Prehospital Blood Transfusion: A Cross-Sectional Study of Prehospital and Retrieval Medicine Services across Australia & Aotearoa-New Zealand

Abstract

Background

The frequency and type of prehospital blood product delivery across Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand is unknown. This study aims to describe transfusion practice across different services in the two nations, as well as identifying potential barriers to the carriage of blood products.

Methodology

Prehospital and retrieval medicine services operating teams of doctors, specialist paramedics, and/or flight nurses out of specialty bases across Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand were sent a standardized questionnaire regarding their base characteristics and their current blood transfusion practice. Bases that only performed inter-hospital transfers or search & rescue operations were excluded. Bases were queried on personnel, equipment, transport times, type and volume of blood products carried, frequency of use, and barriers to implementation for those without prehospital blood transfusion programs.

Results

64 bases were identified and contacted, of which 5 were excluded and 45 of the remaining 59 (76.3%) responded. 62% (28/45) of respondents routinely carry prehospital blood products. 78.6% (22/28) carried packed red blood cells (PRBC) only, 14.3% (4/28) carried both PRBC and plasma, and 1 service (3.6%) carried whole blood. The mean number of units of blood product carried was 3.3 (SD 0.82). 2 bases (7.1%) carried fibrinogen concentrate. All services carried tranexamic acid and calcium. 734 patients received a blood transfusion in 2021, with trauma being the most common indication (552, 75.2%). Base characteristics varied significantly in staffing, vehicle platform and transfer times. The median transfer time from scene to hospital was 65 min (IQR of 40-92). Services without access to prehospital blood products identified multiple barriers to implementation, including training and supply chain.

Conclusion

Approximately two-thirds of prehospital services operating advanced teams across Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand carried blood products and there was wide variation both in the type and number of blood products carried by each base. Multiple barriers to the carriage of blood by all bases were reported, which have implications for service equity. Transfer times are generally long in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand, which may impact the generalizability of overseas research performed in prehospital systems with significantly shorter transfer times to services operating in Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).