Pre-hospital transfusion of red blood cells. Part 2: A systematic review of treatment effects on outcomes.

Elisabeth C Van Turenhout,Georgios F Giannakopoulos,Patrick Schober,Stephan A Loer,Sebastiaan M Bossers,Lothar A Schwarte

doi:10.1111/tme.12659

Abstract

SummaryThe primary aim of this systematic review is to describe the effects of prehospital transfusion of red blood cells (PHTRBC) on patient outcomes. Damage control resuscitation attempts to prevent death through haemorrhage in trauma patients. In this context, transfusion of red blood cells is increasingly used by emergency medical services (EMS). However, evidence on the effects on outcomes is scarce. PubMed and Web of Science were searched through January 2019; 55 articles were included. No randomised controlled studies were identified. While several observational studies suggest an increased survival after PHTRBC, consistent evidence for beneficial effects of PHTRBC on survival was not found. PHTRBC appears to improve haemodynamic parameters, but there is no evidence that shock on arrival to hospital is averted, nor of an association with trauma induced coagulopathy or with length of stay in hospitals or intensive care units. In conclusion, PHTRBC is increasingly used by EMS, but there is no strong evidence for effects of PHTRBC on mortality. Further research with study designs that allow causal inferences is required for more conclusive evidence. The combination of PHTRBC with plasma, as well as the use of individualised transfusion criteria, may potentially show more benefits and should be thoroughly investigated in the future. The review was registered at Prospero (CRD42018084658).

Highlights

In damage control resuscitation (DCR), blood products are preferred over crystalloids as fluid replacement, while a degree of hypotension is accepted until haemorrhage control has been achieved
Results on overall mortality are conflicting, and we found no consistent evidence for any effects of prehospital transfusion of red blood cells (PHTRBC) on survival
In the absence of high-quality data, it seems reasonable to assume that massively bleeding patients may benefit from PHTRBC

Summary

Introduction

Haemorrhage is a potentially preventable cause of death after major trauma. Topical treatment is not always sufficient to control haemorrhage, since it is often non-compressible. The lethal triad of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy is related to haemorrhagic shock, especially when blood loss is treated with liberal crystalloid fluid replacement. In damage control resuscitation (DCR), blood products are preferred over crystalloids as fluid replacement, while a degree of hypotension is accepted until haemorrhage control has been achieved.6-11Through transfusion of red blood cells (RBC), the infusion of large volumes of crystalloids may be avoided, as RBC provide a more effective volume expansion. Haemorrhage is a potentially preventable cause of death after major trauma.. Topical treatment is not always sufficient to control haemorrhage, since it is often non-compressible.. The lethal triad of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy is related to haemorrhagic shock, especially when blood loss is treated with liberal crystalloid fluid replacement.. In damage control resuscitation (DCR), blood products are preferred over crystalloids as fluid replacement, while a degree of hypotension is accepted until haemorrhage control has been achieved.. Through transfusion of red blood cells (RBC), the infusion of large volumes of crystalloids may be avoided, as RBC provide a more effective volume expansion. Haemostasis and thrombosis are promoted and oxygen carrying capacity restored.

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Discussion

Conclusion