The Trauma- Formula-Driven Versus Lab-Guided Study (TRFL Study)

Hemorrhagic Shock Clinical Trial

— TRFL  

Official title:

Formula-driven vs Laboratory-guided Transfusion Practices in Bleeding Trauma Patients: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Study

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00945542
• Other study ID #: 461-2008
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• First received: July 22, 2009
• Last updated: December 1, 2011
• Start date: July 2009
• Est. completion date: December 2011

Study information

• Verified date: December 2011
• Source: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, OntarioCanada: Health Canada
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Background: Bleeding and coagulopathy still accounts for the majority of early in-hospital deaths following trauma. There have been lately several published studies suggesting that higher transfusion ratios of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets (PTL) and cryoprecipitate (CRYO) to red blood cell (RBC) are associated with survival advantages. However, the evidence comes from retrospective data limited by a significant number of unaddressed confounders. In addition, the use of blood products bears known and important risks of complications.

Hypothesis: The adoption of a formula-driven transfusion practice with pre-defined ratios of FFP to PTL to RBC transfusion (1:1:1) is feasible and superior to current laboratory-guided transfusion practice in treating and/or preventing early coagulopathy improving survival rates in massively bleeding trauma patients .

Objective: To exam the feasibility of implementing a pre-defined ratio of FFP to PTL to RBC (1:1:1) transfusion protocol and its impact on a population of bleeding trauma patients.

Design: A two-year pilot feasibility randomized control trial at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Randomization: 70 patients are expected to be randomized to lab-driven or to formula-driven massive transfusion protocol and followed-up to 28 days or hospital discharge.

Study outcomes: protocol violation; in-hospital mortality by exsanguination; death at 28 days; coagulation competence defined by current standard coagulation tests (INR & PTT < 1.5 times normal; PTL ≥ 50 and Fibrinogen ≥ 1.0) or clotting factor levels ≥ 30%; correlation of current standard coagulation tests with clotting factors levels; cessation of bleeding; incidence of ALI, sepsis, MOF, transfusion-related circulatory overload, transfusion reactions; Ventilator-free days; ICU & Hospital LOS; thromboembolic events.

Intervention protocol: Transfusion of pre-defined ratios of FFP and PTL to RBC (1:1:1) (formula-driven) for the first 12h of hospitalization without coagulation tests guidance while patient is hemorrhaging or before if bleeding stops.

Statistical analysis: protocol compliance rate and in-hospital mortality rates within 24h and at 28 days will be assessed using Chi-square test. ROC analysis will be used to analyze coagulation competence.

Main expected outcomes: implementation of a formula-driven transfusion protocol is feasible and coagulation competence will be achieved faster and more efficiently in the study group.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 70
• Est. completion date: December 2011
• Est. primary completion date: December 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Patients were eligible for this study if they:

i) were adult trauma patients assessed by the trauma team; and ii) suffered either penetrating or blunt mechanism of injury; and

1. were bleeding and expected to require massive transfusion (either 4 units within the next 2 hours or = 10 units of RBC in 24 h) or required transfusion of un-cross matched emergency stock red blood cells; and

2. had an episode of hypotension (systolic bp = 90mmHg).

Exclusion Criteria

Patients were excluded if:

i) they were assessed in the trauma room more than six hours after injury; or ii) they received more than two units of RBC transfusion prior to arrival; or iii) they had suffered a concomitant severe brain injury (defined as any of the following: Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 due to severe traumatic brain injury; clear indication of immediate neurosurgical intervention based on clinical findings, mechanism of trauma associated with focal signs (anisocoria, CT evidence of intracranial bleeding with mass effect); or iv) they had evidence of having a catastrophic head injury (such as transcranial gunshot wound, open skull fracture with exposure/loss of brain tissue, or expert opinion by either the trauma team leader or neurosurgical consultant based on initial clinical or initial CT findings); or v) they had evidence that their shock state was unrelated to hemorrhage (ie cardiogenic, septic, anaphylactic, acute adrenal insufficiency, neurogenic, or obstructive (cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax and massive pulmonary emboli); or vi) they had a known hereditary or acquired coagulopathy unrelated to the trauma resuscitation (for example: hemophilia, hepatic insufficiency, or anti-coagulant medications); or vii) they were moribund with evidence of unsalvageable injuries.

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Blood Coagulation Disorders
• Hemorrhagic Shock
• Hemostatic Disorders
• Shock, Hemorrhagic
• Trauma Coagulopathy
• Wounds and Injuries

Intervention

Other:
• Massive transfusion protocol
Patients randomized to this arm will be transfused based on a pre-defined massive transfusion protocol. Blood bank will release blood a pre-defined packages. Blood will be received in aliquots containing 4 units off FFP, 1 pool of buffy coat platelet (4 units) and 4 units of RBC. As discussed previously, this would correspond to an FFP:RBC transfusion ratio of 1:1. Patients randomized to the study protocol will be receiving the FFP and PTL at pre-defined ratios to RBC (1:1:1) up to 12h of hospitalization or earlier if cessation of the massive transfusion requested at the discretion of the treating physicians.
• Standard of care
Patients randomized to this arm will be treated as per Sunnybrook's current standard of care massive transfusion protocol. Crystalloid and red cell transfusions are performed to maintain volume status, and to maintain haemoglobin levels above 70 g/L. FFP is transfused based in 3-4 unit aliquots, for INR>1.5. Platelets are transfused 1 pool at a time (4 units Buffy coat platelets) to maintain platelet counts above 50 x 109/mL. Cryoprecipitate is transfused 8-12 units at a time to keep fibrinogen above 0.8 gram/L.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre	Toronto	Ontario

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre	Canadian Blood Services, Canadian Department of National Defense, National Blood Foundation

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Protocol compliance		12 hours	No
Secondary	Mortality by Exsanguination; Hospital mortality; Cessation of Bleeding; Coagulation competence; Multiple Organ Dysfunction; Transfusion complications.		early and at 28 days	Yes