Toward Standardized Massive Transfusion Protocols: A Multicenter Evaluation of Practice Variability Within a National Trauma System
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Essential Components
3.2. Initiation of MTP
3.3. Fixed-Ratio Blood Component Batches and Unmatched Blood
3.4. Laboratory Monitoring
3.5. Adjuncts
3.6. Termination of MTP
3.7. PI Monitoring
4. Discussion
4.1. Summary of Key Findings and Comparison with the Literature
4.2. Differences and Similarities with ACS TQIP Guidelines
4.3. MTP Activation, Blood Product Use, and Adjuncts
4.4. PI Monitoring
4.5. Limitations
4.6. Conclusions and Future Directions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
ABC | Assessment of Blood Consumption |
ACS | American College of Surgeons |
COHTRA-K | Cohort for Optimal Hemostatic Transfusion in Trauma–Korea |
ED | Emergency Department |
FFP | Fresh frozen plasma |
LTOWB | Low-titer O whole blood |
MTP | Massive transfusion protocol |
PI | Performance improvement |
PRBC | Packed red blood cell |
PROPPR | Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios trial |
RBC | Red blood cell |
TQIP | Trauma Quality Improvement Program |
TXA | Tranexamic acid |
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Component | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiation | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Balanced transfusion | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Transition to OR | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Transition to Angio Suite | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
Transition to ICU | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
Target | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Adjuncts | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Termination | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
PI monitoring | Y | N | N | N | N |
Parameter | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Is the activation criterion documented? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Are objective criteria used for activation? (open-ended) | SBP ≤ 90 | SBP ≤ 90 | SBP ≤ 90 | SBP ≤ 90 | SBP ≤ 90 |
HR ≥ 120 | HR ≥ 120 | HR ≥ 120 | HR ≥ 120 | ||
Positive FAST | Positive FAST | Positive FAST | Positive FAST | ||
Penetrating torso injury | Penetrating torso injury | Penetrating torso injury | Penetrating torso injury | ||
Is a large-volume hemorrhage/transfusion predictive score used? (open-ended question) | ABC score ≥ 2 | N | ABC score ≥ 2 | ABC score ≥ 2 | ABC score ≥ 2 |
Is subjective clinical judgment used? | Persistent hemodynamic instability | Y | N | Y | Y |
Is active bleeding requiring surgery or angioembolization included as a criterion? | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
Is transfusion in the trauma bay used as an activation criterion? | N | N | N | N | N |
Is there a separate, rapid decision-making process for immediate MTP activation? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Are initial blood products available within 15 min of activation? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Component | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blood preparation in trauma bay/ER | Y | Y | N | N | Y |
Use of O (Rh+) RBC | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Use of O (Rh−) RBC | N | Y | Y | N | N |
Use of AB (Rh+) FFP | Y | N | Y | N | N |
Use of low-titer A FFP | N | N | N | N | N |
Use of thawed plasma | N | N | N | N | N |
Inclusion of platelets in the first transfusion batch | N | N | N | N | N |
Storage of platelets in the trauma bay | N | N | N | N | N |
Use of a blood warmer | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Use of a rapid infusion device | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Enforced fixed RBC-to-plasma transfusion ratio | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Parameter | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type and frequency of laboratory monitoring specified | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
PT (INR) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
aPTT | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Fibrinogen | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Hgb | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
Platelet | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Hct | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
iCa | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
BGA | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Lactic acid | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
TEG | N | N | N | Y | N |
TEG6S | Y | N | N | N | N |
ROTEM | N | N | Y | N | N |
Sampling frequency < 1 h | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
Adjunct Therapy | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
TXA | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Cryoprecipitate | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Fibrin concentrate | N | N | N | N | Y |
PCC | N | N | N | N | Y |
Item | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Are termination criteria documented? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Is the transition to goal-directed transfusion strategy specified? | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Monitoring Element | A | B | C | D | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complications | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Time to first RBC transfusion | Y | N | N | N | N |
Time to first plasma transfusion | Y | N | N | N | N |
Time to first platelet transfusion | Y | N | N | N | N |
Ratio of blood products transfused within 1 h of MTP activation | Y | N | N | N | N |
Notification of relevant department within 1 h after MTP termination | Y | N | N | N | N |
Rate of discarded blood products | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Documentation of regular in-department review | Y | N | N | N | Y |
Documentation of regular multidisciplinary review | Y | N | N | N | N |
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Seo, D.; Kwon, J.; Heo, I.; Kim, Y.; Kim, J.H.; Kim, T.; Cho, H.; Jung, K. Toward Standardized Massive Transfusion Protocols: A Multicenter Evaluation of Practice Variability Within a National Trauma System. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1848. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151848
Seo D, Kwon J, Heo I, Kim Y, Kim JH, Kim T, Cho H, Jung K. Toward Standardized Massive Transfusion Protocols: A Multicenter Evaluation of Practice Variability Within a National Trauma System. Healthcare. 2025; 13(15):1848. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151848
Chicago/Turabian StyleSeo, Dongmin, Junsik Kwon, Inhae Heo, Younghwan Kim, Jae Hun Kim, Taegyun Kim, Hangjoo Cho, and Kyoungwon Jung. 2025. "Toward Standardized Massive Transfusion Protocols: A Multicenter Evaluation of Practice Variability Within a National Trauma System" Healthcare 13, no. 15: 1848. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151848
APA StyleSeo, D., Kwon, J., Heo, I., Kim, Y., Kim, J. H., Kim, T., Cho, H., & Jung, K. (2025). Toward Standardized Massive Transfusion Protocols: A Multicenter Evaluation of Practice Variability Within a National Trauma System. Healthcare, 13(15), 1848. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151848