Whole blood use in trauma resuscitation: targeting prehospital transfusion.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Trauma resuscitation management has evolved over the years with a more nuanced understanding of the injured patient's physiologic state of shock. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of whole blood administration in the prehospital setting in the resuscitation of the trauma patient.

RECENT FINDINGS: In traumatically injured patients, whole blood administration initiated in the prehospital setting may improve early shock severity, coagulopathy, and survival when used over traditional resuscitation fluids such as crystalloid administration or component therapy.

SUMMARY: The timing of resuscitation and its components deserve special attention when improving outcomes for trauma patients requiring massive transfusion.