UMEM Educational Pearls

A retrospective study of 2 years of data from 24 trauma centers looking at end tidal CO2 as a predictor of mortality in trauma patients found:

"A total of 1,324 patients were enrolled. ETCO2 was better in predicting mortality than shock index (SI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP).  Prehospital lowest ETCO2 , SBP , and SI  were all predictive of Mass Transfusion."

 

Another data point to consider when setting up trauma triage protocols and looking for patients who will require intensive interventions early. 

References

Campion EM, Cralley A, Sauaia A, Buchheit RC, Brown AT, Spalding MC, LaRiccia A, Moore S, Tann K, Leskovan J, Camazine M, Barnes SL, Otaibi B, Hazelton JP, Jacobson LE, Williams J, Castillo R, Stewart NJ, Elterman JB, Zier L, Goodman M, Elson N, Miner J, Hardman C, Kapoen C, Mendoza AE, Schellenberg M, Benjamin E, Wakam GK, Alam HB, Kornblith LZ, Callcut RA, Coleman LE, Shatz DV, Burruss S, Linn AC, Perea L, Morgan M, Schroeppel TJ, Stillman Z, Carrick MM, Gomez MF, Berne JD, McIntyre RC, Urban S, Nahmias J, Tay E, Cohen M, Moore EE, McVaney K, Burlew CC. Prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide is predictive of death and massive transfusion in injured patients: An Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Feb 1;92(2):355-361. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003447. PMID: 34686640.