Outcome after hemorrhagic shock in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND

It is essential to identify patients at high risk of death and complications for future studies of interventions to decrease reperfusion injury.

METHODS

We conducted an inception cohort study at a Level I trauma center to determine the rates and predictors of death, organ failure, and infection in trauma patients with systolic blood pressure < or = 90 mm Hg in the field or in the emergency department.

RESULTS

Among the 208 patients with hemorrhagic shock (blood pressure < or = 90 mm Hg), 31% died within 2 hours of emergency department arrival, 12% died between 2 and 24 hours, 11% died after 24 hours, and 46% survived. Among those who survived > or = 24 hours, 39% developed infection and 24% developed organ failure. Increasing volume of crystalloid in the first 24 hours was strongly associated with increased mortality (p = 0.00001).

CONCLUSION

Hemorrhage-induced hypotension in trauma patients is predictive of high mortality (54%) and morbidity. The requirement for large volumes of crystalloid was associated with increased mortality.