title: Blood antibodies and uncrossmatched type O blood.
abstract: The immediate transfusion of uncrossmatched type O blood in the initial resuscitation of the trauma victim remains controversial. To examine difficulties in crossmatching blood for later transfusions after use of uncrossmatched type O blood, we undertook a prospective 23-month study at a level I trauma center. One hundred thirty-five severely injured patients received uncrossmatched type O blood during the study period. Sixty-one patients (45%) died and 76 patients (56%) underwent emergent operation. There were no major transfusion reactions. Six patients had blood antigen-antibodies present on admission, and such antibodies developed in three patients during hospitalization. We conclude that uncrossmatched type O blood may be used safely in the exsanguinating patient, but blood antigen-antibodies, which may complicate later crossmatching, can develop after its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Unkle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smejkal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lessig
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000276:immunology*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D007518:Isoantibodies