Implementation of a pre‐hospital transfusion service in Latin America: the pioneering experience of a Brazilian centre

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesThis report describes the implementation of the first pre‐hospital transfusion service in Latin America, with red blood cell concentrates available for immediate use in mobile land units.Materials and MethodsA partnership was established between the Regional Mobile Emergency Service and the Regional Blood Bank, with further development of protocols for the storage, transportation and transfusion of red blood cell concentrates in an ambulance, with the acquisition of special thermal boxes, a heater for blood components and digital thermometers.ResultsThe Service was developed from May 2019 and implemented in September 2020, in a mobile intensive care unit serving 11 cities, reaching a population of approximately 480 000 inhabitants. Two red blood cell concentrates, type ‘O’ RhD negative, are available, stored in a special sealed thermal box and with continuous temperature monitoring. A specific transfusion protocol was developed, in accordance with the institutional protocols of the Hospital and its Blood Bank.ConclusionThis is the first description of a pre‐hospital transfusion service implemented in Latin America, with the potential to reduce the number of deaths from civil trauma and which can be extrapolated to other institutions or countries in similar conditions.