Resuscitation of Trauma Patients with Type-specific Uncrossmatched Blood

Abstract
Safety of type-specific uncrossmatched blood transfusions for severely hypovolemic trauma patients was determined. During a 3-yr period, 875 units of type-specific uncrossmatched blood were given to 160 severely hypovolemic trauma patients who could not be adequately resuscitated with crystalloid solutions. No transfusion reactions resulted from the administration of type-specific uncrossmatched blood. Subsequent major crossmatch failed to identify blood incompatibility or significant antibodies. Type-specific uncrossmatched blood is safe and is a rapidly available alternative to crossmatched blood in the severely hypovolemic trauma patient.