Start date
03/01/2011
Primary investigator
Bryan Cotton
bryan.a.cotton@uth.tmc.edu
(713) 500-7354
Center for Translational Injury Research 6410 Fannin, 1100 UPB
Houston, TX 77030
Number of sites
10
Existing site names
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX Other sites TBD
Sponsoring organization
None
Abstract
Recent changes in trauma resuscitation strategies have focused on the earlier use of plasma and platelets in patients at risk of massive transfusion. While saline solution and universal donor red blood cells are available in most emergency departments, plasma and platelets are traditionally kept in the Blood Bank. To expedite delivery and transfusion of plasma, we recently implemented a thawed plasma (TP) protocol. We would like to assess the impact of this protocol (and others like it around the country) on blood product utilization and patient outcomes. Design would be a retrospective cohort (pre-/pos- or before/after study design). Patients cared for one year prior to implementation of such a protocol would be compared to those treated for one year after implementation. We would be including those patients meeting the highest level of trauma activation, receiving at least one unit of red blood cells and one unit of plasma in the first 6 hours. Primary outcome will be time to first unit of plasma transfusion. Secondary outcomes will be 24-hour crystalloid use, 24-hour blood product use, achievement of institutional plasma: red blood cell ratios, and 24-hour and 30-day mortality.