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Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients

Date:
April 14, 2016
Source:
University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center
Summary:
Patients who get blood quickly after severe injuries are less likely to die, according to researchers. In this study, researchers tracked trauma patients taken from the scene of their injury to hospital who received at least one unit of blood within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital.
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Patients who get blood quickly after severe injuries are less likely to die, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) Department of Emergency Medicine.

The research was published in the April 2016 issue of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

"More than 180,000 people die from trauma every year," says Elizabeth Powell, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine in the UC Department of Medicine and lead author on the study. "Bleeding is the major cause of preventable death after trauma."

In this study, researchers tracked trauma patients taken from the scene of their injury by Air Care to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) who received at least one unit of blood within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital. "Air Care is the only helicopter in the area to carry blood (and plasma), so we had the research platform to study how early blood transfusions impact outcomes," explained Powell.

Most patients received their first blood transfusion from Air Care or within one hour of getting to UCMC. For these patients, each 10 minute delay in getting blood increased the chance of death.

"Delays in the time to blood transfusion are associated with increased chances of dying," says Powell. "Shortening the time to transfusion, including having blood available in the prehospital setting, may improve outcomes."

Powell says as the result of the research, she does not anticipate a change in ED protocols. "However," she says, "other critical care transport services may need to examine their protocols and consider the use of blood products in their practice." Few critical care transport services currently carry blood products, Powell noted.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Powell, Elizabeth K. MD; Hinckley, William R. MD; Gottula, Adam BS; Hart, Kimberly W. MA; Lindsell, Christopher J. PhD; McMullan, Jason T. MD. Shorter Times to Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusion are Associated with Decreased Risk of Death in Traumatically Injured Patients. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, April 2016 DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000001078

Cite This Page:

University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. "Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 April 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414114257.htm>.
University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. (2016, April 14). Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414114257.htm
University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center. "Shorter times to blood transfusion associated with decreased death risk in trauma patients." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414114257.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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