Abstract
Objectives
Recently published data suggest that transfusion of RBCs stored for 22 days or longer was associated with increased mortality among massively transfused trauma patients.
Methods
We performed a 24-month retrospective review of medical transport service transfusion records and a 2-month, overlapping review of transfusions of uncrossmatched RBCs in the emergency department.
Results
RBC units issued to the transport program were older than RBC units issued to the emergency department trauma refrigerator (10.6 vs 8.7 days, P < .001). Similarly, RBC units were older at the time of transfusion during transport compared with the emergency department (20.3 vs 14.3 days, P < .001).
Conclusions
Transport programs and blood banks should jointly review their RBC inventory management programs. Issuing RBCs to a medical transport program is a logistical challenge that, unless actively managed, may not ensure access to blood that is as fresh as blood in the emergency department.
An equity-oriented multi-objective inventory management model for blood banks considering the patient condition: A real-life case