Researchers Test Drones for Emergency Blood Product Delivery

University of Colorado Anschutz researchers are studying the use of drones to deliver blood products in emergency situations. The research, currently underway in Ukraine, focuses on delivering freeze-dried plasma to military personnel who have sustained severe injuries and cannot be reached quickly by conventional transportation.

The project aims to address the challenge of patients not reaching medical care fast enough. "We are trying to determine if blood products can be delivered to the point of injury, rather than waiting to get someone from the front line to a hospital," said Corey Bills, associate professor at CU Anschutz School of Medicine and a lead researcher on the project.

Freeze-dried plasma offers advantages over traditional fresh frozen plasma products, which require storage frozen and thawing before use. The water has been removed from freeze-dried plasma, allowing it to be stored at room temperature and prepared rapidly for use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously recognized the potential of dried plasma for battlefield and remote settings.

Preliminary findings from a study involving 26 Ukrainian military personnel with severe injuries and hemorrhage showed a significant improvement in patients' shock index after plasma administration. All 26 patients survived the 24-hour follow-up, though researchers stress that these are initial observations and a direct causal link has not yet been established.

The use of drones is not intended as a replacement for traditional evacuation, but rather as an additional method for delivering critical medical aid when conventional transport is impossible or delayed, potentially improving survival rates in critical scenarios.