title: Fresh whole blood transfusion for a combat casualty in austere combat environment.
abstract: There are many challenges to treating life-threatening injuries for a healthcare provider deployed to a remote location in a combat setting. Once conventional treatment protocols for exsanguinating hemorrhage have been exhausted and no medical evacuation platform is available, a nonconventional method of treatment to consider is a fresh whole blood (FWB) transfusion. A FWB transfusion can be a life-saving or life-prolonging intervention in the appropriate setting. The authors present the case of a combat casualty in hypovolemic shock and coagulopathy with delayed medical evacuation to a surgical team. While the ultimate outcome was death in this case report, the patient arrived to a surgical team 15 hours after his injury, alert and oriented. In this scenario, FWB transfusion gave this patient the best chance of survival.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Cordova
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cap
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Spinella
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D058734:Exsanguination / Q000628:therapy*; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D014857:Warfare; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000628:therapy*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult