Base deficit, lactate clearance, and shock index as predictors of morbidity and mortality in multiple-trauma patients

Introduction: Physiological responses to hemorrhage are not proportional to blood loss. This has led to the use of scores such as the shock index (SI) or biomarkers such as lactate clearance (LC) and base deficit (BD) in the assessment of multiple trauma patients. Objective: To determine the risk between no LC, persistence of BD, and severe SI at 6 hours, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Methods: Prospective cohort study with multiple trauma patients taken to surgery. SI, BD, and lactate levels were calculated on admission and after 6hours; LC was estimated at 6 hours; and follow-up was performed after 28 days to determine morbidity and mortality. Inadequate LC was defined as 1, and abnormal BD as