Introduction: Severe trauma continues to challenge the healthcare system worldwide, and post–traumatic bleeding remains the leading cause of potentially preventable deaths among patients suffering such injury. Now this 5th edition of this document seeks to provide a guide to the management of major bleeding and coagulopathies that follow trauma and encourages adaptation to the principles, from handbook to resources of each institution and its circumstances.
Methods: This task force was created in 2004 and included the participation of six relevant medical and surgical societies. This group applied a structured consensus in evidence–based medicine that served as a basis for each recommendation and rational support. Expert opinions and current clinical practice were also considered particularly in areas where randomized clinical studies were not found. Existing recommendations were reexamined and revised based on previous editions to this. New recommendations were formulated, which reflect current clinical concerns in which new research and data were generated.
Results and Conclusions: The multidisciplinary approach and adherence to the evidence–based handbook are key to improving the final treatment outcomes of traumatic patients. Incorporated into local practices this handbook/guideline has the potential to improve the standard of trauma medicine throughout Europe.