Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy
Development of a national out-of-hospital transfusion protocol: a modified RAND Delphi study
Johannes von Vopelius-Feldt1, Joel Lockwood2, Sameer Mal2
1Ornge (von Vopelius-Feldt, Lockwood, Mal, Peddle, Smith, Nolan), Mississauga, Ont.; Department of Emergency Medicine (von Vopelius-Feldt, Lockwood, Nolan), St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Emergency Medicine (Mal, Peddle), London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ont.; Department of Surgery, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (Beckett), St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Canadian Forces Health Services Headquarters (Beckett, Schmid), Canadian Armed Forces, Ottawa, Ont.; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Callum), Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Queen's University, Kingston, Ont.; University of Toronto Quality in Utilization, Education and Safety in Transfusion (QUEST) research program (Callum, Khandelwal, Pavenski), Toronto, Ont.; AirEvac and Critical Care Operations (Greene, Vu), British Columbia Emergency Health Services, Vancouver, BC; School of Medicine (Greene), Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK; Division of Trauma and General Surgery (Grushka), McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital Site, Montréal, Que.; Canadian Blood Services (Khandelwal); Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (Lin), University of Toronto; Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program (Lin), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont.; Faculty of Medicine (Nahirniak), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.; Transfusion and Transplantation Medicine (Nahirniak), Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, Alta.; Departments of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine (Pavenski), St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Transfusion Medicine (Prokopchuk-Gauk), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority; College of Medicine (Prokopchuk-Gauk), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Emergency Department (Regehr), Health Sciences Centre; Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) (Regehr), Manitoba Base, Winnipeg, Man.; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Shih), Vancouver Coastal Health Authority; Centre for Blood Research (Shih), University of British Columbia; Department of Emergency Medicine (Trojanowski), Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia; Clinical Operations (Trojanowski), British Columbia Emergency Health Services; Departments of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Medicine (Vu), Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, BC; Department of Surgery and Section of Critical Care (Ziesmann), Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Man. jvopelius@ornge.ca.
Background:
Early resuscitation with blood components or products is emerging as best practice in selected patients with trauma and medical patients; as a result, out-of-hospital transfusion (OHT) programs are being developed based on limited and often conflicting evidence. This study aimed to provide guidance to Canadian critical care transport organizations on the development of OHT protocols.
Methods:
The study period was July 2021 to June 2022. We used a modified RAND Delphi process to achieve consensus on statements created by the study team guiding various aspects of OHT in the context of critical care transport. Purposive sampling ensured representative distribution of participants in regard to geography and relevant clinical specialties. We conducted 2 written survey Delphi rounds, followed by a virtual panel discussion (round 3). Consensus was defined as a median score of at least 6 on a Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Definitely should not include") to 7 ("Definitely should include"). Statements that did not achieve consensus in the first 2 rounds were discussed and voted on during the panel discussion.
Results:
Seventeen subject experts participated in the study, all of whom completed the 3 Delphi rounds. After the study process was completed, a total of 39 statements were agreed on, covering the following domains: general oversight and clinical governance, storage and transport of blood components and products, initiation of OHT, types of blood components and products, delivery and monitoring of OHT, indications for and use of hemostatic adjuncts, and resuscitation targets of OHT.
Interpretation:
This expert consensus document provides guidance on OHT best practices. The consensus statements should support efficient and safe OHT in national and international critical care transport programs.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:45Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
01:15Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...