2004

On January 21, 2004 20 trauma centers nationwide will be testing a new product called PolyHeme. PolyHeme is a substitute and hopefully a replacement of saline. When a patient is being rushed to the hospital and has blood loss, they are given saline. Saline helps keep the victim's veins filled with fluid till they are able to be at the trauma center. Why saline has helped many it has it's down fall, saline can't tranfer oxygen to the tissue and this can result in brain damage. While saline can't transfer oxygen, PolyHeme can.
If PolyHeme works, it will be vital in war situations and in rural areas where patients face long transports or delays getting to fully equipped hospital trauma centers.