Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
Prehospital administration of freeze-dried plasma, is it the solution for trauma casualties?
Amir Shlaifer1, Maya Siman-Tov, Irina Radomislensky
1From the The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps (S.A., S.A., B.N.A., G.E., Y.A.), Tel-Hashomer; The Orthopedic Division (S.A.), Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv; Israel National Center for Trauma and Emergency Medicine (S.-T.M., R.I., P.K.), Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Public Health Policy, Tel-Hashomer; Department of Disaster Management (P.K.), School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv; The Pinchas Bornstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program (S.A.), The Sheba Medical Center; The Ella Lemelbaum Institute of Immuno-Oncology (B.N.A.), Institute of Oncology, The Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan; Sackler Faculty of Medicine (B.N.A.), Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; and The Department of Surgery at Uniformed Services (G.E.), University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD.
Background:
Hemorrhage is the leading cause of possible preventable death in the battlefield. There is an increasing evidence for the effectiveness of blood component therapy in general, and plasma infusion in particular but their use is less applicable in the prehospital setting due to logistic difficulties. Israeli Defense Force has implemented the use of freeze-dried plasma (FDP) at the point of injury (POI), this adoption of FDP use entailed doubts regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of this practice. In this article, we present our experience with the use of FDP at the POI and prehospital setting regarding the feasibility, safety, adverse reactions, and adherence to clinical practice guidelines.
Methods:
This is a descriptive retrospective cohort study based on all casualties receiving FDP during January 2013 to June 2016. The study describes the injury, treatment, and outcome characteristics from POI until hospital discharge.
Results:
During the study period, 109 casualties received FDP. The majority were men, aged 18 years to 35 years. Multiple severe injuries were found in almost half of the casualties, 78% had penetrating injury, and more than half were involved in a multicasualty event. Eighty-three percent were treated with one unit of FDP, 13% with two units, and 4% casualties with three units, nine patients (8.2%) were also treated in the prehospital setting with packed red blood cells. Fifty-seven percent fulfilled at least one criterion for the administration of FDP. Lifesaving interventions were required in 64%. In five (4.6%) cases, there were difficulties with FDP administration. Side effects were reported in one female patient.
Conclusion:
This study supports the usage feasibility of FDP at the POI and in the prehospital setting. Further adjustment of the clinical practice guidelines is required basing it not only on pathophysiologic parameters but also on clinical judgment. Further investigation of the available data is required to learn about the effectiveness of FDP at POI.
Level Of Evidence:
Retrospective case series study, level IV.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
01:26Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:05Introduction to Hemostasis
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized,...