Prehospital resuscitation
Alexandra M P Brito1, Martin Schreiber2
1Surgical Critical Care, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Insights
Prehospital resuscitation for traumatic injuries now favors balanced blood products over excessive fluids, improving patient outcomes. Advances include front-line blood product use and tranexamic acid administration.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Prehospital Care
Background:
- Traumatic injury is a leading cause of death in young Americans.
- Prehospital resuscitation practices evolve, influenced by military research.
- Traditional fluid resuscitation with crystalloids is being re-evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current prehospital resuscitation practices.
- To examine the studies informing these evolving practices.
- To highlight advancements in trauma care delivery.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and military research.
- Analysis of studies supporting balanced resuscitation strategies.
- Examination of technological advancements in prehospital care.
Main Results:
- Shift towards balanced blood product resuscitation improves trauma patient outcomes.
- Increased use of blood products and tranexamic acid in the prehospital setting.
- New technologies facilitate earlier administration of critical treatments.
Conclusions:
- Current prehospital resuscitation emphasizes balanced blood products and judicious crystalloid use.
- Evidence supports tranexamic acid and advanced blood product use in trauma.
- Ongoing research continues to refine prehospital trauma management strategies.
Abstract:
Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death in young people in the USA. Our knowledge of prehospital resuscitation is constantly evolving and is often informed by research based on military experience. A move toward balanced blood product resuscitation and away from excessive crystalloid use has led to improvements in outcomes for trauma patients. This has been facilitated by new technologies allowing more front-line use of blood products as well as use of tranexamic acid in the prehospital setting. In this article, we review current practices in prehospital resuscitation and the studies that have informed these practices.
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