A challenge for implementation of Whole Blood programs in civilian health services has been an uncertainty regarding the impact of storage on the clinical effect of the whole blood transfusion, especially when it comes to platelet function which is essential to hemostasis. In vitro platelet function and post-transfusion platelet recovery decline with increasing storage time of the whole blood.~In this pilot randomized clinical trial we aim to investigate the impact of storage time of whole blood on the effect and safety in treatment of immediate blood loss in patients undergoing complex cardiothoracic surgery. The study is designed as an exploratory superiority study to support feasibility and provide critical guidance for future, more definitive randomized trials. In the study the test group will receive CPD whole blood leukocyte-depleted with a platelet-sparing filter and stored for 15-21 days whereas the control group patients will receive leukocyte-depleted CPD whole blood stored for less than 7 days. A control group receiving standard care (blood component-based transfusion) may be included.
In vitro platelet function and post-transfusion platelet recovery of platelets stored in whole blood decline during storage. In this pilot randomized clinical trial we aim to investigate the impact of storage time of whole blood on the effect and safety in treatment of immediate blood loss in patients undergoing complex cardiothoracic surgery. The study is designed as an exploratory superiority study to support feasibility and provide critical guidance for future, more definitive randomized trials. In the study the test group will receive CPD whole blood leukocyte-depleted with a platelet-sparing filter and stored for 15-21 days whereas the control group patients will receive leukocyte-depleted CPD whole blood stored for less than 7 days.