title: A possible new paradigm? A survey-based assessment of the use of thawed group A plasma for trauma resuscitation in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although evidence supporting this practice is limited, some centers use thawed group A plasma for the initial resuscitation of trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better understand the current use of plasma in trauma resuscitation, a survey was developed, validated, and distributed via e-mail to 121 American trauma centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 61 responses were received. Most were from Level 1 trauma centers (56/61, 92%) in urban settings (47/61, 77%). Virtually all centers reported maintaining A thawed plasma inventory (59/61, 97%). Among the 56 Level 1 trauma center respondents, most keep thawed A immediately available (49/56, 88%) and many use group A plasma for trauma recipients of unknown ABO group (34/49, 69%). Half of the surveyed centers implemented this practice within the past year. The majority do not limit the amount of A plasma that can be administered to a patients of unknown ABO group (21/34, 62%), and most do not titer for anti-B (27/34, 79%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Level 1 trauma centers maintain thawed plasma inventories and use group A plasma for trauma recipients of unknown ABO group. Most centers do not limit the amount of group A plasma used in this situation or titer the anti-B.
authors: Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.|Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
authors: Nancy M
authors: NM
authors: Dunbar
authors: The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors: Mark H
authors: MH
authors: Yazer
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000328:Adult; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System