Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation Research Articles

Trends in pre-hospital volume resuscitation of blunt trauma patients: a 15-year analysis of the British (TARN) and German (TraumaRegister DGU®) National Registries

IntroductionFluid resuscitation has long been a cornerstone of pre-hospital trauma care, yet its optimal approach remains undetermined. Although a liberal approach to fluid resuscitation has been linked with increased complications, the potential survival benefits of a restrictive approach in blunt trauma patients have not been definitively established. Consequently, equipoise persists regarding the optimal fluid resuscitation strategy in this population.MethodsWe analysed data from the two largest European trauma registries, the UK Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) and the German TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU), between 2004 and 2018. All adult blunt trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score > 15 were included. We examined annual trends in pre-hospital fluid resuscitation, admission coagulation function, and mortality rates.ResultsOver the 15-year study period, data from 68,510 patients in the TARN cohort and 82,551 patients in the TR-DGU cohort were analysed. In the TARN cohort, 3.4% patients received pre-hospital crystalloid fluids, with a median volume of 25 ml (20–36 ml) administered. Conversely, in the TR-DGU cohort, 91.1% patients received pre-hospital crystalloid fluids, with a median volume of 756 ml (750–912 ml) administered. Notably, both cohorts demonstrated a consistent year-on-year decrease in the volume of pre-hospital fluid administered, accompanied by improvements in admission coagulation function and reduced mortality rates.ConclusionConsiderable variability exists in pre-hospital fluid resuscitation strategies for blunt trauma patients. Our data suggest a trend towards reduced pre-hospital fluid administration over time. This trend appears to be associated with improved coagulation function and decreased mortality rates. However, we acknowledge that these outcomes are influenced by multiple factors, including other improvements in pre-hospital care over time. Future research should aim to identify which trauma populations may benefit, be harmed, or remain unaffected by different pre-hospital fluid resuscitation strategies.

Crystalloid Fluid Management of Non-Traumatic Hypotension by New South Wales Ambulance

Introduction Shock is circulatory insufficiency, inadequate oxygen delivery, and cellular hypoxia. Intravenous fluids are essential for shock management. Despite treatment, patients can face persistent shock with ongoing hypotension, contributing to higher mortality. This analysis aims to quantify hypotensive non-traumatic cases in an Australian ambulance service, determine persistent hypotension prevalence, and assess paramedic-administered intravascular fluids’ impact on blood pressure changes. Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of prehospital fluid resuscitation by New South Wales Ambulance paramedics during 2022. Hypotension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of ≤ 90 mmHg, and persistent hypotension is a systolic blood pressure consistently below 90 mmHg across all observations, with a final blood pressure below 90 mmHg. This study aimed to determine the volume of fluid resuscitation at which a plateau in population-level systolic blood pressure response is observed, by calculating the derivative of the fitted logistic regression model. Moreover, this analysis identified the relative contribution of factors influencing the probability of an attempt at intravenous or intraosseous access using machine learning. Results Among 796,865 attendances, 23,049 (2.9%) involved non-traumatic patients with hypotension. In total 7,388 (32.1%) of the hypotensive cases resulted in persistent hypotension, of which 3,235 (43.8%) received Hartmann’s solution and 1,745 (53.9%) received at least 500 ml of fluids but still had hypotension. The model showed that systolic blood pressure tends to stop increasing after 500–600 milliliters of fluid are given. This suggests that, on average, giving more fluid than this may not raise blood pressure further in a prehospital setting, though individual patient needs can differ. The top four factors from the machine learning shows that as initial respiratory rate goes up, the probability of intravascular access rises. Transport times less than 20 min are associated with a smaller chance of access and younger patients are less likely to receive an attempt. Finally, extremes of systolic blood pressure are more likely to receive access attempts. Conclusion This study found that three percent of non-traumatic attendances have at least one episode of hypotension, and that more than half of these have persistent hypotension. Only 44% of persistently hypotensive received fluids, and half of persistently hypotensive patients stayed hypotensive despite a reasonable volume of prehospital crystalloids.

Factors influencing spontaneous hypothermia after emergency trauma and the construction of a predictive model.

This study aimed to investigate spontaneous hypothermia among emergency trauma patients and develop a predictive model. A cohort of 162 emergency trauma patients was categorized into hypothermic (n = 61) and control (n = 101) groups, with trauma severity assessed using the modified Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the groups in trauma severity, posture, garment wetness, warming measures, pre-hospital fluid resuscitation, and modified GCS scores (P < 0.05). The hypothermic group exhibited lower prothrombin time compared to the control group (P < 0.05). A logistic regression model was constructed, expressed as Y = 25.76 - 1.030X 1 + 0.725X 2 + 0.922X 3 - 0.750X 4 - 0.57X 6, and its fit was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.871, with 81.2% sensitivity and 79.5% specificity. The Youden index identified the optimal predictive cut-off at its highest (0.58). Validation results included 86.21% sensitivity, 82.93% specificity, and 84.29% accuracy. Risk factors for spontaneous hypothermia after emergency trauma encompassed trauma severity, posture during consultation, clothing dampness upon admission, warming measures during transfer, pre-hospital fluid resuscitation, and modified GCS scores. The risk prediction model demonstrated high accuracy, enabling effective assessment of spontaneous hypothermia risk in emergency trauma patients and facilitating preventive measures.

Factors Associated With Early Discharge in Pediatric Trauma Patients Transported by Rotor: A Retrospective Analysis

ObjectiveHelicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) play a crucial role in providing timely transport for pediatric trauma patients. This service carries the highest risk of any mode of medical transport and a high financial burden, and patient outcomes are seldom investigated. This study evaluated the characteristics of pediatric trauma patients discharged within 24 hours after transport by HEMS. MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective analysis on pediatric trauma patients transported by HEMS from 2019 to 2022. Analyses were performed to identify factors associated with discharge within 24 hours. Factors analyzed included vital signs, Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted scores, management details, and clinical outcomes. ResultsA total of 466 pediatric trauma patients were transported by HEMS, including 171 patients (36.7%) who were discharged within 24 hours. There were no differences in the rates of blunt and penetrating injury (P = .583). Patients discharged within 24 hours were more likely to have a higher Glasgow Coma Scale score (14 vs. 11, P < .001) and a lower Injury Severity Score (4.9 vs. 14.7, P < .001), required less prehospital fluid resuscitation (5.5 vs. 11.7 mL/kg, P = .039), and had higher levels of serum calcium (9.3 vs. 8.9 mg/dL, P < .001). They were also less likely to meet criteria for level 1 trauma activation (13.0% vs. 40%, P < .001) or to require prehospital respiratory support of any kind (4.1% vs. 31.1%, P < .001). After arrival at the hospital, they were less likely to require blood transfusions (2.9% vs. 29.8%, P < .001) or tranexamic acid (2.9% vs. 11.5%, P = .001). ConclusionTrauma patients with a high Glasgow Coma Scale score and a low Injury Severity Score who do not require critical care or meet the criteria for high-level trauma activation may be suitable for transportation with lower acuity. Further studies aimed at improving triage and implementing improved criteria for the use of HEMS are paramount.

The Accuracy of Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation of Burn Patients: A Systematic Review

Early management of burns is an essential component of achieving desirable patient outcomes. One of the earliest points of patient management in the case of burn injuries is in the prehospital setting. Unlike first aid, which can be provided by a non-healthcare worker, fluid resuscitation can be provided in the prehospital setting by emergency medical services personnel. This systematic review aims to investigate whether burn patients are receiving accurate fluid resuscitation in the prehospital setting. In addition, it will investigate if existing inaccuracies could impact patient outcomes negatively. This systematic review was completed in accordance with the guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The search for eligible studies started by searching relevant databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Google Scholar). The selected studies were screened, and data were extracted and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of this review, with a total of 961 patients. All seven studies included in this review reported that the volume of fluids for resuscitation purposes received by burn patients in the prehospital setting was inaccurate. However, most reported that the patient outcomes were not affected. Most of the studies were rated as “good,” however, and further high-quality randomized control studies are required before strong recommendations can be made.

P148 Prehospital fluid resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

P148 Prehospital fluid resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

Association between prehospital fluid resuscitation with crystalloids and outcome of trauma patients in Asia by a cross-national multicenter cohort study

Prehospital fluid resuscitation with crystalloids in patients following trauma remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between prehospital fluid resuscitation and outcomes of trauma patients in Asia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients between 2016 and 2018 using data from the Pan-Asia Trauma Outcomes Study (PATOS) database. Prehospital fluid resuscitation was defined as any administration of intravenous crystalloid fluid on the ambulance before arrival to hospitals. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality and poor functional outcomes, defined as Modified Rankin Scale ≥ 4. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to equalize potential prognostic factors in both groups. This study included 31,735 patients from six countries in Asia, and 4318 (13.6%) patients had ever received prehospital fluid resuscitation. The patients receiving prehospital fluid resuscitation had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–3.10, p = 0.001 in PSM analysis. Prehospital fluid resuscitation was also associated with poor functional outcomes, with an OR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.48–2.03, p < 0.001 in PSM analysis. Prehospital fluid resuscitation in patients with major trauma (injury severity score ≥ 16) presented a higher risk of poor functional outcomes (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.89–3.73 in PSM analysis, pinteraction = 0.006) via subgroup analysis. Prehospital fluid resuscitation of trauma patients is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and poor functional outcomes in the subgroup in countries studied.

The Effect of Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation on Mortality and Post-trauma Recovery Time in Trauma Patients

The Effect of Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation on Mortality and Post-trauma Recovery Time in Trauma Patients

The Effect of Lactate Level on Early Mortality and Late Wound Healing in Children with Thoracoabdominal Trauma with Fluid Treatment Before Hospital

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of serum lactate levels on early mortality and late wound healing in patients with childhood thoracoabdominal trauma, pre-hospital fluid replacement in patients admitted to the emergency department. Methods: This study included 479 patients under the age of 18 who applied to the emergency room for thoracoabdominal trauma between January 2014 and December 2018. Of these, 278(58%) were male, with a mean age of 8.34 years (range, 1-16 years). Demographic characteristics, fluid resuscitation, and serum lactate levels, trauma pattern, and mortality results of these patients were evaluated retrospectively. Results: 474 (98.9%) of the cases were blunt and 5 (1.1%) were penetrating trauma. 225 (47%) of the trauma cases were less than one meter falling, 162 (33.8%) were over one meter falling from the high, and 87 (18.2%) were car accidents inside and outside. Mortality was found most common in falling from height cases, which were related to prolonged hospitalization and high lactate level (p &lt; 0.05). Wound healing times of patients undergoing pre-hospital fluid resuscitation and wound healing times of patients without pre-hospital fluid resuscitation were compared. Multivariate regression analysis, lactate level, and wound healing time were found to be predictive of the values found to be significant in the univariate regression analysis with fluid resuscitation and mortality (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Most thoracoabdominal traumas can be treated with conservative methods. Pre-hospital fluid treatment in severe trauma cases may lead to decreased lactate levels, reduced mortality, and shortened wound healing time.

Prehospital hypertonic fluid resuscitation for trauma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prehospital assessment of a patient's circulation status and appropriate resuscitation with intravenous fluids plays a critical role in patients with obvious hemorrhage or systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg. We assessed the efficacy and safety of prehospital administration of crystalloids or colloids to improve the survival rate of trauma patients with acceptable safety profile. We searched SCOPUS, Embase, TRIP database, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed as per search protocol from January 1, 1900 to February 12, 2015. All randomized controlled trials were considered. All patients had penetrating or blunt trauma, excluding traumatic brain or thermal injuries. At least one of the comparators should be a crystalloid or colloid. Detailed search strategy was developed and utilized. Duplicates were removed from the search results. We, the co-first authors (C.d.C. and F.G.), independently reviewed the article titles and abstracts to assess eligibility. Eligible articles were downloaded for full text review to determine inclusion in the review and analysis. We (C.d.C. and F.G.) performed a methodological quality assessment of each included article. The primary outcome was mortality. The secondary outcomes included adverse events, infections, multiple organ dysfunction score, and length of stay at the hospital. Heterogeneity was measured by I value. An I value greater than 50% was considered to be substantial heterogeneity. Fixed effect analysis and random effect analysis were performed when needed. A total of nine trials (3,490 patients) were included in the systematic review, and six trials were included in meta-analyses. There were no significant differences between hypertonic saline with dextran and lactated Ringer's solution in 1 day using two studies (2.91; 95% CI, 0.58-14.54; p = 0.19) and 28- to 30-day survival rates using another two studies (1.47; 95% CI, 0.30-7.18; p = 0.63). Adding dextran to hypertonic saline did not increase the survival rate (0.94; 95% CI, 0.65-1.34; p = 0.71). Overall, complications were comparable between all groups. The quality of some of the included studies is not optimal. There is no beneficial effect of hypertonic saline with or without dextran in general traumatic patients. Further trials to evaluate its benefit in patients with penetrating trauma requiring surgery are warranted. Systematic review and meta-analysis, level I.

Albumin for Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation of Hemorrhagic Shock in Tactical Combat Casualty Care

Optimal fluid resuscitation on the battlefield in the absence of blood products remains unclear. Contemporary Combat medics are generally limited to hydroxyethyl starch or crystalloid solutions, both of which present significant drawbacks. Obtaining US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved freeze-dried plasma (FDP) is a top casualty care research priority for the US Military. Interest in this agent reflects a desire to simultaneously expand intravascular volume and address coagulopathy. The history of FDP dates to the Second World War, when American expeditionary forces used this agent frequently. Also fielded was 25% albumin, an agent that lacks coagulation factors but offers impressive volume expansion with minimal weight to carry and requires no reconstitution in the field. The current potential value of 25% albumin is largely overlooked. Although FDP presents an attractive future option for battlefield prehospital fluid resuscitation once FDA approved, this article argues that in the interim, 25% albumin, augmented with fibrinogen concentrate and tranexamic acid to mitigate hemodilution effects on coagulation capacity, offers an effective volume resuscitation alternative that could save lives on the battlefield immediately.

P.2.d.024 - Adherence to antipsychotic medication in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients: a systematic review

Septic shock is associated with hypovolemia resulting in organs failure and poor prognosis. The first step in hemodynamic resuscitation relies on early fluid expansion. In this study, we describe qualitative and quantitative fluid resuscitation of septic shock initially managed in a pre-hospital setting by a mobile intensive care unit.Patients with septic shock who received pre-hospital medical care were retrospectively analysed. Qualitative and quantitative fluid resuscitation performed in the pre-hospital setting were analysed. Applying the "grey zone" concept, we define 3 categories of fluid expansion indexed on ideal body weight (IBW): >20ml/kg, 10-20ml/kg and < 10ml/kg. The relationship between the pre-specified categories and mortality at day 28 were analyzed.Ninety-five patients were included. The origin of sepsis was mainly pulmonary (68%). Mortality reached 34%. Pre-hospital fluid expansion was performed using serum saline (98%) with a mean of 1158±559ml. An inversed linear relationship between pre-specified categories and mortality was observed. Using logistic regression model, significant association with mortality remained for fluid expansion indexed on IBW: p=0.02, ORa [CI95] = 0.93 [0.89-0.98]. For fluid expansion indexed on IBW < 10ml/kg, the OR [CI95] was 4.03 [1.78-9.41] (p=0.005) whereas for fluid expansion indexed on IBW > 20ml/kg, the OR [CI95] was 0.30 [0.13-0.66] (p=0.01).Pre-hospital fluid resuscitation in septic shock is mainly performed using crystalloids with quantitative fluid expansion lower than recommended. Low pre-hospital fluid expansion was associated with increased mortality. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the impact of optimized early fluid expansion on mortality in the prehospital management of septic shock.

Impact of Prehospital Care on Outcomes in Sepsis: A Systematic Review.

IntroductionSepsis is a common and potentially life-threatening response to an infection. International treatment guidelines for sepsis advocate that treatment be initiated at the earliest possible opportunity. It is not yet clear if very early intervention by ambulance clinicians prior to arrival at hospital leads to improved clinical outcomes among sepsis patients.MethodaWe systematically searched the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and PubMed up to June 2015. In addition, subject experts were contacted. We adopted the GRADE (grading recommendations assessment, development and evaluation) methodology to conduct the review and follow PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations to report findings.ResultsNine studies met the eligibility criteria – one study was a randomized controlled trial while the remaining studies were observational in nature. There was considerable variation in the methodological approaches adopted and outcome measures reported across the studies. Because of these differences, the studies did not answer a unique research question and meta-analysis was not appropriate. A narrative approach to data synthesis was adopted.ConclusionThere is little robust evidence addressing the impact of prehospital interventions on outcomes in sepsis. That which is available is of low quality and indicates that prehospital interventions have limited impact on outcomes in sepsis beyond improving process outcomes and expediting the patient’s passage through the emergency care pathway. Evidence indicating that prehospital antibiotic therapy and fluid resuscitation improve patient outcomes is currently lacking.

Prehospital intravenous access and fluid resuscitation in severe sepsis: an observational cohort study.

IntroductionPrompt treatment of severe sepsis in the Emergency Department reduces deaths, but the role of prehospital fluid resuscitation is unknown. We sought to determine the risk-adjusted association between prehospital fluid administration and hospital mortality among emergency medical services (EMS) patients admitted with severe sepsis.MethodsWe performed a prospective, observational study of patients hospitalized with severe sepsis on admission among 45,394 adult EMS encounters taken to 15 hospitals from 11/2009 to 12/2010 by a two-tier EMS system in King County, Washington. The region mandated recording of prehospital intravenous catheter and fluid administration in prehospital records, along with detailed demographic, incident, physiologic, and hospital adjustment variables. We determined the effect of prehospital intravenous catheter or fluid versus no catheter or fluid on all-cause mortality using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOf all encounters, 1,350 met criteria for severe sepsis on admission, of whom 205 (15%) died by hospital discharge, 312 (23%) received prehospital intravenous fluid, 90 (7%) received a prehospital catheter alone and 948 (70%) did not receive catheter or fluid. EMS administered a median prehospital fluid volume of 500 mL (interquartile range (IQR): 200, 1000 mL). In adjusted models, the administration of any prehospital fluid was associated with reduced hospital mortality (Odds ratio =0.46; 95% Confidence interval: 0.23, 0.88; P =0.02) compared to no prehospital fluid. The odds of hospital mortality were also lower among severe sepsis patients treated with prehospital intravenous catheter alone (Odds ratio =0.3; 95% Confidence interval: 0.17 to 0.57; P <0.01).ConclusionsIn a population-based study, the administration of prehospital fluid and placement of intravenous access were associated with decreased odds of hospital mortality compared with no prehospital catheter or fluid.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-014-0533-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prehospital fluid resuscitation in hypotensive trauma patients: Do we need a tailored approach?

AimThe ideal strategy for prehospital intravenous fluid resuscitation in trauma remains unclear. Fluid resuscitation may reverse shock but aggravate bleeding by raising blood pressure and haemodilution. We examined the effect of prehospital i.v. fluid on the physiologic status and need for blood transfusion in hypotensive trauma patients after their arrival in the emergency department (ED). MethodsRetrospective analysis of trauma patients (n=941) with field hypotension presenting to a level 1 trauma centre. Regression models were used to investigate associations between prehospital fluid volumes and shock index and blood transfusion respectively in the emergency department and mortality at 24h. ResultsA 1L increase of prehospital i.v. fluid was associated with a 7% decrease of shock index in the emergency department (p<0.001). Volumes of 0.5–1L and 1–2L were associated with reduced likelihood of shock as compared to volumes of 0–0.5L: OR 0.61 (p=0.03) and OR 0.54 (p=0.02), respectively. Volumes of 1–2L were also associated with an increased likelihood of receiving blood transfusion in ED: OR 3.27 (p<0.001). Patients who had received volumes of >2L have a much greater likelihood of receiving blood transfusion in ED: OR 9.92 (p<0.001). Mortality at 24h was not associated with prehospital i.v. fluids. ConclusionIn hypotensive trauma patients, prehospital i.v. fluids were associated with a reduction of likelihood of shock upon arrival in ED. However, volumes of >1L were associated with a markedly increased likelihood of receiving blood transfusion in ED. Therefore, decision making regarding prehospital i.v. fluid resuscitation is critical and may need to be tailored to the individual situation. Further research is needed to clarify whether a causal relationship exists between prehospital i.v. fluid volume and blood transfusion. Also, prospective trials on prehospital i.v. fluid resuscitation strategies in specific patient subgroups (e.g. traumatic brain injury and concomitant haemorrhage) are warranted.

Is There a Place for Crystalloids and Colloids in Remote Damage Control Resuscitation?

Crystalloids and colloids are used in prehospital fluid resuscitation to replace blood loss and preserve tissue perfusion until definite surgical control of bleeding can be achieved. However, large volumes of fluids will increase bleeding by elevating blood pressure, dislodging blood clots, and diluting coagulation factors and platelets. Hypotensive fluid resuscitation strategies are used to avoid worsening of uncontrolled bleeding. This is largely supported by animal studies. Most clinical evidence suggests that restricting fluid therapy is associated with improved outcome. Remote damage control resuscitation emphasizes the early use of blood products and restriction of other fluids to support coagulation and tissue oxygenation. Controversy regarding the optimal choice and composition of resuscitation fluids is ongoing. Compared with crystalloids, less colloid is needed for the same expansion of intravascular volume. On the other hand, colloids may cause coagulopathy not only related to dilution. The most important advantage of using colloids is logistical because less volume and weight are needed. In conclusion, prehospital fluid resuscitation is considered the standard of care, but there is little clinical evidence supporting the use of either crystalloids or colloids in remote damage control resuscitation. Alternative resuscitation fluids are needed.

Point-of-injury use of reconstituted freeze dried plasma as a resuscitative fluid

Glassberg, Elon MD, MHA; Nadler, Roy MD; Rasmussen, Todd E. MD; Abramovich, Amir MD, MPH; Erlich, Tomer MD; Blackbourne, Lorne H. MD; Kreiss, Yitshak MD, MPA, MHA Author Information

ROC trials update on prehospital hypertonic saline resuscitation in the aftermath of the US-Canadian trials

The objectives of this review are to assess the current state of hypertonic saline as a prehospital resuscitation fluid in hypotensive trauma patients, particularly after the 3 major Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium trauma trials in the US and Canada were halted due to futility. Hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury are the leading causes of death in both military and civilian populations. Prehospital fluid resuscitation remains controversial in civilian trauma, but small-volume resuscitation with hypertonic fluids is of utility in military scenarios with prolonged or delayed evacuation times. A large body of pre-clinical and clinical literature has accumulated over the past 30 years on the hemodynamic and, most recently, the anti-inflammatory properties of hypertonic saline, alone or with dextran-70. This review assesses the current state of hypertonic fluid resuscitation in the aftermath of the failed Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium trials.

Impact of different haemodynamic resuscitation strategies on brain perfusion and tissue oedema markers in a model of severe haemorrhagic shock

This study aimed to compare the cerebral effects of terlipressin (TERLI) with conventional prehospital fluid resuscitation with lactated Ringer's solution (LR) in a model of haemorrhagic shock (HS).

Therapeutic mild hypothermia improves early outcomes in rabbits subjected to traumatic uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock

BackgroundSurvival benefits of mild hypothermia in animals suffering from uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock (HS) may be influenced by trauma severity. We hypothesized that mild hypothermia would improve early outcomes based on our rabbit model of severe traumatic HS. Materials and methodsFifty male New Zealand rabbits weighing between 1.6 and 2.2 kg were randomized into one of the five groups: group 1 (sham), group 2 (37°C/80 mm Hg), group 3 (37°C/40 mm Hg), group 4 (34°C/80 mm Hg), and group 5 (34°C/40 mm Hg). Under urethane anesthesia, animals that suffered fractures and uncontrolled HS received prehospital fluid resuscitation (aggressive or limited) with temperature controlled at normothermia or mild hypothermia, hemostasis, and hospital resuscitation followed by observation. ResultsMild hypothermia significantly improved cardiac systolic function and decreased lung wet-to-dry weight ratios and total injury score compared with normothermia. Group 5 manifested the best results in lung injury. The decreased base excess and pH and increased lactate levels during HS and limited fluid resuscitation were not exacerbated by mild hypothermia. Electrolytes including potassium and calcium and blood glucose levels as well as coagulation were not significantly influenced after mild hypothermia treatment. Seven-hour survival in the hypothermic groups was higher than that in the normothermic groups, although there was no significant difference in survival between groups 5 and 3. ConclusionsTherapeutic mild hypothermia improves early outcomes through improving lung and cardiac performance without causing evident homeostasis disturbances in the rabbit model of traumatic uncontrolled HS. Animals may benefit most under the combination treatment with mild hypothermia and limited fluid resuscitation.