Tailoring transfusion strategy using thromboelastogram in goal-directed massive transfusion: Impact on transfusion requirements and clinical outcomes.

Background and objective: We compared the overall clinical outcome in formula-based protocol (1:1:1) and thromboelastogram (TEG)-guided goal-based massive transfusion (MT) in the resuscitation of patients with hemorrhagic shock.

Materials and methods: This was a retro-prospective case-control study conducted over a period of 2 years among the patients who received MT using a 1:1:1 fixed ratio protocol (controls, Group A) and goal-based protocol (cases, Group B) guided through TEG. Patients were matched for the type and severity of the clinical conditions. Utilization of blood components, clinical outcomes, transfusion-related complications, and total mortality rates were compared between the groups.

Results: There were 113 patients in the formula-based group and 109 patients in the goal-based transfusion group who were matched for injury severity scores. The total blood components utilized were 1867 and 1560, respectively, with a 17.7% reduction associated with the use of TEG. Patients were divided into normal, hypo, and hypercoagulable based on TEG, and a higher transfusion rate was associated with hypocoagulable TEG (942 vs. 610). The prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, R time, and K time had a significant positive correlation with the need to transfuse more than 20 blood components, whereas platelet count, base excess, alpha angle, MA, and CI had a negative correlation (r = 0.268, P < 0.001). At the end of goal-directed transfusion, 75% of the patients were free of transfusion support (vs. 65.4%) and only 6.9% of the patients had coagulopathy (vs. 31.8%) compared to formula-based resuscitation with a 10% reduction in mortality.

Conclusion: TEG-guided goal-based approach helped to reduce blood component utilization with a reduced incidence of coagulopathy at the end of the MT while improving patient survival.