Blood storage time and outcomes after severe trauma
Is Long-Term Blood Storage Related With Increased Mortality and Adverse Effects in Severely Injured Trauma Patients?
This project will test whether older stored red blood cells or whole blood increase 28-day death and complications in adults with severe injuries who received large transfusions at Jacksonville Shands.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kocaeli City Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Trial ID | NCT07341139 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a retrospective cohort study using hospital and anesthesia records from patients aged 18–75 with severe traumatic injuries (Injury Severity Score >15) who received massive transfusions at UF Health Jacksonville (Shands) between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2025. Researchers will link the storage age of transfused red blood cell and whole blood units to clinical outcomes, with 28-day mortality as the primary endpoint and complications such as cardiac ischemia, thromboembolism, respiratory failure, infection, and organ dysfunction as secondary endpoints. Patients with preexisting severe cardiac, vascular, renal (on dialysis), hepatic, or advanced pulmonary disease, those on anticoagulants, and super-obese patients (BMI ≥50) will be excluded from analysis. Data will be analyzed to determine whether longer blood storage duration is associated with higher mortality or morbidity in this high-risk trauma population.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 who were admitted directly from the scene with severe trauma (ISS >15) and received massive transfusion at UF Health Jacksonville during the study window are the intended population.
Not a fit: Patients with preexisting severe heart, vascular, liver, lung, or dialysis-dependent kidney disease, those on anticoagulants, super-obese patients (BMI ≥50), or patients treated outside the study hospital are unlikely to be represented or to benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If older blood is linked to worse outcomes, results could inform blood-bank and transfusion policies to prioritize fresher units for massively transfused trauma patients and potentially reduce deaths and complications.
How similar studies have performed: Observational studies and meta-analyses have suggested worse outcomes with older blood but large randomized trials have produced conflicting results, so the question remains unsettled for massively transfused trauma patients.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients between 18-75 years of age, * Injury Severity Score\>15 and have received massive blood transfusions in our hospital from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2025 * The patients admitted because of trauma and undergoing surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with known cardiac or vascular diseases such as heart failure or malignant hypertension, those under anticoagulant treatment * Patients with known serious kidney (on dialysis), lung, liver diseases, those under anticoagulant treatment * Super obese patients with body mass index (BMI) 50 or above
Where this trial is running
Jacksonville, Florida
- UF Health Jacksonville (Shands Hospital) — Jacksonville, Florida, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: ayten saracoglu — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: ayten saracoglu, prof dr
- Email: anesthesiayten@gmail.com
- Phone: +1 (904) 5245932
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.