Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Trauma-related Coagulopathy

Hemorrhage control often poses a great challenge for clinicians due to trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), a condition that is present in one-third of bleeding trauma patients. As platelets are considered as central mediators in TIC, the understanding of mitochondria-mediated processes in thrombocytes may disclose new therapeutic targets in the management of severely injured patients. The investigators hypothesize that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in the platelets of trauma patients with TIC. The investigators intend to quantitatively characterize the derangements of mitochondrial functions in TIC; and assess the relation between mitochondrial respiration and clinical markers of platelet function measured with aggregometry, viscoelastic tests and conventional laboratory analysis.