Acute blood loss in trauma requires quick identification and action to restore circulating volume and save the patient. Massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) have become standard at Trauma Centers, in order to rapidly deliver blood products to bleeding patients. This literature review presents current standards of transfusion ratios, as well as insights into adjuncts during massive transfusions.

PubMED was searched for articles from 2005 to 2020 on MTPs, the article were assessed for single vs. multi-institutional, mechanism of injury, type of MTP, timing in which blood products should be administered, timing of delivery of blood products to trauma bay, pre-hospital treatment and adjuncts, and outcomes.

Eleven studies addressed transfusion ratios. Seven studies looked at timing of blood products. Nine studies addressed MTP pre-hospital treatment and adjuncts. Prior to 2015, studies supported the benefits of a balanced transfusion ratio, which was then confirmed by the PROPPR randomized controlled trial. The shorter the time to blood product delivery the better the outcomes. New advances in technology have allowed us to measure different patterns of coagulation, allowing more individualized approaches to the bleeding patient.

Current massive transfusion protocols should utilize between 1:1:1 and 1:1:2 ratios of the 3 main products; plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. Massive transfusion protocols are effective in decreasing mortality. Better resuscitation efforts were seen when blood products were readily available in the trauma bay when the patient arrived and the faster the replacement of blood, the better the outcomes.