Validity of base excess as a prognostic factor of mortality in trauma patients

Background: Base excess is used to determine the magnitude of metabolic abnormality secondary to hemorrhage or direct organ damage of patients with polytrauma Objective: To determine what are the values of change that BE can have over time and that allow predicting early mortality in patients with polytrauma. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in subjects older than 18 years, who were admitted to the intensive care unit for any type of trauma. The response to the change of the base excess at 6, 12 and 24 hours after the trauma was evaluated. Results: 261 subjects were included, 22.6% (59/261) died. Polytrauma occurred in 73.2% (191/261) and traf- fic accident was the most common mechanism of trauma in the study population with 75.9%. The change in BE between admission and the first 6 hours was 1.7 mEq/L (SD: 4.02) in the living population and 1.9 mEq/L (SD: 8.1) in the deceased (p<0.001). The change in mEq/L between admission and first 6 hours showed a low receiver operating characteristics curve area of 0.661 (95% CI: 0.523-0.8; p=0.025). Conclusion: The change in base excess between the first 6 to 12 hours after patient admission can be used to estimate mortality in patients diagnosed with trauma.