The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment outcomes and mortality risks associated with hemodynamic instability caused by severe pelvic fracture in a regional trauma center.
The medical charts of 44 patients with hemodynamic instability due to pelvic fractures who were admitted to a regional trauma center from January 2014 to May 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.
The mean age was 61.8 years, and the mean injury severity score was 39.1. Twenty-six patients (59.1%) were transferred from other hospitals, and the median time from injury to emergency room arrival was 115.5 minutes. Preperitoneal pelvic packing, pelvic angiography, and external pelvic fixation were performed in 38 patients (86.4%) for hemostasis. The mortality rate was 52.3%, and 15 patients (34.1%) died from hemorrhage. Logistic regression analysis showed that initial low systolic blood pressure and packed red blood cell (PRBC) requirement were independent risk factors associated with mortality. PRBC requirement for four hours and application of emergent hemostatic procedures were independent factors associated with hemorrhage-induced mortality.
Emergency procedures for hemostasis should be performed immediately for patients with hemodynamic instability due to pelvic fracture, and they should be transferred to a regional trauma center as soon as possible.
The mortality of patients with hemodynamic instability due to severe pelvic fracture is high despite multidisciplinary management. Current management algorithms for these patients emphasize pelvic angioembolization (AE) for hemorrhage control. However, a surgical procedure is often needed because AE is time-consuming and approximately only 15% of patients have arterial bleeding. Most hemorrhages from severe pelvic fracture originate from venous or bone injury. Current research demonstrates the effectiveness of preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) in hemorrhage control. However, there are no reports of its use in Korea. Accordingly, we present our early experiences of PPP for control of hemorrhage due to severe pelvic fracture in a trauma center in Korea.
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