Emergency Department Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta in Trauma Patients With Exsanguinating Hemorrhage
Authors: Jansen Jan O. , Hudson Jemma , Cochran Claire , MacLennan Graeme , Lendrum Robbie , Sadek Sam , Gillies Katie , Cotton Seonaidh , Kennedy Charlotte , Boyers Dwayne , Ferry Gillian , Lawrie Louisa , Nath Mintu , Wileman Samantha , Forrest Mark , Brohi Karim , Harris Tim , Lecky Fiona , Moran Chris , Morrison Jonathan J. , Norrie John , Paterson Alan , Tai Nigel , Welch Nick , Campbell Marion K. ,   UK-REBOA Study Group, Aylwin Chris , Bew Duncan , Brooks Adam , Chinery James , Cowlam Tom , Frith Dan , George Arun , Hudson Anthony , Johnstone Phillip , Mahmood Ansar , Novak Alex , O’Meara Matt , Reid Stuart , Sattout Abdo , Smith Chris , Stansfield Tim , Thompson Julian 
Published: October 2023

Importance

Bleeding is the most common cause of preventable death after trauma.

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) when used in the emergency department along with standard care vs standard care alone on mortality in trauma patients with exsanguinating hemorrhage.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Pragmatic, bayesian, randomized clinical trial conducted at 16 major trauma centers in the UK. Patients aged 16 years or older with exsanguinating hemorrhage were enrolled between October 2017 and March 2022 and followed up for 90 days.

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned (1:1 allocation) to a strategy that included REBOA and standard care (n = 46) or standard care alone (n = 44).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 90 days. Ten secondary outcomes included mortality at 6 months, while in the hospital, and within 24 hours, 6 hours, or 3 hours; the need for definitive hemorrhage control procedures; time to commencement of definitive hemorrhage control procedures; complications; length of stay; blood product use; and cause of death.

Results

Of the 90 patients (median age, 41 years [IQR, 31-59 years]; 62 [69%] were male; and the median Injury Severity Score was 41 [IQR, 29-50]) randomized, 89 were included in the primary outcome analysis because 1 patient in the standard care alone group declined to provide consent for continued participation and data collection 4 days after enrollment. At 90 days, 25 of 46 patients (54%) had experienced all-cause mortality in the REBOA and standard care group vs 18 of 43 patients (42%) in the standard care alone group (odds ratio [OR], 1.58 [95% credible interval, 0.72-3.52]; posterior probability of an OR &amp;gt;1 [indicating increased odds of death with REBOA], 86.9%). Among the 10 secondary outcomes, the ORs for mortality and the posterior probabilities of an OR greater than 1 for 6-month, in-hospital, and 24-, 6-, or 3-hour mortality were all increased in the REBOA and standard care group, and the ORs were increased with earlier mortality end points. There were more deaths due to bleeding in the REBOA and standard care group (8 of 25 patients [32%]) than in standard care alone group (3 of 18 patients [17%]), and most occurred within 24 hours.

Conclusions and Relevance

In trauma patients with exsanguinating hemorrhage, a strategy of REBOA and standard care in the emergency department does not reduce, and may increase, mortality compared with standard care alone.

Trial Registration

isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN16184981