Warm fresh whole blood resuscitation in combat casualties

Abstract

In their study of combat casualties in Afghanistan, Gurney et al show that warm fresh whole blood (WFWB) resuscitation is associated with a significant reduction in 6-hour mortality compared with resuscitation with component therapy.1 Although a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials failed to detect a difference in mortality when comparing whole blood and blood component transfusion in the resuscitation of patients with major bleeding, studies included were small with low certainty of evidence.