Australian experience with frozen blood products on military operations.
Historically, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has sourced all its blood supplies from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Recent ADF operations in the Middle East have highlighted a need to rely on other nations' blood supply systems. In 2008, the ADF embedded a surgical and intensive care team into the Netherlands-led forward health facility at the Uruzgan Medical Centre at Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan. To date, three teams have provided 2-month rotations as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The Netherlands armed forces use a sophisticated system for supply of liquid and frozen blood products (frozen red cells, plasma and platelets). We review Australian experience with the Dutch system of supplying blood products for major trauma resuscitation in Afghanistan.
Neuhaus
Susan J
SJ
Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia. sneuhaus@adam.com.au
Wishaw
Ken
K
Lelkens
Charles
C
D001315:Australia; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D008889:Military Personnel; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*