Home / Tulane seeks community input on potential trauma research study
Bleeding out is the most common cause of preventable death after injury. Researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine are asking for community input on whether they should participate in a study that will compare two resuscitation strategies, one using whole blood versus the other using traditional blood component therapy. The goal is to compare which strategy can improve survival.
The traditional approach for treating injured patients who are bleeding is to administer multiple separate units of red blood cells, plasma and platelets — known as component therapy. However, recent evidence from military and civilian medicine suggests that survival may be better when patients receive whole blood, instead of previously separated blood products.
The Trauma Resuscitation with Group O Whole Blood or Products, or TROOP trial, will compare these two resuscitation strategies, in addition to all standard care, in injured patients predicted to require a large volume blood transfusion. “There is a growing body of evidence that whole blood may reduce the chance of dying in injured patients who require blood products,” explains Dr. Juan Duchesne, a trauma surgeon at the Norman McSwain Level I Trauma Center at University Medical Center New Orleans and Section Chief of Trauma/Acute Care and Critical Care at Tulane University School of Medicine.
“The standard treatment of injured patients who are bleeding involves the transfusion of different types of blood products, as well as the use of medications to help the blood clot better, along with surgery to stop the bleeding. But even with these treatments up to 30% of patients suffering from a serious traumatic injury die,” said Dr. Duchesne. “Finding a way to improve that survival rate is our highest priority here at Tulane University and University Medical Center New Orleans.”
Patients in this study will have suffered a serious and potentially life-threatening injury, causing significant blood loss, and requiring immediate lifesaving interventions. These types of injuries occur unexpectedly, and it will not be possible for most people to sign up to participate ahead of time. Most patients will be unconscious, unable to speak or hear, and too sick to consent to immediate treatment, or participation in the study. If the community feedback is positive and an independent review board (IRB) approves the study, then Tulane University School of Medicine will participate in this trial. Community members who do not want to participate can request a bracelet indicating this. If feasible, doctors will consent patients who fit the study criteria. If consent is not feasible, patients who fit the criteria will be automatically enrolled without their individual consent if they are not wearing an opt-out bracelet.
The TROOP trial will be conducted in 13 leading trauma centers in the US and will include 1,100 patients. The trial will begin between early 2023 and last until 2027, and is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
“The results of this study have the potential to change the way trauma patients are treated,” said Juan Duchesne, MD, FACS, FCCP, FCCM. “If we can determine that whole blood is safe and effective for trauma patients, we can transform the standard of care for bleeding trauma patients and save thousands of lives.”
The study team members are asking for feedback from the Tulane University and University Medical Center New Orleans community about this study, to help determine whether the community wants this area to participate in this study. Please consider visiting the website below to learn more about this study and to provide your feedback to the local physicians regarding emergency research. You can do this via phone call, email, or completing a brief anonymous survey. The link to the local website is https://www.uab.edu/medicine/cis/troop-trial-at-tulane
Contact:
Danjuma Bello
504-988-5272
Please join our virtual community forum discussing the Trauma Resuscitation with Low-Titer Group O Whole Blood or Products (TROOP) Trial
For more information regarding this study please click the link below:
https://www.uab.edu/medicine/cis/projects/troop-trial-at-uab
This forum will be hosted via ZOOM on
Thursday, August 17th @ 12:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting https://uab-mc.zoom.us/j/85285629135
-and-
Thursday, August 17th @ 6:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting https://uab-mc.zoom.us/j/89712709649
You will have a chance to speak with the physician leading this trial, ask questions, and learn about trauma research.
*All trauma studies will be conducted at University Medical Center, the Level 1 trauma center for New Orleans. People who want to opt out and receive a bracelet must contact Tulane at 504-988-5272 to schedule a time to pick up bracelets.