Time course of lactate clearance in trauma and its relevance to outcomes

Results Of 300 patients enrolled, 50 received 4 or more units of PRBCs. On average, patients with high admission lactates (>=5.0mmol/l) did not clear their lactate until blood transfusion had stopped and haemorrhage was controlled (p <0.05. Figures A and B – patients receiving 4 and 8 units of PRBCs). Patients who normalised their lactate levels prior to the end of transfusion had significantly reduced mortality compared to those not clearing although this did not reach statistical significance due to small numbers (mortality for patients receiving PRBC cleared vs not cleared: PRBC 4u: 33% vs 43%; PRBC 8u: 50% vs 63%; PRBC 12u: 67% vs 71%).