Diagnostic and Predictive Values of Thirst, Angiotensin II, and Vasopressin During Trauma Resuscitation

Abstract

Background. Thirst perception involves neurochemical signals attributed to acute elevation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (AT2) levels, and may accompany acute hemorrhage. Objective. To determine whether thirst or plasma AVP or AT2 levels predict hemorrhagic shock, injury severity, or outcome in trauma patients at initial presentation. Methods. This was a prospective case series of adult subjects presenting as trauma activations to an urban level I trauma center. Subjects were included if they were alert and nonintoxicated. During resuscitation, subjects were queried for thirst perception using binary and continuous data formats employing a 100-mm nonhatched visual analog scale. Blood for AT2 and AVP assessment was obtained during initial laboratory collection. Other data were abstracted retrospectively from our trauma registry. Crude and stratified analyses (blunt and penetrating trauma) assessed the correlation of thirst, AVP, and AT2 to the initial shock index, base deficit, blood transfusion requirement, admission, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). Our institutional review board (IRB) granted a waiver of informed consent. Results. Of 105 subjects, the average age was 35 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 32 to 38), with 31% penetrating trauma. For AVP, there was no difference in thirst perception between subjects with normal (59 mm, 95% CI 47 to 71) versus elevated (63 mm, 95% CI 56 to 70) plasma levels. For AT2, results were likewise insignificant for normal (63 mm, 95% CI 56 to 70) versus elevated (58 mm, 95% CI 46 to 70) plasma levels. Thirst, AT2 level, and AVP level demonstrated no correlation to shock index, base deficit, transfusion requirement, hospital admission, or ISS. Conclusion. The results of this study imply that thirst severity and AVP and AT2 plasma levels are not reliable predictors of impending hemorrhagic shock, injury severity, or outcome.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA619028

Entities

People

  • Brett M. Shaffer
  • Gwendolyn M. Mueller
  • James A. Pfaff
  • Jennifer Liker
  • John Ward
  • Patricia Dixon
  • Robert T. Gerhardt

Organizations

  • United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Blood
  • Casualties
  • Correlation Analysis
  • Data Analysis
  • Emergencies
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Health Services
  • Heart Rate
  • Hemorrhage
  • Hemorrhagic Shock
  • Hospitals
  • Human Behavior
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Medical Personnel
  • Patient Care
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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