title: Massive blood transfusion for trauma patients.
abstract: Transfusion of large amounts of blood products is a complex and changing practice. British and American military experience of the process in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the findings of the international CRASH 2 study (Shakur et al 2010), have led to changes in practice (Moor et al 2009). The procedure has evolved into a targeted therapy involving a selection of blood products and drugs. This article explores the practice of massive transfusion adopted by the British military in Afghanistan, including the drugs used, and describes the training given to staff in a controlled environment.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. james.bird@imperial.nhs.uk
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bird
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom