Abstract
For patients with life-threatening haemorrhage, restoration of circulating volume is essential and blood transfusion is inevitable. The ability to separate and store red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate revolutionized the management of blood loss. Before this, blood donors were relied on to come to hospital for each emergency. This was unpopular, unreliable and impractical. Current military practice permits the use of warm fresh whole blood, donated by on-site military personnel, for casualties with life-threatening injuries when stored products are unavailable or if the response to haemostatic resuscitation with blood products is poor (Spinella, 2008). Indications for fresh whole blood transfusions in civilians include massive haemorrhage, burns, cardiac surgery, neonatal exchange transfusion and traumatic brain injury (Repine et al, 2006). This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of fresh whole blood transfusions.
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