Damage control resuscitation in children

Abstract

Damage control resuscitation (DCR) is a resuscitative strategy for patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage to transfer them to subsequent surgery (Fig. 1). Recently, this strategy has been used as a standard therapeutic plan for severe traumatic hemorrhage in the U.S. and European countries. Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) improves survival and hemostasis in adults. In children, efficacy of MTP remains a topic to debate. However, as of 2016, 92% of North American trauma centers were running a pediatric massive transfusion protocol (P-MTP) as a specific method of DCR. This review focuses on the concept of DCR, and summarizes the relevant pediatric evidence.