What’s new with Low-titer Group O Whole Blood? Dr. Mark Yazer returns to give us the latest.

Dr. Mark Yazer

Dr. Mark Yazer

In 2017, Dr. Mark Yazer appeared on this podcast to discuss the burgeoning interest in “Low-titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB)” for massive transfusions, particularly in trauma settings (check out that interview here). Since then, Dr. Yazer has continued to advocate for the use of LTOWB both locally in Pittsburgh and internationally through his work with the THOR-AABB Working Group.

So What’s New?

Since our previous interview, more data and experience are available to guide the use of whole blood for trauma transfusion. Dr. Yazer discusses why crystalloids are now frowned upon by trauma transfusion experts, updates us on the use of group A plasma in emergency transfusions, then takes a deep dive into the most up-to-date data on LTOWB in trauma transfusion. After this interview, you will understand much more about why so many trauma surgeons are excited about whole blood! There just might be a few hockey references in there, too!

Thanks to CBBS!

This interview was recorded for the California Blood Bank Society’s Annual Meeting, held virtually May 21-22, 2021. I am grateful to CBBS, and especially to Elizabeth Cardwell (Executive Director), Dr. James Burner (CBBS President) and Dr. Suchi Pandey (incoming CBBS President) for allowing me to use this recording. If you live in California, you should join CBBS! If you don’t, you should really think about it (and they did not pay me anything to say so!).

Dr. Mark Yazer

Dr. Mark Yazer

In 2017, Dr. Mark Yazer appeared on this podcast to discuss the burgeoning interest in “Low-titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB)” for massive transfusions, particularly in trauma settings (check out that interview here). Since then, Dr. Yazer has continued to advocate for the use of LTOWB both locally in Pittsburgh and internationally through his work with the THOR-AABB Working Group.

So What’s New?

Since our previous interview, more data and experience are available to guide the use of whole blood for trauma transfusion. Dr. Yazer discusses why crystalloids are now frowned upon by trauma transfusion experts, updates us on the use of group A plasma in emergency transfusions, then takes a deep dive into the most up-to-date data on LTOWB in trauma transfusion. After this interview, you will understand much more about why so many trauma surgeons are excited about whole blood! There just might be a few hockey references in there, too!

Thanks to CBBS!

This interview was recorded for the California Blood Bank Society’s Annual Meeting, held virtually May 21-22, 2021. I am grateful to CBBS, and especially to Elizabeth Cardwell (Executive Director), Dr. James Burner (CBBS President) and Dr. Suchi Pandey (incoming CBBS President) for allowing me to use this recording. If you live in California, you should join CBBS! If you don’t, you should really think about it (and they did not pay me anything to say so!).

About My Guest:

Dr. Mark Yazer graduated from medical school at the University of Ottawa in 2000 and completed his residency in hematological pathology at the University of Alberta in 2004. He is currently a Professor of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh, and an associate medical director of the centralized transfusion service in Pittsburgh. He is also an adjunct Professor of Clinical Immunology at the University of Southern Denmark, and a visiting Professor of Pathology at Tel Aviv University. He has published over 250 peer reviewed papers, and is an associate editor of the journals Transfusion Medicine and Hematology. He is on the editorial board of 4 other journals. He is the co-chairman of the THOR-AABB working group. He has received grant funding from the American National Institutes of Health, the American Department of Defense, and the American military based DARPA group. He is currently a co-principal investigator of NIH R01 and R34 grants and is a collaborator on two Department of Defense grants.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed on this episode are those of my guest and I alone, and do not reflect those of the organizations with which either of us is affiliated. Neither Dr. Yazer nor I have any relevant financial disclosures.

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Music Credit

Music for this episode includes “Cuando te invade el temor” and “Reflejo,” both by Mar Virtual via the Free Music Archive. Click the image below for permissions and license details.
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