Reconsidering Fresh Frozen Plasma Availability to Reduce Blood Product Waste During Massive Transfusion Events in Trauma.

This article examines the utilization of thawed plasma during massive transfusion protocol (MTP) activations for trauma patients at a Level I trauma center, focusing on reducing blood product waste. A retrospective review of 367 MTP activations from 2019 to 2022 found that 73% of thawed plasma was returned unused, with most patients requiring six or fewer units of plasma and packed red blood cells (pRBC). The study suggests that MTP coolers can be optimized to contain fewer blood components—specifically 6 units of pRBC, 6 units of plasma, 1 pheresis platelet unit, and up to 4 units of low-titer, group O whole blood (LTOWB)—without compromising timely delivery or patient safety. The authors emphasize the importance of balancing adequate resuscitation with blood stewardship and recommend further longitudinal studies to assess the long-term outcomes of this protocol adjustment.