Application of Thromboelastographic Markers to Predict the Survival in Acute Trauma Patients.

Background The aim of the study is to investigate the coagulation status in trauma patients using thromboelastography and their association with survival and blood transfusion. Methods We included 452 trauma patients who visited the trauma center of Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital. The thromboelastography (TEG) clotting variables and routine coagulation tests were evaluated. Also, we investigated the transfusion requirement and mortality during hospitalization period. Results The mean age was 52.3 years and the mortality rate was 39/452 (8.6%). Lower GCS, longer TEG K-time, and lower TEG MA were independent factors associated with mortality. The lower MA group demonstrated the highest probability of survival (odds ratio 0.207), followed by prolonged R-time (odds ratio 0.220). The patient numbers in fibrinolysis shutdown (SD), physiologic fibrinolysis, and hyperfibrinolysis groups were 219 (52.3%), 131 (31.4%), and 68 (16.3%), respectively. The mortality rates of fibrinolysis SD group (11.9%) and hyperfibrinolysis (8.8%) were higher than the physiologic fibrinolysis groups (3.8%). The cutoff obtained from ROC analysis was found to be suitable for predicting survival. The transfusion requirements were significantly higher in the fibrinolysis SD group than in the other two groups. Conclusions TEG based markers were shown to be more useful to make a diagnosis of coagulopathies including dysfibrinolysis and predict the survival than routine coagulation tests. Dysfunctional fibrinolysis showed higher mortality than physiologic group. If multiple integrations of each TEG markers are used, it would be helpful for prompt diagnosis and management of coagulopathies and to decrease preventable deaths in trauma.