Is there a need for additionalblood products in civilian health care for the therapeutic treatment of acute hemorrhage?

BackgroundNew military experiences of cryopreserved platelets and whole blood for the therapeutic treatment of acute hemorrhagehave led to an extensive academic debate on whether to include these blood products into civilian healthcare, where blood components and room temperature platelets serve as a one-size-fits-all productfor both prophylactic and therapeutic transfusions.PurposeTo evaluate the possible benefit ofother preparation methods of platelets, as well as whole blood, in civilian health care.MethodPlatelet transfusions of two Swedish counties were analyzed, and divided into three groups depending on which department that made the transfusion. One group for hematology and oncology departments/wards, one group for intensive care units(ICU), emergency departments(ED)and acute care wards(AC), and one group for all other departments/wards that made transfusions during the studied period. Each group was then divided into more specific categories.ResultsDepending on the region,7%-20% of all platelet transfusions were made in ICUs,5%-14% were made in surgical wardsand 1%-3% were made in ACs and EDs, and may be platelet transfusions madein conjunction with an active bleeding.44%-72% of all platelet transfusions were made in hematology departments/wards.ConclusionAccordingto this limited study, about 38% of all platelet transfusions in a county with a university hospital and 13% in a county without a university hospital, could benefit from transfusion with activated platelets, instead of those platelets that is today’s routine for prophylactic treatment