Efficacy and Safety of Whole Blood Transfusion in Non-Trauma Patients

Alison Smith, Rahaf Alkhateb, Maxwell Braverman, Charles Shahan, Benjamin Axtman, Susannah Nicholson, Leslie Greebon, Brian J Eastridge, Rachelle B. Jonas, Ronald Stewart, Randi Schaefer, Mark Foster, Donald Jenkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Whole blood (WB) transfusion for trauma patients with severe hemorrhage has demonstrated early successful outcomes compared to conventional component therapy. The objective of this study was to demonstrate WB transfusion in the non-trauma patient. Consecutive adult patients receiving WB transfusion at a single academic institution were reviewed from February 2018 to January 2020. Outcomes measured were mortality and transfusion-related reactions. A total of 237 patients who received WB were identified with 55 (23.2%) non-trauma patients. Eight patients (14.5%) received pre-hospital WB. The most common etiology of non-traumatic hemorrhage was gastrointestinal bleeding (43.6%, n = 24/55). Approximately half of the non-trauma patients (n = 28/55) received component therapy. Transfusion-related events occurred in 3 patients. This study demonstrated that non-trauma patients could receive WB transfusions safely with infrequent transfusion-related events. Future studies should focus on determining if outcomes are improved in non-trauma patients who receive WB transfusions and defining specific transfusion criteria for this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4934-4936
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Surgeon
Volume89
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2023

Keywords

  • non-trauma
  • resuscitation
  • whole blood

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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