Identifying type Os: Spelling out the future of red blood cell products in military medicine

Abstract

Damage control resuscitation (DCR) is an internationally recognized set of principles developed for acute intervention with injuries caused by life-threatening trauma and severe hemorrhage. Central to DCR is the restoration of tissue homeostasis by means of hemorrhage control and fluid transfusion to address the lethal triad of coagulopathy, blood acidosis, and hypothermia. Blood products, in particular red blood cells, are an essential and critical resource used in DCR during the transfusion process. Conventional red blood cell products, however, require costly and time-consuming screening for patient compatibility and are further limited in austere environments by their transport and storage conditions. Methods to generate and utilize red blood cells or red blood cell substitutes on demand will be useful in critical care and military applications. This article discusses alternative red blood cell products based on the latest innovations and highlights the need for further research in this area.