WB Prehospital Resuscitation Associated With Improved Outcomes

Background: Mounting data suggest that whole blood (WB) for trauma resuscitation is superior to component therapy (CT). Despite the growing prevalence of prehospital blood programs, no comparison of prehospital WB and packed red blood cells (pRBCs) has been performed. Objective: To compare patient outcomes among multiple fast-paced emergency medical services (EMS) systems nationwide, hypothesizing that overall patient outcomes with WB would be superior to pRBCs. Design: Prospective observational study. Participants/Methods: The authors enrolled trauma patients from 9 EMS systems transporting to level 1 trauma centers. Adult patients with penetrating or blunt mechanisms and requiring prehospital transfusion for presumed hemorrhagic shock were eligible. Those with isolated traumatic brain injury, penetrating head injury, or prehospital cardiac arrest were excluded. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, prehospital care and vitals, emergency department (ED) care and vitals, and more...