Why is there a need for improvement in the way trauma patients are treated now?
Trauma is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 45. Currently the only available treatment for hemorrhagic shock, when blood is not available, is the infusion of a solution that does not carry oxygen such as saline (salt water). Therefore, when blood is not immediately available, use of an oxygen carrier such as PolyHeme® may restore sufficient circulating levels of hemoglobin and potentially improve patient survival. There are also risks associated with large infusions of donated blood in trauma patients, including an increase in immune function which may cause failure of vital organs and death in some patients who receive transfusions [A. Sauaia et al., Archives of Surgery (1994), Volume 129:39-45]. In a controlled Phase II trial in hospitalized trauma patients, higher levels of immune markers were seen in patients receiving blood transfusions as opposed to those who received PolyHeme® [E. E. Moore, Journal of American College of Surgeons (2003), Volume 196 (1)]
