Management of bleeding disorders in traumatic-haemorrhagic shock states with deep frozen fresh plasma

Coagulation disorders in traumatic-haemorrhagic shock need not represent a simple coagulation problem. They may also occur as a complex of local and disseminated intravascular consumption, dilution, extravascular loss and depressed synthesis of coagulation factors. In the severely bleeding patient with a haemorrhagic diathesis heparin is contraindicated because it does not normalize coagulability immediately. Therefore, it fails to stop haemorrhage and the shock becomes untreatable. Fresh frozen plasma, however, has proved to be suitable as a simultaneous substitution therapy for the coagulation disorder and the hypovolaemic shock. 25 patients suffering from severe traumatic-hemorrhagic shock associated with coagulation disorders and haemorrhagic diathesis were successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma, after conventional shock therapy had failed over a period of 2 hours. The success was documented clinically and by numerous laboratory tests. Thrombocytopenia has only a secondary responsibility for the haemorrhagic state.