Abstract
Purpose of the study: This study aims to analyse a subpopulation of patients with severe haemorrhagic shock and a concurrent unstable pelvic ring fracture. Material and methods: This manuscript is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data on trauma patients over a period of 10 years, namely between 2010 and 2019. These patients, primarily (after injury) referred to the trauma centre of the University Hospital Hradec Králové, were diagnosed with an unstable pelvic ring fracture as a part of multiple injuries. Results: The total number of patients with a pelvic ring fracture and concurrent acute phase of decompensated haemorrhagic shock in the period from 2010 to 2019 was 112. After excluding 25 patients with AIS 4 and 5 (Abbreviated Injury Scale) severe head trauma and another two patients who died of late-stage SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) complications, the group consisted of 85 patients. Subsequently, the subpopulation of patients "in extremis" evaluated by the study included a total of 22 patients with the baseline systolic pressure below 70 mm Hg and/or baseline haemoglobin level below 80 g/l.
Conclusions: Prior to the evaluation of this study population, our department had no single algorithm developed to treat such patients. Slow blood circulation stabilisation or death were usually associated with inadequate haemostatic algorithm. The patients leaving the operating room and being handed over to the ICU presented the signs of a decompensated shock. Oftentimes, the pelvis was merely stabilised, with no further intervention to stop the bleeding. The extraperitoneal pelvic packing was performed in very few cases only. The extravasation of contrast media during the initial CT scan does not necessarily have to be detected due to vasospasm or hypotension with reduced blood flow. In such cases, only the size of haematoma is a sign of arterial bleeding. It is also risky to rely solely on vasography when stopping the bleeding which will certainly fail to stop venous bleeding. However, venous bleeding always accompanies arterial bleeding. Stabilisation of both segments of the pelvis is essential to stop bleeding in haemodynamically unstable patients with a pelvic ring injury. It is followed by extraperitoneal pelvic packing and in the case of continuing haemodynamic instability also vasography, namely even if there is a negative finding of the initial CT scan or if no initial CT scan was performed. This procedure has become the core of our single haemostatic algorithm.