Led by clinicians from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), this unique research focuses exclusively on medical causes of internal bleeding, such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage, post-partum haemorrhage, and vascular events, rather than trauma-related injuries.
The retrospective study analysed over a decade of patient data from 2013 to 2024, identifying 50 patients who received pre-hospital blood transfusions for non-traumatic haemorrhage. It was found that patients with serious internal bleeding who received blood transfusions before reaching hospital showed improvement in their vital signs and overall condition.
While pre-hospital transfusions are well-established in trauma care, there is limited guidance for medical bleeding.
Dr Harsha Kodakadath, HEMS Doctor at KSS and lead author, said:
“This research suggests that starting blood transfusions immediately at the scene - rather than waiting until patients reach hospital - improves the time to transfusion and could help save lives for people experiencing life-threatening internal bleeding from medical causes.”
The study was conducted by a team of KSS clinicians: Harsha Kodakadath (HEMS Doctor), Seán Dillane (HEMS Doctor), Rob Greenhalgh (HEMS Doctor), Scott Clarke (HEMS Doctor), Harriet Tucker (HEMS Doctor, Governance Lead) and Jo Griggs (Head of Research and Innovation).
In 2013 KSS became one of the first air ambulances in the UK to carry blood on board – an innovation which has transformed pre-hospital emergency care and has led to significantly improved patient outcomes. This vital intervention has only been possible thanks to the vital work of the volunteer `blood bikers’ of SERV and Transfusion Labs, who ensure that we are supplied with blood products.
Over the past ten years, KSS doctors and paramedics have administered blood or plasma to hundreds of patients. Many of these patients would not have survived without receiving this time-critical treatment at the scene or during their rapid transfer to hospital.
The full paper is available here
