SELF-EXPANDING FOAM VS PRE-PERITONEAL PACKING FOR EXSANGUINATING PELVIC HEMORRHAGE.

BACKGROUND: Mortality for pelvic fracture patients presenting with hemorrhagic shock ranges from 21-57%. The objective of this study was to develop a lethal and clinically-relevant pelvic hemorrhage animal model with and without bony fracture for evaluating therapeutic interventions. ResQFoam is a self-expanding foam that has previously been described to significantly decrease mortality in large-animal models of abdominal exsanguination. We hypothesized that administration of ResQFoam into the pre-peritoneal space could decrease mortality in exsanguinating pelvic hemorrhage.

METHODS: Two pelvic hemorrhage models were developed using non-coagulopathic swine. Pelvic hemorrhage model #1: bilateral, closed-cavity, major vascular retro-peritoneal hemorrhage without bony pelvic fracture. After injury, animals received no treatment (control, n = 10), underwent pre-peritoneal packing using laparotomy pads (n = 11), or received ResQFoam (n = 10) injected into the pre-peritoneal space. Pelvic hemorrhage model #2: unilateral, closed-cavity, retro-peritoneal hemorrhage injury (with intra-peritoneal communication) combined with complex pelvic fracture. After injury, animals received resuscitation (control, n = 12), resuscitation with pre-peritoneal packing (n = 10) or with ResQFoam injection (n = 10) into the pre-peritoneal space.

RESULTS: For model #1, only ResQFoam provided a significant survival benefit. The median survival times were 50 and 67 minutes for pre-peritoneal packing and ResQFoam, compared to 6 minutes with controls (p = 0.002 and 0.057, respectively). Foam treatment facilitated hemodynamic stabilization and resulted in significantly less hemorrhage (21.5 ± 5.3 g/kg) relative to controls (31.6 ± 5.0 g/kg, p < 0.001) and pre-peritoneal packing (32.7 ± 5.4 g/kg, p < 0.001). For model #2, both ResQFoam and pre-peritoneal packing resulted in significant survival benefit compared to controls. The median survival times were 119 and 124 minutes for the pre-peritoneal packing and ResQFoam groups, compared to 4 minutes with controls (p = 0.004 and 0.013, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous injection of ResQFoam into the pre-peritoneal space improved survival relative to controls, and similar survival benefit was achieved compared to standard pre-peritoneal pelvic packing. The technology has potential to augment the armamentarium of tools to treat pelvic hemorrhage.Study Type: This is a Basic Science paper and, therefore, does not require level of evidence.