Red blood cells accelerate the onset of clot formation in polytrauma and hemorrhagic shock.

Background: Hemorrhage and coagulopathy are major contributors to death after trauma. The contribution of red blood cells (RBCs) in correcting coagulopathy is poorly understood. Current methods of measuring coagulopathy may fail to accurately characterize in vivo clotting.

Lyophilized plasma for resuscitation in a swine model of severe injury.

Hypothesis: Lyophilized plasma (LP) is as safe and effective as fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for resuscitation after severe trauma.

Design: Multicenter animal study.

Setting: Animal laboratories, 2 level I trauma centers.

Ketamine-based total intravenous anesthesia versus isoflurane anesthesia in a swine model of hemorrhagic shock.

Background: Inhalational anesthetics can cause profound hemodynamic effects including decreases in systemic vascular resistance and cardiac inotropy. Although widely used in uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock (UHS), their consequences compared with other anesthetic regimens are not well-studied. Ketamine-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) may produce less profound cardiovascular depression, and has been used during elective surgery but rarely during traumatic shock.

A novel highly porous silica and chitosan-based hemostatic dressing is superior to HemCon and gauze sponges.

Background: Hemostatic dressings have become increasingly popular as the optimal initial treatment for severe hemorrhage. The purpose of this study was to compare the hemostatic properties of a novel highly porous silica and chitosan-based dressing (TraumaStat) to HemCon, and gauze dressing in a severe groin injury model in swine.

Methods: Thirty swine were blindly randomized to receive TraumaStat, HemCon, or standard gauze dressing for hemostatic control.

Reproducibility of an animal model simulating complex combat-related injury in a multiple-institution format.

We developed a complex combat-relevant model of abdominal and extremity trauma, hemorrhagic shock, hypothermia, and acidosis. We then simulated injury, preoperative, and operative phases. We hypothesized that this model is reproducible and useful for randomized multicenter preclinical trials.