Massive Transfusion

: On any given day, most of the blood components issued by hospital transfusion services are released in small and predictable quantities in support of current strategies in surgery and cancer care. Blood is transfused on predetermined schedules, to known patients, and after complex and time-consuming testing and product-modification procedures. Thus, the urgent “what-do-you-do-when-the-blood-fills-your-shoes, we-need-the-plasma-10-minutes-ago” demands of surgeons and trauma anesthesiologists can appear to border on the hysterical. Recent changes in massive transfusion response efforts are being implemented by many institutions around the world, with excellent results. Massive Transfusion succinctly explains the modern concepts of large-scale blood use; reviews the critical pathophysiology that requires massive transfusion; discusses the key administrative and technical issues surrounding support of catastrophic bleeding; and identifies challenges that need to be addressed in order to continue progress in the future. Contents: Overview describing how historical approaches are being replaced by modern concepts. Discussion of what components are needed for balanced resuscitation. Review of the coagulation process and how coagulopathic bleeding can evolve. Exploration of patient groups most likely to need massive transfusion. Insights on the changing approaches to resuscitation from expert practitioners. Bonus! Samples on USB flash card of flowcharts, protocols, two case studies, and process documentation for adult and pediatric patients. Extra Bonus! Laminated data card features MTP activation steps on one side and what to do while the MTP is ongoing on the flip side. By Lynn G. Stansbury, MD, MPH, MFA, FACP, and John R. Hess, MD, MPH, FACP, FAAAS AABB Press, 2019, illus, digital, ISBN 978-1-56395-964-6