Abstract
Objective: For coagulopathy in severe trauma patients requiring massive blood transfusion, we examined whether administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) would improve their outcome.
Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated trauma patients who were transported to our emergency department between January 2006 and December 2010 and received 8 units or more of red blood cell concentrates (RCC) within 24 h. Patients were divided on the basis of the ratio of FFP to RCC administered within 24 h into the low FFP/RCC group (n=51) and the high FFP/RCC group (n=54).
Results: A total of 105 patients (average age, 56.3 ± 20.6 years old; 75 males (71.4%); injury severity score (ISS), 30.7 ± 11.3) met inclusion criteria. Age, sex, mechanism of injury, blood pressure, body temperature, ISS, revised trauma score, probability of survival, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, base excess, APACHE II, SOFA score, and RCC and platelet transfusion within 24 h were similar between the groups. The 24-h survival rate was significantly higher in the high FFP/RCC group (83.3%) than in the low FFP/RCC group (64.7%) (p<0.05). Survival to hospital discharge was also significantly higher in the high FFP/RCC group (74.1%) than in the low FFP/RCC group (54.9%) (p<0.05).
Conclusion: For severe trauma patients requiring massive transfusion, aggressive administration of FFP has the potential to improve their outcome.
