A practical guideline for the haematological management of major haemorrhage.

TLDR: These updated guidelines are based on new studies, which have provoked reassessment of the principles of managing major haemorrhage in all clinical situations, and which mandate much closer working between hospital blood banks and emergency departments to provide timely transfusion support for patients with major bleeding.

Abstract: The aim of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the haematological management of major haemorrhage in any clinical situation, with practical guidance for Clinical Haematologists and laboratory staff on the content and delivery of major bleeding protocols, including the use of blood components and transfusion alternatives. Management of major haemorrhage in any setting requires a multidisciplinary approach. There have been advances in techniques for resuscitation as well as surgical, radiological and endoscopy interventions, to control bleeding alongside critical care support, but these are beyond the scope of this document. These updated guidelines are based on new studies, which have provoked reassessment of the principles of managing major haemorrhage in all clinical situations, and which mandate much closer working between hospital blood banks and emergency departments to provide timely transfusion support for patients with major bleeding. Alongside changes in the use of blood component therapy, the importance of antifibrinolytics has been demonstrated in the study by the Clinical Randomization of Antifibrinolytics in Significant Haemorrhage (CRASH-2) collaborators (2010). The recognition that tranexamic acid (TA) benefited not only those with massive haemorrhage but also the larger number of patients with, or at risk of, significant haemorrhage (i.e. not only those fulfilling the criteria for massive bleeding) has led to an expansion of our guidelines from massive to major haemorrhage so that we can include this group. Methods