Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. Although in-hospital calcium replacement protocols target normocalcaemia, UK pre-hospital services lack standardised calcium monitoring capabilities and demonstrate significant variation in calcium supplementation. No evidence-based guidelines exist for pre- and early in-hospital calcium administration in patients receiving blood product transfusion. This study characterises current UK pre-hospital calcium management in patients requiring blood transfusion prior to ionised calcium (iCa) measurement. METHODS: A multicentre pre-hospital service evaluation across five UK Helicopter Emergency Medicine Services (HEMS) from February to April 2024, including all adult trauma patients receiving pre-hospital blood transfusions. Data collected included baseline demographics, pre- and in-hospital blood products transfused, calcium dose and calcium measurement in the Emergency Department. The primary outcome was iCa on initial blood gas measurement. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included, stratified by calcium levels on hospital arrival: 25 (43.1%) hypocalcaemic, 20 (34.5%) normocalcaemic, and 13 (22.4%) were hypercalcaemic. Most patients were male (84%) sustained blunt trauma (76%) and the overall median iCa was 1.14 mmol/L on first blood gas analysis. Pre-hospital calcium was given to 57%, with hypercalcaemic patients more likely to receive replacement. Normocalcaemic patients received fewer blood products overall. Increasing blood product administration was associated with lower calcium levels, especially in those not receiving pre-hospital calcium. CONCLUSION: Hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia were common. Calcium replacement protocols may under- or overtreat due to diverse injury patterns and baseline patient factors. Pre-hospital point-of-care testing (POCT) for iCa could help tailor treatment, especially in cases with longer times between injury and arrival at hospital. We demonstrate the feasibility of collecting comprehensive pre- and in-hospital data across multiple HEMS services to better inform future guidelines in patients with traumatic haemorrhage.