How do we forecast tomorrow's transfusion? Prehospital transfusion

The inability to predict futility in hemorrhaging trauma patients using 4-hour transfusion volumes and rates

BACKGROUND

Blood shortages and utilization stewardship have motivated the trauma community to evaluate futility cutoffs during massive transfusions (MTs). Recent single-center studies have confirmed meaningful survival in ultra-MT (≥20 U) and super-MT (≥50 U), while others advocate for earlier futility cut points. We sought to evaluate whether transfusion volume and intensity cut points could predict 100% mortality in a multicenter analysis.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study was performed at seven trauma centers. Injured patients at risk for MT who required both blood transfusion and hemorrhage control procedures were enrolled. Four-hour volumes and intensities (average units per hour) were evaluated. Primary outcome of interest was 28-day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,047 patients met the study inclusion with an overall mortality rate of 17% (n = 176). The median age was 35 years, 80% were male, and 62% had a penetrating mechanism, with an Injury Severity Score of 22. At 4 hours, transfusion volumes below 110 U and transfusion intensity averaging up to 21 U/h did not demonstrate futility. Total transfusion volume above 110 U was associated with 100% mortality (n = 9). Multivariable analysis noted only nonmodifiable risk factors as predictors of increased mortality (blunt mechanism, shock index).

CONCLUSION

In this study from seven Level 1 trauma centers, survival was observed at transfusion volumes up to 110 U and at transfusion velocities up to 21 U/h during the first 4 hours of resuscitation. Data are limited on transfusion volumes above 110 U in the first 4 hours. Survival can be observed in both the ultra and super-MT settings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level II.

Advanced Critical Care Techniques in the Field

Critical care principles and techniques continue to hold promise for improving patient outcomes in time-dependent diseases encountered by emergency medical services such as cardiac arrest, acute ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic shock. In this review, the authors discuss several current and evolving advanced critical care modalities, including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, resuscitative endovascular occlusion of the aorta, prehospital thrombolytics for acute ischemic stroke, and low-titer group O whole blood for trauma patients. Two important critical care monitoring technologies-capnography and ultrasound-are also briefly discussed.

Process Mining Uncovers Actionable Patterns of Red Blood Cell Unit Wastage in a Health Care Network

Packed red blood cell transfusions are integral to the care of the critically and chronically ill patient, but require careful storage and a large, coordinated network to ensure their integrity during distribution and administration. Auditing a Transfusion Medicine service can be challenging due to the complexity of this network. Process mining is an analytical technique that allows for the identification of high-efficiency pathways through a network, as well as areas of challenge for targeted innovation. Here, we detail a case study of an efficiency audit of the Transfusion Medicine service of the Nova Scotia Health Administration Central Zone using process mining, across a period encompassing years prior to, during, and after the acute COVID-19 pandemic. Service efficiency from a product wastage perspective was consistently demonstrated at benchmarks near globally published optima. Furthermore, we detail key areas of continued challenge in product wastage, and suggest potential strategies for further targeted optimization.