PB0910 - Evaluation of the clot formation tranfusing fresh, cold and frozen platelets. Advantages for the military environment.

Background: Mortal hemorrhage is the first preventable cause of death in military medicine. The possibility of transfusing blood components as fast as possible is essential to save lifes during military operations. Thromboelastometry is a coagulation test that evaluates the viscoelastic properties of clot formation to fibrinolysis.

Aims: The main objective of this study is the in vitro evaluation of the hemostatic capacity of different types of platelet concentrates clarifying whether the contribution to the clot. It is also intended to define if provide logistical advantages.

Methods: An experimental study was designed, analyzing their effectiveness through systematic blood analysis, routine coagulation tests and Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

After extracting the leucoplatelet layer of 20 samples, fresh, cold and frozen platelets were transfused with a volemia equivalence. The data collected were normally distributed and analyzed using the paired Student's t-test, adjusted to the platelet count.

Results: The mean of the EXTEM CFT parameter is significantly lower in the sample with normal platelets compared to that of frozen platelets. The mean of the EXTEM CFT parameter is significantly lower in the sample with frozen platelets compared to that of tempered platelets.
The mean of the Platelet Index parameter is significantly higher in the sample with normal platelets compared to that of tempered platelets.
The mean of the MCE PI parameter is significantly higher in the sample with tempered platelets compared to that of frozen platelets.

Conclusion(s): Cold platelets stored in static shelfs during 21 days significantly improve the maximum elasticity of the clot in relation to platelet count compared to frozen platelets, but not compared to fresh platelets.

The use of cold platelets in military medicine environment would be a valid treatment for exsanguinating hemorrhage and would provide important logistical advantages increasing the store life of standard platelets simplifying processing, transportation and avoiding reconstitution.