MASSIVE BLOOD-LOSS IN TRAUMA PATIENTS - THE BENEFITS AND DANGERS OF TRANSFUSION THERAPY

An injured and bleeding Patient who is pale, confused, hypotensive, an d anuric is an obvious candidate for transfusion to counteract hemorrh agic shock. However, not all patients with shock have such classic sig ns, at least not until hemodynamic compromise becomes severe. The auth ors summarize the basic principles of patient evaluation and care in e mergency situations. They also describe some adverse consequences of m assive transfusions and present tips on how to avoid or minimize them.