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. 2022 Dec;29(12):1422-1430.
doi: 10.1111/acem.14580. Epub 2022 Aug 25.

Massive blood transfusion following older adult trauma: The effect of blood ratios on mortality

Affiliations

Massive blood transfusion following older adult trauma: The effect of blood ratios on mortality

Rae D Hohle et al. Acad Emerg Med. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Massive blood transfusion (MBT) following older adult trauma poses unique challenges. Despite extensive evidence on optimal resuscitative strategies in the younger adult patients, there is limited research in the older adult population.

Methods: We used the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database from 2013 to 2017 to identify all patients over 65 years old who received a MBT. We stratified our population into six fresh-frozen plasma:packed red blood cell (FFP:pRBC) ratio cohorts (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6+). Our primary outcomes were 24-h and 30-day mortality. We constructed multivariable regression models with 1:1 group as the baseline and adjusted for confounders to estimate the independent effect of blood ratios on mortality.

Results: A total of 3134 patients met our inclusion criteria (median age 73 ± 7.6 years, 65% male). On risk-adjusted multivariable analysis, 1:1 FFP:pRBC ratio was independently associated with lowest 24-h mortality (1:2 odds ratio [OR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-2.06, p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (1:2 OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15-1.80, p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Compared to all other ratios, the 1:1 FFP:pRBC ratio had the lowest 24-h and 30-day mortality following older adult trauma consistent with findings in the younger adult population.

Keywords: TQIP; blood ratio; massive blood transfusion; older adult; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Exclusion criteria. FFP, fresh‐frozen plasma; MBT, massive blood transfusion; NTDB, National Trauma Data Bank; pRBCs, packed red blood cells.

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