Scientific proposal from Sancti Spíritus strengthens care for hemorrhagic trauma in Cuba

A clinical practice guideline developed in Sancti Spíritus for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock represents a significant contribution to the management of such emergencies in Cuba, as it facilitates faster medical decision-making and reduces complications, hospital stays, and mortality rates.

This scientific proposal, the result of a multi-stage research project, established criteria for the hospital care of patients suffering from complex hemorrhagic trauma, explained General Surgeon Manuel Felipe Valdés Rodríguez of the Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial Hospital.

“For patients arriving at the surgical emergency department with trauma, this guideline made it possible to standardize the criteria used to determine the subsequent course of action for each individual. What did this guideline achieve? It effectively improved key quality indicators by reducing hospital stays, complications, and overall mortality among these patients. It also minimized variability in patient management—specifically regarding diagnosis and treatment.”

According to Valdés Rodríguez, one of the key contributions lies in enhancing the clinical method through predictive indices capable of identifying the presence of hemorrhage more effectively, thereby facilitating treatment decisions. “However, one of the most significant achievements resulting from the development of this guideline was the more effective application of the clinical method for diagnosing hemorrhage in polytrauma patients.

“This application of the clinical method allows for the conservation of various resources and materials—specifically avoiding the use of extremely costly equipment such as CT scans and ultrasound—which require significantly more time to accurately diagnose the extent of the hemorrhage and carry the risk of the patient’s condition worsening during such a prolonged diagnostic process. In contrast, the predictive index indicators developed in this study enable a much faster and more effective diagnosis of hemorrhage, allowing for a more rapid course of action and resulting in a significant reduction in mortality for these patients.”