[neverdem]

I have no trouble without informed consent from unconscious trauma patients. I think these ethicists are obsessing in the extreme.

[Atlas Sneezed]

And if the death rate is higher than it needs to be, when plenty of proper whole blood was available?

[neverdem]

PING

[Doctor Stochastic]

They used to do this with flor-inert (also used for cooling Cray-2 computers). It was used by various Christian fundamentalist groups which didn't approve of transfusions. It kept the vessels full and would help prevent shock.

[The Great RJ]

Having been a paramedic for 15+ years, I know of several situations where this blood substitute would have been life saving. I remember once accident where the victim had serious internal bleeding and couldn't be extricated for some time. We poured liters of LR(lactated Ringer's Solution) in with large bore IV's to keep her blood pressure as high as we could during extrication and evacuation to the Trauma Center, but while we could partially compensate for the volume loss, there were not enough red blood cells remaining in her circulation to carry oxygen to her brain and other tissues. A young wife and mother died that day.

[farmfriend]

short list.

[armymarinemom]

PolyHeme website. I read over the website only briefly. This could be great in trauma rooms. Red Tag blood isn't without risks. I've seen a lot of trauma cases and vascular emergencies with this would be very helpful.