plasma exchange. The level of evidence is often less robust than generally acknowledged for such major indications while novel indications are tending to emerge in medical and trauma settings. This short review explores classical views and new prospects opened up by novel presentations and statuses for therapeutic plasma.

Transfusion-associated hazards: A revisit of their presentation.

As a therapy or a support to other therapies, despite being largely beneficial to patients in general, transfusion it is not devoid of some risks. In a moderate number of cases, patients may manifest adverse reactions, otherwise referred to as transfusion-associated hazards (TAHs). The latest French 2016 haemovigilance report indicates that 93% of TAHs are minor (grade 1), 5.5% are moderate (grade 2) and 1.6% are severe (grade 3), with only five deaths (grade 4) being attributed to transfusion with relative certainty (imputability of level [or grade] 1 to 3). Health-care providers need to be well aware of the benefits and potential risks (to best evaluate and discuss the benefit-risk ratio), how to prevent TAHs, the overall costs and the availability of alternative therapeutic options. In high-income countries, most blood establishments (BEs) and hospital blood banks (HBBs) have developed tools for reporting and analysing at least severe transfusion reactions. With nearly two decades of haemovigilance, transfusion reaction databases should be quite informative, though there are four main caveats that prevent it from being fully efficient: (ai) reporting is mainly declarative and is thus barely exhaustive even in countries where it is mandatory by law; (aii) it is often difficult to differentiate between the different complications related to transfusion, diseases, comorbidities and other types of therapies in patients suffering from debilitating conditions; (aiii) there is a lack of consistency in the definitions used to describe and report some transfusion reactions, their severity and their likelihood of being related to transfusion; and (aiv) it is difficult to assess the imputability of a particular BC given to a patient who has previously received many BCs over a relatively short period of time. When compiling all available information published so far, it appears that TAHs can be analysed using different approaches: (bi) their pathophysiological nature; (bii) their severity; (biii) the onset scheme; (biv) a quality assessment (preventable or non-preventable); (bv) their impact on ongoing therapy. Moreover, TAHs can be reported either in a non-integrative or in an integrative way; in the latter case, presentation may also differ when issued by a blood establishment or a treating ward. At some point, a recapitulative document would be useful to gain a better understanding of TAHs in order to decrease their occurrence and severity and allow decision makers to determine action plans: this is what this review attempts to make. This review attempts to merge the different aspects, with a focus on the hospital side, i.e., how the most frequent TAHs can be avoided or mitigated.

A clinically relevant and bias-controlled murine model to study acute traumatic coagulopathy.

Acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) is an acute and endogenous mechanism triggered by the association of trauma and hemorrhage. Several animal models have been developed, but some major biases have not yet been identified. Our aim was to develop a robust and clinically relevant murine model to study this condition. Anesthetized adult Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups: C, control; T, trauma; H, hemorrhage; TH, trauma and hemorrhage (n = 7 each). Trauma consisted of laparotomy associated with four-limb and splenic fractures. Clinical variables, ionograms, arterial and hemostasis blood tests were compared at 0 and 90 min. ATC and un-compensated shock were observed in group TH. In this group, the rise in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin was 29 and 40%, respectively. Shock markers, compensation mechanisms and coagulation pathways were all consistent with human pathophysiology. The absence of confounding factors, such as trauma-related bleeding or dilution due to trans-capillary refill was verified. This ethic, cost effective and bias-controlled model reproduced the specific and endogenous mechanism of ATC and will allow to identify potential targets for therapeutics in case of trauma-related hemorrhage.

Postauthorization safety study of Clottafact® , a triply secured fibrinogen concentrate in acquired fibrinogen deficiency: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A postauthorization safety study was performed between 2009 and 2012 to describe the use of Clottafact® in acquired fibrinogen deficiency in real-life medical practice in France. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients were planned for 28 days of prospective follow-up after infusion. The analysis of this observational study was descriptive and performed according to the type of treatment (curative or preventive) and the origin of the bleed. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-six patients (16-87 years) were included in 13 centres and treated in five different medical bleeding situations: postpartum (59), other gynaecological/obstetrical (6), trauma (34), liver (13), cardiovascular (23) and other various bleeding situations (21). The mean follow-up time was 18·9 ± 12·3 days. Two patients presented adverse drug reactions: one a pulmonary embolism and the other a four-site venous thromboembolic episode. All were serious with a dubious causal relationship with the study treatment. Efficacy data were collected as a secondary objective. In 150 patients receiving curative treatment, 117 of 159 infusions (73·6%) were considered as successful by the investigators, 35 as moderate (22%) and seven as no response (4·4%). CONCLUSION: The Clottafact® safety profile observed during the study matched the known profile of fibrinogen during use.

[Hospital-acquired anemia: Facts, consequences and prevention]. / Anémies nosocomiales : réalité, conséquences et prévention.

Hospital-acquired anemia is common, especially in the most critically ill patients. It may be associated with poor patient outcomes. It may result from increased blood loss, impaired red cell production or reduced red cell life span. Multiple associated factors may contribute simultaneously or sequentially to the decrease in hemoglobin level. Some of them are related to the underlying disease and others are iatrogenic. Clinicians should be aware of the importance and consequences of iatrogenic anemia caused by diagnostic blood sampling. Strategies and measures to minimize iatrogenic blood loss should be prioritized. They may reduce the risk of developing anemia and then red blood cells transfusion requirement.

[The prevention of transfusion-associated circulatory overload]. / Prévention du risque d'œdème aigu pulmonaire associé à la transfusion.

Hydrostatic pulmonary edema is a frequent and severe complication of blood transfusion. Recent epidemiological studies open the way for a better prevention of Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload. Preventive measures rely solely on the medical and nursing staff. Mitigation strategies include a careful identification of patients and conditions at-risk, a single-unit transfusion policy in patients with chronic anemia, the use of slow infusion rates, the careful monitoring of patient vital signs (particularly systemic arterial blood pressure). Peritransfusion IV diuretics use is likely to be helpful, although optimal prescribing patterns have not been defined.

Swimming-induced immersion pulmonary edema while snorkeling can be rapidly life-threatening: case reports.

It is well known that immersion pulmonary edema can be life-threatening for divers using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba). Swimming-induced pulmonary edema in otherwise healthy individuals is not an object of dispute but its real severity is not well known and is probably underestimated. We report two cases of life-threatening acute respiratory distress while swimming and snorkeling, one of which is well documented for swimming-induced pulmonary edema. The interest of these case reports lies in the suddenness of these life-threatening events. Such accidents can mimic a loss of consciousness due to cardiac dysrhythmia and lead to drowning. In the case of swimming-induced pulmonary edema, the prognosis is far better than for a cardiac disorder, but it is also dependent on the efficiency of the supervision. Swimmers, divers, race organizers and supervising physicians should be given knowledge of this pathology and its potentially acute occurrence. Adequate organizational dispositions are mandatory to prevent swimming-induced pulmonary edema-related deaths.

[ICU acquired neuromyopathy]. / La neuromyopathie acquise en réanimation.

ICU acquired neuromyopathy (IANM) is the most frequent neurological pathology observed in ICU. Nerve and muscle defects are merged with neuromuscular junction abnormalities. Its physiopathology is complex. The aim is probably the redistribution of nutriments and metabolism towards defense against sepsis. The main risk factors are sepsis, its severity and its duration of evolution. IANM is usually diagnosed in view of difficulties in weaning from mechanical ventilation, but electrophysiology may allow an earlier diagnosis. There is no curative therapy, but early treatment of sepsis, glycemic control as well as early physiotherapy may decrease its incidence. The outcomes of IANM are an increase in morbi-mortality and possibly long-lasting neuromuscular abnormalities as far as tetraplegia.

[TRALI in the University Hospital of Nancy: a reevaluation of the incidence after applying strict criteria of Toronto]. / Les TRALI au CHU de Nancy : une incidence reconsidérée après l'application stricte des critères de Toronto.

"Transfusion-related acute lung injury" (TRALI) is a post-transfusion lesional pulmonary edema, potentially severe, better defined since the conference of Toronto in 2004. The incidence of TRALI reported in France remains low in part because of its ignorance by physicians. The objective of our study was to evaluate retrospectively transfusion accidents with respiratory complications that occurred in Nancy University Hospital and reported to the haemovigilance between 1996 and 2006, from the software "Traceline" listing all the blood transfusion complications from signs observed. The analysis of the files has been performed by applying rigorously diagnostic criteria of Toronto. Forty-one cases of respiratory complications were found in 34,573 blood products. Ten cases of TRALI were diagnosed while only one case had been reported to the haemovigilance. The remaining nine cases were previously labeled transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO). No cases of TRALI have been identified in the ICU. Our work can find an incidence of TRALI 10 times greater than previously reported. Ignorance of TRALI and the lack of consensus definition before 2004 are not sufficient to explain these results. This study demonstrates the potential interest of database and computerized declaration system based on the symptoms observed. It highlights the vulnerability of the current haemovigilance too dependent on a single medical observer. Although TRALI are recognized as serious complications, sometimes requiring resuscitative care, our work was not isolated severe TRALI in ICU. Physician awareness of TRALI to the identification and to the declaration, including ICU should be continued. Finally, the diagnostic criteria for TRALI must be adapted to the ICU.

[Management of hemostasis abnormalities in patients with liver failure]. / Prise en charge des troubles de l'hémostase chez l'insuffisant hépatique.

Patients with end-stage liver disease have complex alterations that involve all components of hemostasis, with changes both in prohemostatic and in antihemostatic pathways. Routine haemostasis tests such as prothrombin time and platelet count are unable to reflect a bleeding tendency. Bleeding complications are much less related to abnormal hemostasis than previously thought, with portal hypertension playing a more critical role. Systematic prophylactic measures based upon the use of fresh frozen plasma and/or platelet concentrates to improve or correct the abnormalities of the routine coagulation tests are most often inappropriate and may occasionally be deleterious.

[Current trends in plasma transfusion for patients with severe hemorrhage]. / Plasma thérapeutique dans les hémorragies sévères.

Recent changes in plasma transfusion practices for severe hemorrhage are largely related to the recognition of an early endogenous coagulopathy associated with traumatic injury. Observational and mostly retrospective data suggest improved survival rates with high-dose plasma therapy, up to a 1:1 ratio of fresh frozen plasma to packed red blood cells, but the quality of evidence is limited. Putting it into practice raises many issues (early identification of patients at risk of massive bleeding, extrapolation to non-trauma settings, alternative or adjunctive treatments, among others) that are discussed in this brief review.

[Transfusion-associated circulatory overload]. / Œdèmes aigus pulmonaires de surcharge post-transfusionnels.

A working group of the French National Hemovigilance Committee has been in charge of heightening awareness of Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO) among physicians and nurses. This multidisciplinary group has produced the present document that focuses on epidemiological data provided by the French haemovigilance network, physiopathology, diagnosis, treatment and specific actions that could prevent or minimize the risk of TACO.

[1/1 plasma to red blood cell ratio: an evidence-based practice?]. / Le ratio transfusionnel PFC/CGR 1/1: un phénomène de mode basé sur des preuves?

Coagulopathy during massive haemorrhage increases morbidity and mortality rates. The modalities of treatment by transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are a matter of debate. According to most clinical practice guidelines, FFP administration is driven by coagulation tests but, in cases of massive transfusion, patient management may be delayed whilst awaiting results and thawing FFP. Several retrospective cohort studies of military or civilian multiple trauma casualties requiring massive transfusion (>10 red blood cells (RBC) within 24h) have suggested that early use of FFP and high FFP:RBC ratios (approaching 1) might improve survival and lessen morbidity. However, the methodology of these studies is suboptimal. They are subject, in particular, to survival bias. Massive FFP transfusions can also lead to an enhanced incidence of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ failure. At the present time, it is clear that FFP transfusion should be initiated early with a high FFP:RBC ratio in massive bleeding associated with haemostatic abnormalities such as multiple trauma. This does not imply that such a recommendation can be extended to the correction of high blood loss in other situations such as scheduled surgery. Actually, very few patients are likely to derive benefit from a 1/1 FFP:RBC transfusion strategy. They are chiefly multiple trauma victims with haemorrhagic shock and cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. In other patients, in order to minimize risks and costs, a more parsimonious FFP use policy remains the best option until evidence for the benefit of 1/1 FFP:RBC is demonstrated.

Detection, evaluation, and management of preoperative anaemia in the elective orthopaedic surgical patient: NATA guidelines.

Previously undiagnosed anaemia is common in elective orthopaedic surgical patients and is associated with increased likelihood of blood transfusion and increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. A standardized approach for the detection, evaluation, and management of anaemia in this setting has been identified as an unmet medical need. A multidisciplinary panel of physicians was convened by the Network for Advancement of Transfusion Alternatives (NATA) with the aim of developing practice guidelines for the detection, evaluation, and management of preoperative anaemia in elective orthopaedic surgery. A systematic literature review and critical evaluation of the evidence was performed, and recommendations were formulated according to the method proposed by the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group. We recommend that elective orthopaedic surgical patients have a haemoglobin (Hb) level determination 28 days before the scheduled surgical procedure if possible (Grade 1C). We suggest that the patient's target Hb before elective surgery be within the normal range, according to the World Health Organization criteria (Grade 2C). We recommend further laboratory testing to evaluate anaemia for nutritional deficiencies, chronic renal insufficiency, and/or chronic inflammatory disease (Grade 1C). We recommend that nutritional deficiencies be treated (Grade 1C). We suggest that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents be used for anaemic patients in whom nutritional deficiencies have been ruled out, corrected, or both (Grade 2A). Anaemia should be viewed as a serious and treatable medical condition, rather than simply an abnormal laboratory value. Implementation of anaemia management in the elective orthopaedic surgery setting will improve patient outcomes.