No abstract

Therapeutic study, level IV.

Introduction: Historically, hemorrhage has been attributed as the leading cause (40%) of early death. However, a rigorous, real-time classification of the cause of death (COD) has not been performed. This study sought to prospectively adjudicate and classify COD to determine the epidemiology of trauma mortality. Methods: 18 trauma centers prospectively enrolled all adult trauma patients at the time of death during 12/2015-8/2017. Immediately following death, attending providers adjudicated the primary and contributing secondary COD using standardized definitions. Data were confirmed by autopsies, if performed. Results: 1536 patients were enrolled with a median age of 55 (IQR 32-75). 74.5% were male. Penetrating mechanism (n=412) patients were younger (32 vs 64, p<0.0001) and more likely male (86.7% vs. 69.9%, p<0.0001). Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (26.6%), with GSWs second (24.3%). The most common overall primary COD was TBI (45%), followed by exsanguination (23%). TBI was non-survivable in 82.2% of cases. Blunt patients were more likely to have TBI (47.8% vs. 37.4%, p<0.0001) and penetrating patients exsanguination (51.7% vs 12.5%, p<0.0001) as the primary COD. Exsanguination was the predominant prehospital (44.7%) and early COD (39.1%) with TBI most common later. Penetrating mechanism patients died earlier with 80.1% on day 0 (vs. 38.5%, p<0.0001). Most deaths were deemed disease related (69.3%), rather than by limitation of further aggressive care (30.7%). Hemorrhage was a contributing cause to 38.8% of deaths that occurred due to withdrawal of care. Conclusions: Exsanguination remains the predominant early primary COD with TBI accounting for most deaths at later time points. Timing and primary COD vary significantly by mechanism. Contemporaneous adjudication of COD is essential to elucidate the true understanding of patient outcome, center performance, and future research.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a global public health threat unparalleled in our history. The most severe cases are marked by ARDS attributed to microvascular thrombosis. Hypercoagulability, resulting in a profoundly prothrombotic state, is a distinct feature of COVID-19 and is accentuated by a high incidence of fibrinolysis shutdown. The aims of this review were to describe the manifestations of fibrinolysis shutdown in COVID-19 and its associated outcomes, review the molecular mechanisms of dysregulated fibrinolysis associated with COVID-19, and discuss potential implications and therapeutic targets for patients with severe COVID-19.

Therapeutic, level III.

No abstract

Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level IV.

No abstract