Journal Review in Trauma Surgery: Managing Blunt Pelvic Hemorrhage

The mortality rate for unstable pelvic hemorrhage due to blunt trauma remains around 30 percent. However, technological advances promise to finally make a dent. But on the cutting edge, it’s not clear which treatments should be used when to maximize lives saved. With life-threatening pelvic exsanguination, time is critical. Do you know when to rush to pack the pelvis? Do you know when to deploy a REBOA instead? Are there scenarios where you should do both? Join Drs. Urréchaga, Neeman, and Rattan from Ryder Trauma Center in Miami as they try to tease out answers using two studies hot off the presses with seemingly contradictory results. Learning Objectives: Blunt Pelvic Hemorrhage · Expanding knowledge of management strategies for blunt pelvic hemorrhage · Describe propensity score matching and its use in non-randomized studies · Compare outcomes of REBOA and preperitoneal pelvic packing (PPP) · Critically appraise study design and methods of studies References 1. S. Mikdad, I.A.M. van Erp, M.E. Moheb, et al. Pre-peritoneal pelvic packing for early hemorrhage control reduces mortality compared to resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta in severe blunt pelvic trauma patients: A nationwide analysis. Injury. 2020; 51:1834–1839. doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2020.06.003 2. S. Asmar, L. Bible, M. Chehab, et al. Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta vs Pre-Peritoneal Packing in Patients with Pelvic Fracture. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2021; 232(1):17-26. doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.08.763 3. B. Joseph, M. Zeeshan, J.V. Sakran, et al. Nationwide Analysis of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta in Civilian Trauma. JAMA Surg. 2019;154(6):500-508. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2019.0096 Please visit behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.