Does prehospital blood product administration improve mortality in adult trauma patients?

Abstract: Severe hemorrhage in the setting of trauma is a leading cause of death in the United States. 12 Recent studies are revolutionizing the approach to hemodynamic resuscitation in the prehospital setting. The purpose of this literature review is to determine if prehospital administration of blood products improves mortality when compared to the standard crystalloid-based resuscitation. The studies in this review were obtained on PubMed and narrowed using the search terms “prehospital blood products + trauma.” Three articles were selected based on their pertinence and parameters outlined in our research question. All three articles analyzed concluded that prehospital administration of blood products significantly reduced mortality in the setting of severe hemorrhagic trauma, as defined by injury causing subsequent blood loss resulting in a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg. Prehospital organizations have already begun to update patient care protocols to include the use of blood products. Further evaluation of this topic is needed to adequately define how and when transfusion in the prehospital setting is most beneficial.