Nitroglycerin Patch in Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock to Improve Signs of Poor Peripheral Perfusion

Abstract
Background: Microcirculatory function is the main pre-requisite for adequate tissue oxygenation and organ function. It transports oxygen and nutrients to tissue cells, ensure adequate immunological function and, in disease, delivers therapeutic drugs to target cells. Recruiting microcirculation, i.e., non-perfused or intermittently perfused capillaries might improve tissue perfusion, mitigating the progression to organ failure and death. Nitroglycerin has been used in different shock states particularly in sepsis. The effect is variable and debatable suggesting an improvement of microcirculation.
Patients and Methods: 60 adult patients with hemorrhagic shock admitted to the Emergency Department within 6 hours of trauma event, resuscitation immediately started according to advanced trauma life support ATLS® protocol 2016 with control of the bleeding source. Nitroglycerine patch 5mg applied to patients after the first hour of resuscitation. The study period corresponded to the outcome of the first 48 hours of trauma unit or ICU resuscitation. Patients considered successfully resuscitated if they had normal lactate levels (£2mmol/L).
Results: 60 patients enrolled in this study, 10 patients were excluded; 3 of them due to uncontrolled bleeding and 7 due to marked hypotension. 50 patients continued in the study (38 men, 12 women) with mean age was (29.1±10.8ys); of them 45 survived (90%) and 5 did not survive (10%). Patients received mean crystalloid volume (6100±1410.67ml), mean colloid volume (490±457.25ml), mean packed RBCs (4.34±1.33 units), mean fresh frozen plasma (3.08±1.65 units) and mean nor-adrenaline dose (7.94±10.55mg/kg/minute). Baseline perfusion index was (0.37±0.21), mean heart rate (128.46±18.18 beat/minute), systolic blood pressure (78.08± 7.47mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (40.20±7.39mmHg), mean arterial pressure (53.44±6.43mmHg), central venous pressure (–1 .46±2.77cmH2O) and baseline modified shock index was (2.45±0.56). Baseline serum lactate was (8.61±1.86 mmol/L), base deficit was (–12.59±5.57). Perfusion index showed statistically significant increase in survivors than non survivors at 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 hours (p<0.001). Serum lactate level was significantly higher in non survivors group than survivor group (p<0.001). Base deficit was significantly higher in non survivors than survivors (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Use of nitroglycerin patch 5mg improved PI at 6 to 48 hours post resuscitation and reduce mortality rate (in this study was 10%) while in other previous studies with the same sample size of hemorrhagic shock patients without use of nitroglycerin it was higher (about 30%).
This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov under number NCT03235921.