Chesapeake Fire Department Uses LifeFlow® and QinFlow® to Deliver Rapid Blood Resuscitation in the Field
Early and effective resuscitation is essential for severely injured patients with hemorrhagic shock, particularly in the prehospital setting where every second counts. This case series highlights three recent incidents managed by Chesapeake Fire Department in which LifeFlow and QinFlow were used to administer warmed whole blood rapidly during transport for patients with penetrating trauma. Each case demonstrates the impact of timely blood delivery on patient stabilization and favorable outcome.
Case 1: Gunshot Wound to Chest—Rapid Stabilization During Transport
A 33-year-old male sustained a gunshot wound to the left anterior chest with an exit wound at the left mid-axillary line. He exhibited signs of early shock including tachycardia and a BP of 90/56.
One unit of whole blood was delivered via LifeFlow through an 18G IV in the left AC and warmed with a QinFlow device during a 12-minute transport. Post-transfusion, the patient’s blood pressure improved dramatically to 139/97, heart rate was 94, and ETCO2 was 38. He was transported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and discharged home just two days later.
“We were able to infuse a unit of whole blood significantly faster than would be possible without LifeFlow.”
— David Brock, Field Medical Officer
Case 2: Cardiac Arrest from Chest GSW—LifeFlow Enables Fast IO Infusion
A 29-year-old male was found unresponsive with agonal respirations and no palpable pulses after a single gunshot wound to the upper back. ECG showed pulseless electrical activity (PEA) at a rate of 144. Chest decompression and CPR were initiated on scene.
Using LifeFlow and QinFlow, the EMS team administered one unit of warmed whole blood via tibial IO access during an 11-minute transport. The patient regained strong femoral pulses upon arrival at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and had a systolic BP in the 70s–80s and a heart rate of 150 with spontaneous respirations. After surgical intervention he recovered and was discharged home seven days later.
Case 3: Stabbing Victim in Hypovolemic Shock—GCS and BP Improve Post-Transfusion
A 38-year-old male with three stab wounds to the upper back presented in hemorrhagic shock with a BP of 52/30, HR of 130 (Shock Index 2.5), GCS of 12, and ETCO₂ of 23. EMS immediately initiated resuscitation using LifeFlow to deliver one unit of whole blood via 18G IV in the left AC, again warmed with a QinFlow device. TXA (2g) and calcium gluconate (1g) were also administered during the 8-minute transport.
By the time the patient arrived at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, his BP had improved to 100/60 and GCS was 15. He was admitted for further care and was then discharged two days later.
Conclusion
These three cases of penetrating trauma with severe hemorrhagic shock demonstrate that early and effective transfusion can lead to immediate improvements in physiology and ultimately to lives saved (Table 1). The LifeFlow and QinFlow devices enabled EMS teams to deliver warmed whole blood within minutes, even via IO access. No other infusion method can provide resuscitation with blood products quickly enough to bring about ROSC in traumatic cardiac arrest. Each of the patients in this series showed significant hemodynamic improvements following transfusion, and in two of the three cases, patients were discharged home in less than one week. These real-world cases demonstrate the critical role of rapid prehospital transfusion in improving trauma outcomes.
Table 1: Summary of Clinical Data, Vitals, and Outcomes
