Coagulopathy in Trauma Patients: What Are the Main Influence Factors?

Abstract

Purpose of review Coagulopathy and bleeding after severe injury is a common problem. Whenever caring for critically ill patients, clinicians must anticipate, recognize and manage the coagulopathy of trauma. When left untreated, cardiovascular shock and multiorgan system failure ensue. Uncompensated hemorrhage often culminates in death, highlighting the significance of recognizing the main influences in coagulopathy of trauma. Recent findings With recent improvements in pre-hospital care,trauma specialists face more challenging cases than ever before. Hemostatic transfusion strategies, with early and more aggressive use of plasma, platelets, cryoprecipitate and coagulation factor isolates, decrease blood loss in trauma patients. Combined with point-of-care testing for thromboelastography, coagulation panels, lactate and local p O 2 , there is an opportunity for frontline trauma clinicians to directly improve patient outcomes. Summary Although mortality previously was thought to be summarily independent of medical interventions and resuscitations, we now know the opposite to be true; it is our expectation and indeed our obligation to recognize and manage the coagulopathy of trauma better than in past years.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA627498

Entities

People

  • Christopher V. Maani
  • John B Holcomb
  • Peter A. Desocio

Organizations

  • United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acid-Base Imbalance
  • Anesthesia
  • Blood
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Blood Transfusions
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Health Services
  • Hemorrhage
  • Medical Personnel
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Physicians
  • Therapy

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine