Transfusion requirements for the management of war injured: the experience of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The quantity of blood required in the total surgical care of 4470 war injured patients in four hospitals was 44.9 units for every 100 patients admitted (u/cp). Patients evacuated to hospital in less than 6 h from wounding required 59.8 u/cp; patients admitted as a result of antipersonnel mines required 103.2 u/cp. Patients with burns potentially require most blood. Whether these figures permit prediction of transfusion requirements for future conflicts is discussed.