Detection and Management of Non-Compressible Hemorrhage by Vena Cava Ultrasonography

Completed

Conditions studied: Trauma, Wounds and Injuries

In brief

This is a study of patients admitted with major traumatic injuries. Such patients may develop inadequate circulation to the organs as a result of internal blood loss. Early detection of internal blood loss can be difficult as physical examination alone may miss patients with significant blood loss. Some patients with internal bleeding will arrive with low blood pressure; these patients are usually given 2 liters of intravenous fluid to determine if their blood pressure will recover. If the blood pressure does not rise or if it drops again later, the blood loss can be assumed to be severe, and the patient will likely need transfusions, surgery and other interventions. However, this fluid treatment method can lead to delays and complications as some patients may initially respond but then continue to bleed. The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the large vein draining blood from the lower body to the heart. The inferior vena cava is known to empty when the patient has had significant blood loss. The vena cava diameter can be seen using ultrasound. This study intends to perform ultrasound to examine the vena cava diameter on patients just after arriving with major trauma. The hypothesis of the proposed study is that an ultrasound assessment protocol of inferior vena cava diameter and collapsibility can detect and aid management of non-compressible hemorrhage in major trauma victims. After the patient has been given the 2 liter intravenous fluid treatment, the inferior vena cava diameter will be measured again. A third examination 8-24 hours after admission will determine if the inferior vena cava diameter has returned to normal. We propose that measuring the inferior vena cava in this manner can predict those patients who are likely to continue bleeding and require interventions such as surgery. Early detection in these patients may avoid delays in treatment, complications and excess mortality. Because this examination is done with handheld ultrasound machines, it could be done outside hospitals and in military combat casualty care.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01989273

Run by

University of California, San Diego

People needed

121

Starts

2012-08-01

Expected to finish

2018-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-07-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Major trauma patients brought to Level I Trauma Centers.
• Selected patients for the study will be those presenting with IVC collapsibility > 50% on modified-FAST at admission and/or
• IVC diameter of < 12mm on modified FAST at admission and/or
• A non-visualized IVC due to total collapse on modified FAST at admission (not due to body habitus or inadequate ultrasonography technique)

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnancy after 20 weeks gestation
• Those under 18 years of age
• Prisoners and others prohibited from participating in clinical trials
• Patients with severe traumatic brain injury who at admission are deemed by treating surgeons as having non-survivable brain injuries

Where it is running

• University of California San Diego Health System — San Diego, California, United States
• Emory University — Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• University of Maryland, Shock Trauma — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
• Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, Virginia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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