Shock Index as an indicator for blood transfusion or surgical intervention among multiple trauma patients in Jordan.

Abstract

Trauma remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with uncontrollable bleeding contributing significantly to preventable deaths. This study assessed the utility of the shock index (SI) in predicting clinical outcomes in trauma patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 122 trauma patients admitted to King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their SI: normal (SI < 0.9) and elevated (SI> 0.9). Clinical outcomes, including the need for interventions, blood transfusions, and neurological status, were compared between the groups. Patients with elevated SI had worse neurological outcomes (17% vs. 1.1%, P < 0.001), higher rates of airway interventions (23% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.005), increased incidence of pneumothorax/hemothorax (P = 0.005), and a greater need for blood transfusions (10% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.046). Elevated SI was associated with overall hemodynamic instability and worse clinical outcomes, supporting its use as a rapid assessment tool in trauma care. Elevated SI was strongly associated with worse clinical outcomes in trauma patients, including increased need for interventions and higher complication rates. SI proves to be a simple yet effective tool for the rapid assessment of trauma severity, while holding the potential to improve early triage and decision-making within emergency care settings.