Transfusion Data May Help Determine Prehospital Whole Blood Placement

Geo-mapping of in-hospital massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activation may offer a practical way to identify where prehospital whole blood is most needed, according to the results of a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) released a companion news release.

In the retrospective study, investigators from the University of Nebraska Medical Center analyzed trauma registry data for 427 patients who received massive transfusion at five trauma centers in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. They also incorporated assault and motor vehicle crash data to identify patterns in where trauma incidents occur and whether they correlate with where MTP activations originated.

Investigators found a strong correlation between MTP incidence and trauma events across ZIP code tabulated areas. According to the authors, the findings support the use of MTP activation as a surrogate marker to help guide placement of prehospital whole blood resources. Layering transfusion data with fire station locations also informed placement of whole blood on ambulances in high-need zones.

The authors described the approach as a potentially scalable, data-driven method to support planning and distribution of limited blood resources. Future research will evaluate clinical outcomes and cost impact of geo-mapping–guided deployment.