Trauma triad of death

Triad of death

The trauma triad of death is a medical term describing the combination of hypothermia, acidosis and coagulopathy.^[1] This combination is commonly seen in patients who have sustained severe traumatic injuries and results in a significant rise in the mortality rate.^[2] Commonly when someone presents with these signs damage control surgery is employed to reverse the effects.

The three conditions share a complex relationship; each factor can compound the others, resulting in high mortality if this positive feedback loop continues uninterrupted.

Severe haemorrhage in trauma diminishes oxygen delivery, and may lead to hypothermia. This in turn can halt the coagulation cascade, preventing blood from clotting. In the absence of blood-bound oxygen and nutrients (hypoperfusion), the body's cells burn glucose anaerobically for energy, causing the release of lactic acid, ketone bodies, and other acidic compounds into the blood stream, which lower the blood's pH, leading to metabolic acidosis. Such an increase in acidity damages the tissues and organs of the body and can reduce myocardial performance, further reducing the oxygen delivery.

References

↑ Mikhail, J. (Feb 1999), "The trauma triad of death: hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy", AACN Clin Issues, 10 (1): 85–94, PMID 10347389
↑ Lewis, Anne Marie (Mar 2000), "Trauma triad of death emergency", Nursing

External links

Mohr, Alicia M.; Asensio, Juan A.; García-Núñez, Luis M.; Petrone, Patrizio; Sifri, Ziad C. (2005), "Guidelines for the Institution of Damage Control in Trauma Patients" (PDF), ITACCS, 15 (4): 185–188

Trauma

Principles

Assessment

Clinical prediction rules	Revised Trauma Score Injury Severity Score Abbreviated Injury Scale NACA score

Investigations	Diagnostic peritoneal lavage Focused assessment with sonography for trauma

Management

Principles	Advanced trauma life support Trauma surgery Trauma center Trauma team Damage control surgery Early appropriate care

Procedures	Resuscitative thoracotomy

Pathophysiology

Injury	MSK Bone fracture Joint dislocation Degloving Soft tissue injury Resp Flail chest Pneumothorax Hemothorax Diaphragmatic rupture Pulmonary contusion Cardio Internal bleeding Thoracic aorta injury Cardiac tamponade GI Blunt kidney trauma Ruptured spleen Neuro Penetrating head injury Traumatic brain injury Intracranial hemorrhage

Mechanism	Blast injury Blunt trauma Burn Penetrating trauma Crush injury Stab wound Ballistic trauma Electrocution

Region	Abdominal trauma Chest trauma Facial trauma Head injury Spinal cord injury

Demographic	Geriatric trauma Pediatric trauma

Complications

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