Author Year

Country

Research Design

PEDro

Sample Size

Methods

Outcomes

Holzmacher et al. (2018)

USA

Cohort

N=66

Population: SDH=23, EDH=3, IVH/SAH=30, IPH= 46. Transfusion group (n=23): Mean Age=76 yr; Gender: Male=8, Female=15. Non-transfusion Group (n=43): Mean Age=78 yr; Gender: Male=23, Female=20.

Intervention: Eligible patients on anti-platelet therapy who received a platelet transfusion, were compared to those who did not. Outcomes were assessed before and after treatment.

Outcome Measures: Platelet dysfunction (TEG-PM Assay), Marshall CT Score, Mortality, Need for Intervention, Hospital Length of Stay (LOS).

1.        Patients receiving a transfusion had significantly lower platelet signalling inhibition [% Inh(AA), p=0.01].

2.        Mean Marshall CT scores were not significantly differently between groups.

3.        Transfused patients were more likely to undergo craniectomy/craniotomy (p=0.01), and had a longer hospital LOS (p=0.01) compared to non-transfused patients.

4.        Mortality was four times higher in the transfused group, however this was not significant (p=0.28).

Hernandez et al. (2017)

USA

Case Control

N=76

Population: TBI; pRBC group (n=40): Median Age=47.5 yr; Gender: Male=23, Female=17; Median GCS=4. Plasma group (n=36): Median Age=65 yr; Gender: Male=24, Female=12; Median GCS=8.

Intervention: All patients with multiple injuries who received remote damage control blood transfusions at a Level 1 trauma center between 2002 and 2013 were retrospectively identified. Outcomes of patients who received thawed plasma transfusions were compared with those who received pRBCs alone.

Outcome Measures: Glasgow Outcome Score Extended (GOSE), Disability Rating Scale (DRS).

1.        Patients who received plasma (Median GOSE=7) demonstrated significantly higher neurological function at discharge compared with the pRBC only group (Median GOSE=5.5)(p<0.001). This improvement persisted at follow-up (p<0.001).

2.      At discharge, DRS scores were also significantly higher in the plasma group (Median DRS=2) compared to the pRBC only group (Median DRS=9)(p<0.001). This improvement persisted at follow-up (p<0.001).