Blood utilization and mortality in victims of gun violence
BACKGROUND Blood transfusion can be lifesaving for patients with hemorrhage; however, transfusion requirements for victims of gun violence are poorly understood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In an urban, Level 1 trauma center, 23,422 trauma patients were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study. Patient...
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Published in | Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 2326 - 2334 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Hoboken, USA
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
01.10.2018
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | BACKGROUND
Blood transfusion can be lifesaving for patients with hemorrhage; however, transfusion requirements for victims of gun violence are poorly understood.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
In an urban, Level 1 trauma center, 23,422 trauma patients were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study. Patients with gunshot wounds (GSWs) (n = 2,672; 11.4% of trauma patients) were compared to those with non‐GSW traumatic injuries from 2005 to 2017, to assess blood utilization.
RESULTS
The GSW cohort was approximately five times more likely to require transfusion (538 of 2672 [20.1%] vs. 798 of 20,750 [3.9%]; p < 0.0001), and the number of blood component units transfused per patient was approximately 10 times greater (3.3 ± 13.5 vs. 0.31 ± 3.8 units/patient; p < 0.0001), compared to the non‐GSW cohort. The risk‐adjusted likelihood of requiring high‐dose transfusion was greater in the GSW cohort (odds ratio, 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.14‐5.80), and requirements were increased for all four blood components (red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate). Patients with GSWs had approximately 14 times greater overall mortality (653 of 2672 [24.4%] vs. 352 of 20,750 [1.7%]; p < 0.0001]. Compared to non‐GSW penetrating injuries (e.g., stab wounds), those with GSWs had approximately four times higher transfusion requirements (3.3 ± 13.5 vs. 0.80 ± 3.8 units/patient; p < 0.0001), and approximately eight times greater overall mortality (653 of 2672 [24.4%] vs. 28 of 956 [2.9%]; p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared to other traumatic injuries, GSW injuries are associated with substantially greater blood utilization and mortality. Trauma centers treating GSW injuries should have ready access to all blood components and ability to implement massive transfusions. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0041-1132 1537-2995 |
DOI: | 10.1111/trf.14925 |