Caring for the Bombing Patient and the Case for the Use of Whole Blood
(Room National Harbor 11)
22 Feb 19
1:15 PM
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2:15 PM
Tracks:
Advanced Clinical Practice
Many ground and helicopter emergency services still rely in crystalloids and colloids for trauma resuscitation. However, prehospital blood transfusions have been shown to help decrease mortality and blood transfusion requirements. Most prehospital and military blood transfusions are given as component therapy of red blood cells and/or fresh frozen plasma. Join Major Andrew Fisher as he discusses how whole blood, specifically low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) may be a better option. He will show you three reasons why your system may soon use LTOWB: 1) It replaces what the patient has lost; 2) It’s one product and simplifies transfusion therapy, therefore decreasing the chance of transfusion reactions; and 3) It doesn’t make the situation worse. He will show you how dilutional coagulopathy can happen with both component therapy and the use of crystalloids and colloids. He will also illustrate how component therapy has three times the anticoagulants and additives and may contribute to your trauma patient’s hypocalcemia. He will present multiple levels of coordination and efforts necessary in the hospital and EMS systems to implement a LTOWB program.