The efficacy of coagulation factor concentrates in the management of patients with trauma-induced coagulopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Death in the early phase of trauma is primarily attributable to uncontrolled bleeding exacerbated by trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC). A comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence on interventions for TIC is needed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of blood component products and tranexamic acid administrations for severe trauma patients with TIC. We included randomized and non-randomized controlled trials. We included studies with patients who required transfusion with any coagulopathy associated with trauma and a detailed definition. The intervention was administration of blood component products and tranexamic acid. The primary outcome of the study was all-cause mortality and transfusion quantity.

Results: Four randomized controlled trials and seven observational studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. In this study, Fibrinogen concentrate (FC), Prothrombin coagulation cofactor (PCC), and Combination administrations of FC and PCC (FC + PCC) administration did not significantly reduce mortality rates. FC, PCC, and FC + PCC administrations significantly reduced RBC transfusions after admission. In addition, PCC administration reduced FFP transfusions during hospital admission. The incidence of thrombotic events was not significantly higher in the FC + PCC, PCC, and rFVIIa groups. Although statistically nonsignificant, multiple organ failure was lower in the FC and FC + PCC groups.

Conclusions: FC and PCC administrations did not significantly reduce mortality. However, FC, PCC, and FC + PCC reduced transfusion rates and complications in patients with coagulopathy-associated trauma. However, the definition of TIC is quite heterogeneous. Thus, the definition of TIC should be defined universally. Furthermore, due to the lack of high certainty of evidence, further well-constructed trials are warranted to investigate the efficacy of blood component products, specifically FC and PCC supplementation for TIC.