Golden Hour Study

Background

• Unique study focusing on patients within the first hour of injury
• Comparison to prior study: Previous study with 7+ samples, did not assess immune system function
• Golden Hour study: Aims to look at 200 patients for more definitive conclusions

Objectives

• Assess what's happening to the immune system in the first hour post-injury
• Examine both immune activation and immune suppression

Key Findings

• Immune Activation & Suppression: Evidence found within minutes of injury
  • Previous literature: Immune activation seen within hours; immune suppression takes days/weeks
  • Golden Hour study: Shows both within the first hour, even before hospital arrival
• Implications: Preliminary data suggest patients with a more active immune response in one area of injury may have a poorer outcome once in hospital

Collaboration and Methodology

• Collaboration with West Midlands Air Ambulance Service, Merrick Team, and trauma research team at Queen Elizabeth
• 24/7 operation to enroll eligible patients
• Interaction between nurses and paramedics crucial, especially for collecting blood samples at the injury scene
• Blood samples analyzed within 2 hours

Immediate Implications

• Development of a test from the study's findings
  • Identifies patients likely to develop sepsis or multi-organ failure
  • Allows for rapid and appropriate treatment