Prehospital low-titer group O whole blood in a multi-agency civilian emergency medical system: Operational timelines, physiologic response, and stewardship across trauma and medical hemorrhage.
Transfusion · 2026-01-30 · Implementation & quality improvement
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) is increasingly used for prehospital hemorrhagic shock, yet real-world data from multi-agency EMS systems, particularly in medical hemorrhage, remain limited. This evaluation describes the first 11 months of a regional LTOWB program, focusing on operational timelines, physiologic response, protocol adherence, and product stewardship. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this quality-improvement evaluation, all prehospital blood activations in the Pierce County EMS (PCEMS) region of Washington State were reviewed. Operational metrics included dispatch-to-blood time, scene time, transfusion location, and dispatch-to-ED interval. Physiologic response was assessed using systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate, and shock index (SI), with shock resolution defined as SI <1 on ED arrival. Protocol adherence and stewardship (utilization and waste) were obtained from EMS documentation and transfusion-service logs. RESULTS: Eighty-nine activations occurred, and all patients received prehospital transfusion (47 trauma, 42 medical hemorrhage). Timelines demonstrated early initiation: median dispatch-to-blood 21.3 min, scene time 14.3 mins, and dispatch-to-ED 36.6 min. Protocol adherence was high, with frequent LTOWB-first transfusion, crystalloid avoidance, and TXA and calcium use. Among LTOWB recipients with serial vitals, SBP increased and SI decreased from initial assessment to post-transfusion and ED arrival. Across agencies, 189 units (LTOWB and components) were issued; of 182 with known disposition, 135 (74.2%) were transfused and 47 expired, yielding a utilization of 74% and waste rate of 26%. CONCLUSIONS: A regional multi-agency EMS system achieved early LTOWB initiation, high protocol adherence, and physiologic improvement across trauma and medical hemorrhage, with stewardship metrics characteristic of early implementation.
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Tags
Blood products · Crystalloids · Fluids & blood · Haemostatics · Implementation · Time intervals · Tranexamic acid
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