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Predicting who needs prehospital blood

Predicting the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Need in a Large Metropolitan Center
Prehospital Emergency Care · Added 8 September 2026

Retrospective cohort of 25,473 EMS-transported trauma patients in Los Angeles County — of those meeting prehospital blood transfusion criteria, 52% received blood within four hours, with SBP <90 mmHg and HR ≥110 bpm the best predictors of emergent transfusion.

Study type

Cohort

Design

Retrospective observational cohort

Participants

25,473 EMS-transported trauma patients aged ≥15 in Los Angeles County; 905 met prehospital blood transfusion criteria

Main finding

Of 905 patients meeting PHBT criteria, 475 (52%) received blood within four hours of ED arrival; SBP <90 mmHg and HR ≥110 bpm had the greatest positive predictive value for emergent transfusion

Caveat

Retrospective application of criteria before prehospital blood protocols existed; single-region US trauma system

Bottom line

Hypothesis-generating

Learning goal

Strengthen my judgement on which trauma patients truly need prehospital blood before overt shock develops.

More

• Topic: Trauma
• Daily scan: 8 September 2026

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