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Uncontrollable bleeding is recognized as the leading cause of preventable death among trauma patients. Early transfusion of blood products, especially plasma replacing crystalloid and colloid solutions, has been shown to increase survival of severely injured patients. However, the requirements for cold storage and thawing processes prior to transfusion present significant logistical challenges in prehospital and remote areas, resulting in a considerable delay in receiving thawed or liquid plasma, even in hospitals. In contrast, freeze- or spray-dried plasma, which can be massively produced, stockpiled, and stored at room temperature, is easily carried and can be reconstituted for transfusion in minutes, provides a promising alternative. Drawn from history, this paper provides a review of different forms of dried plasma with a focus on in vitro characterization of hemostatic properties, to assess the effects of the drying process, storage conditions in dry form and after reconstitution, their distinct safety and/or efficacy profiles currently in different phases of development, and to discuss the current expectations of these products in the context of recent preclinical and clinical trials. Future research directions are presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: During World War II, Charles H. Best utilized Charles R. Drew's plasma isolation and drying technique to lead Canada's initiative to provide dried serum as a means of primary resuscitation for British casualties on the frontlines. Serum was likely utilized over plasma for its volume expansion properties without the risk of clotting during prolonged storage. We reconstituted dried serum from 1943 and discovered intact albumin, as well as anti‐thrombin, plasminogen, protein C and protein S activity. Proteomic analysis identified 71 proteins, most prominent being albumin, and positive for hepatitis B by serological testing. Transmission of blood‐borne diseases ended the programme, until modern advances in testing and pathogen reduction revived this technology. We tested the latest iteration of Canadian freeze‐dried plasma (FDP), which was stored for 4 years, and demonstrated that its clotting capacity remained equivalent to fresh frozen plasma. We recommend that FDP is a strong alternative to contemporary prehospital resuscitation fluids (e.g. normal saline/lactated Ringer's) in managing prehospital haemorrhage where whole blood is unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both thrombelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) have been investigated for diagnosis of coagulopathy and guidance of resuscitation in trauma and surgery. Given similarities between the two systems, it is important to determine whether one is superior to the other and how comparable they are to conventional coagulation tests (CCTs). Therefore, we conducted a comparative study of functional fibrinogen and coagulation assays using TEG and ROTEM and CCTs to determine their capability to monitor coagulation profiles, diagnose coagulopathy and predict blood transfusion requirements in trauma patients. Blood samples were collected from 45 patients at admission and during 48-h hospitalization as part of a randomized control trial on early fibrinogen replacement in trauma. Functional fibrinogen (FF) TEG, ROTEM FIBTEM and EXTEM, and CCTs were performed and compared. We found significant differences between the placebo and fibrinogen groups over hospitalization time in FF TEG MA, ROTEM CT, MCF and LI30. FF TEG MA and ROTEM FIBTEM MCF mirrored plasma fibrinogen profiles, reached a maximum difference between the two groups 1–3 h after fibrinogen administration. In comparison, CCTs detected minimal hemostatic changes by fibrinogen treatment. TEG and ROTEM showed various degrees of correlations with CCTs. TEG MA and ROTEM MCF provided better predictions for plasma and RBC transfusions than CCTs, but poor accuracy for cryoprecipitate transfusion. Both TEG and ROTEM well predicted hypofibrinogenemia (fibrinogen concentration < 1 g/L), but poorly detected coagulopathy (INR ≥ 1.2). TEG and ROTEM detected increases in clot strength following early use of fibrinogen. ROTEM also detected changes in coagulation time and clot lysis. Both were better than CCTs for monitoring coagulation profiles and predicting transfusion requirements. • TEG and ROTEM play an important role in monitoring and guiding transfusion decisions in trauma. • TEG and ROTEM fibrinogen assays were compared with conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) in trauma patients. • TEG and ROTEM were superior to INR and PTT to detect the effects of fibrinogen replacement on hemostasis. • ROTEM FIBTEM detected more changes in parameters than functional fibrinogen TEG. • TEG and ROTEM fibrinogen assays provided better predictions for RBC and plasma transfusions than CCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrinogen is crucial for the formation of blood clot and clinical outcomes in major bleeding. Both Thromboelastography (TEG) and Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) have been increasingly used to diagnose fibrinogen deficiency and guide fibrinogen transfusion in trauma and surgical bleeding patients. We conducted a comprehensive and comparative review on the technologies and clinical applications of two typical functional fibrinogen assays using TEG (FF TEG) and ROTEM (FIBTEM) for assessment of fibrinogen level and deficiency, and prediction of transfusion requirement. Clot strength and firmness of FF TEG and ROTEM FIBTEM were the most used parameters, and their associations with fibrinogen levels as measured by Clauss method ranged from 0 to 0.9 for FF TEG and 0.27 to 0.94 for FIBTEM. A comparison of the interchangeability and clinical performance of the functional fibrinogen assays using the two systems showed that the results were correlated, but are not interchangeable between the two systems. It appears that ROTEM FIBTEM showed better associations with the Clauss method and more clinical use for monitoring fibrinogen deficiency and predicting transfusion requirements including fibrinogen replacement than FF TEG. TEG and ROTEM functional fibrinogen tests play important roles in the diagnosis of fibrinogen-related coagulopathy and guidance of transfusion requirements. Despite the fact that high-quality evidence is still needed, the two systems are likely to remain popular for the hemostatic management of bleeding patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is growing interest in viscoelastic hemostatic assays rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thromboelastography (TEG) for trauma. Despite shared features, it is unknown whether their results are interchangeable and whether one is clinically superior in predicting mortality, blood transfusion, and diagnosing early trauma coagulopathy.Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study comparing equivalent ROTEM and TEG parameters. Severely injured patients expected to receive massive transfusion were included. Assays were performed simultaneously on admission and repeated over subsequent 12 hours. International normalized ratio ≥1.2 or fibrinogen <1 g/L defined coagulopathy. TEG used kaolin as coagulation initiator and ROTEM used tissue factor (conventional). Spearman nonparametric analysis and Bland-Altman difference mean plot revealed parameter association. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves measured predictive values.Results: 33 patients (74 ROTEM, 74 TEG) were included; 79% were male, mean Injury Severity Score was 23.5 ± 14, admission international normalized ratio was 1.33 ± 0.4, and 63.4% received blood transfusions. Overall, parameter agreement fell outside acceptable limits, with weak or no association. Clinically, ROTEM maximum clot firmness and TEG maximum amplitude showed reasonable predictive accuracy for mortality, strong accuracy for any or massive blood transfusion, reasonable for plasma transfusion and similar poor predictive accuracy for diagnosing coagulopathy.Conclusions: ROTEM and TEG results are not interchangeable, arguably due to different coagulation triggers. Assays had similar clinical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]