Approximately 100 people each year in London suffer such severe blood loss after traumatic injury that they may never make it to hospital.
24-year-old Vicky was one of those patients. It was a normal December morning and Vicky was cycling through London to work when she was hit by a lorry, suffering severe pelvic injuries that could have led to her bleeding to death.
Tragically this catastrophic bleeding – after being crushed in cycling accidents or falling from height - is not unusual.
To improve their chances of survival, we pioneered REBOA (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta). We were the first service in the world to perform this highly complex procedure out of hospital, often in environments that are often chaotic, austere and unpredictable. REBOA involves inserting a balloon to block the main artery from the heart to stop the bleeding. We have shown that it significantly improves blood pressure in patients suffering pelvic bleeding and may reduce the risk of cardiac arrest and death.
Vicky was one of the world’s first pre-hospital REBOA survivors, thanks to the efforts of our team. A few years on, Vicky is still recovering from her accident but is now back at work and her outlook on life remains positive. You can listen to her story in episode two of our podcast Picking up the Pieces.
Through our Institute of Pre-Hospital Care, we run an educational course to share our unique expertise in delivering REBOA. The procedure is now being adapted for use in other air ambulance services and the military. This year, for the first time, we will be delivering REBOA further up in the patient’s chest cavity to treat bleeds higher up in the body and potentially save more lives.
Thanks to funding from Barts Charity, Saracens Foundation and The Henry Surtees Foundation, we are now also trialling a new blood product to save even more patients.
In 2012, we were the first air ambulance in the UK to carry blood on board our aircraft and cars. The ‘blood on board’ initiative brought blood transfusion to the roadside and led to a significant reduction in patients dying at the scene of their injury.
Now, in a landmark study – a collaboration with Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University and NHS Blood and Transplant – we will see our teams delivering whole blood transfusions for the first time. Whole blood contains essential clotting ingredients to help form stronger blood clots and replace lost blood volume, meaning it could improve the odds of survival for critically injured patients.
Your support saves lives
We’re here for every one of the 10 million people in London, every second of every day. Thank you for playing a part in helping us to save lives.
If you would like to find out more about a specific project and how your involvement could make a lasting difference, please get in touch with Tanya Moss, Philanthropy Manager on: 020 3023 3308 or email [email protected]
