Early coagulopathy and metabolic acidosis predict transfusion of packed red blood cells in pediatric trauma patients

BackgroundSeverely injured pediatric trauma patients often present to hospital with early coagulopathy and metabolic acidosis. These derangements are associated with poor outcomes, but it is unclear to what degree they predict transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBC).MethodsWe retrospectively identified pediatric trauma patients from a level 1 trauma center from 2006 to 2013. Inclusion criteria were age less than 18 years, Injury Severity Score greater than 12, and pRBC transfusion within 24 h of admission.ResultsWe identified 96 pediatric trauma patients who underwent pRBC transfusion within 24 h of presentation to hospital. On admission, 43% of these patients had one or more signs of coagulopathy, and 81% had metabolic acidosis. Size of pRBC transfusion in the first 24 h ranged from 3 to 177 mL/kg (mean 29 mL/kg), and nineteen patients (20%) underwent massive transfusion (> 40 ml/kg in 24 h). Univariate analysis indicated that size of pRBC transfusion was associated with initial base excess (r = 0.46), international normalized ratio (r = 0.35), partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.41), fibrinogen (r = 0.46), and BIG score (Base deficit, INR, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), r = 0.36). Platelet count, age, GCS, and direct versus referred presentation were not predictive. Multivariable linear regression confirmed that coagulopathy and metabolic acidosis remained predictive after adjusting for direct versus referred presentation (R2 = 0.30).ConclusionsEarly coagulopathy and metabolic acidosis predict size of pRBC transfusion among pediatric trauma patients. Further research is needed to develop massive transfusion protocols and guidelines for activation.