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Prehospital whole blood improves shock physiology
Prehospital Whole Blood Administration in Adults With Hemorrhagic Shock and Its Association With Shock Physiology and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Journal of Surgical Research · Added 16 August 2026
Systematic review of 13 studies found prehospital whole blood consistently improved shock physiology (greater SI reduction, higher shock reversal rates) and showed potential survival benefit in high-risk and penetrating trauma patients, though overall mortality benefit was not uniform.
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Design
- Systematic review
- Participants
- 13 studies of adults with haemorrhagic shock
- Main finding
- Mortality differences were not significant (24-h: 15.8% vs 11.2%; 28-day: 25.0% vs 26.1%, P=0.85), but whole blood was consistently associated with greater shock index reduction (0.43 vs 0.10, P<0.05) and potential survival benefit in select high-risk populations
- Caveat
- Variable mortality findings across heterogeneous studies; no uniform survival benefit demonstrated
- Bottom line
- Hypothesis-generating
Why it matters in Australia (High relevance). Directly relevant to prehospital blood product protocols, growing evidence base with clear physiologic advantages over component therapy.
Learning goal
Weigh the benefits and limitations of prehospital whole blood for adult haemorrhagic shock in my trauma practice.
More
- Topic: Trauma
- Daily scan: 16 August 2026
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