Haemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma : initial validation of a dedicated protocol by a retrospective cohort study with historical controls

Background: We present our experience after the introduction of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) ©, Trauma Team(TT) and Preperitoneal Pelvic Packing (PPP) protocols for the treatment of hemodynamically unstable pelvic blunt trauma. Methods: This is a retrospective study with historical controls: before (Control Group, CG) and after (Study Group SG) theintroduction of the protocol. A single physician managed the CG and angiography was the emergency manoeuvre. A teamwith ATLS guidelines and PPP as an emergency manoeuvre managed the SG. Data were collected retrospectively. Patientswere divided into two groups: before and after the introduction of protocols. Results: From January 2007 to October 2014, 36 patients were treated at our Centre. We consider patients from 2007 to August 2011 (19 patients, CG) and from September 2011 to October 2014 (17 patients, SG). Median age was 54years (43–69) in the CG vs. 47 (40–63) in the SG (p = 0.43), median initial SBP 90 mmHg (85–103) in the in the SG, (p = 0.60), heart rate was 90 (80–110) in the CG and 110 (95–130) in the SG, (p = 0.09). Median Injury SeverityScore was 33 (21–41) in the CG and 34 (26–41) in the SG (p = 0.29). Time from arrival in the Emergency Department to firsttherapeutic manoeuvre was 132 minutes (109–180) in the CG and 87 minutes (51–204) in the SG (p = 0.4). The difference inmortality was statistically significant: 64.7% (11/17) in the CG and 23.5% (4/17) in the SG (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The introduction of protocols changed our approach in hemodynamically unstable pelvic trauma, achieving aremarkable improvement in early mortality.