Abstract

This case report details the walking donor transfusion (WDT) option for management of exsanguinating hemorrhage performed in an austere environment. It has civilian application in situations in which local blood supply is overwhelmed by demand due to a natural or manmade (ie, terrorist) disaster. WDT is discussed in light of alternative transfusion techniques, and the history of WDT is briefly discussed. Walking donor transfusion is appropriate for use in extreme cases of patient exsanguination.

Key Points

* Blood transfusions in the United States are unparalleled in the rest of the world.

* US military physicians and emergency disaster personnel may be forced to use creative, nontraditional methods of transfusion to save lives in an austere environment.

* Further research into synthetic oxygen-carrying resuscitative fluids, prolonging the shelf life of walking donor blood, and further simplifying the transfusion process would provide additional benefits to deployed American fighting forces and emergency disaster personnel.

* Disaster planning scenarios should include walking blood donors, as traditional blood banking practices and facilities may be depleted or destroyed by terrorist attack.