Fresh Low Titer O Whole Blood Transfusion in the Austere Medical Environment

Abstract

Massive hemorrhage is an immediate threat to life. The military developed the Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines to address the management of acute trauma, including administration of blood products. The guidelines have been expanded to include low titer O whole blood, which is in limited use by the military. This proposal describes how the transfusion of fresh whole blood might be applied to the remote civilian environment. In doing so, this life-saving intervention may be brought to the austere medical environment, allowing critically hemorrhaging patients to survive to reach definitive medical care.