What are the steps leading up to introducing blood transfusions on scene in an air medical service? Robert Gebei, Medical Director at the Hungarian Air Ambulance has shared with us, how they began the process.
The Hungarian Air Ambulance started blood transfusions on scene as a pilot project in one of their air bases in December 2019. After one year of successful work, they extended the capability to all their 7 bases. From the beginning the °MEQU blood and fluid warmer has been an integrated part of the blood transfusion procedure.
Leading up to starting blood transfusions on scene Medical Director, Robert Gebei, and his colleagues had collected insights from other HEMS operators, read research literature and examined their patients’ needs retrospectively.
When the preliminary work was done the medical team made an SOP, discussed possibilities with the national blood bank, assured quality management, bought the cooling systems for the blood products and finally trained every Medical Doctor and HEMSTC in blood transfusions, and in the use of the °MEQU blood warmer.
Since the start of the project, the Hungarian Air Ambulance has performed 65 transfusions. Robert Gebei expects 25-30 transfusions a year at their more active airbases and 12-16 transfusions a year at the other bases.
Why did you choose the °MEQU System?
“First, we tried other systems, but we changed to °MEQU because of the systems durability and super easy use. It works fine, easy to start, and connect. The battery lights make it easy to check battery, the red/blue luer locks makes it easy, and safe in a tough situation.
And we are not only warming blood with °MEQU Warmer, we use it for heating up crystalloids for patients who are hypothermic or severely burnt, and for critically ill children,” explains Robert Gebei, Medical Director, The Hungarian Air Ambulance.
The ˚M Warmer System
The ˚M Warmer is a portable blood and IV fluid warming device optimal for both prehospital and hospital use as it is small, simple to use and has extremely efficient warming capabilities (150 ml/min).