Some patients lose more than their entire blood volume during the perioperative period. This challenge can be met with the help of a massive transfusion protocol.

The safety and adequacy of blood used in massive transfusion present a challenge to transfusion services. This Guideline addresses how a transfusion service can play an important role by designing and implementing systems to effectively manage patients who need massive transfusion. The first part of this resource, Medical Considerations, addresses hemotherapy options for these critical patients. The second part, Laboratory Considerations, discusses the issues surrounding the design and implementation of a massive transfusion protocol.

By Arthur Bracey, MD, for the AABB Scientific Section Coordinating Committee

(AABB, 2005, digital publications, 19 pages, ISBN 978-1-56395-397-2)