Advancing Battlefield Care: Freeze-Dried Plasma and Fibrinogen for Combat Trauma

Session Description: Trauma is the leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield, with hemorrhage accounting for the majority of fatalities. The logistical and operational challenges of whole blood in austere environments highlight the critical need for innovative solutions in hemostatic resuscitation. Freeze-dried plasma (FDP) and freeze-dried fibrinogen concentrate, developed by Octapharma, are transformative products designed to address these challenges. FDP has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for military use, emphasizing its importance for combat casualty care.
This presentation will examine the application of FDP and fibrinogen concentrate in trauma, burn injuries, and other combat-related injuries. FDP offers a stable, lightweight alternative to fresh frozen plasma, with the ability to be rapidly reconstituted at the point of care. Fibrinogen concentrate addresses coagulopathy by targeting fibrinogen depletion, a key component in hemostasis, which is critical for hemorrhage control.
We will discuss battlefield-specific needs for these products, including prolonged field care scenarios and resource-limited environments. Current limitations of whole blood, such as storage, availability, and logistics, further underscore the necessity of FDP and fibrinogen as viable alternatives.
This session will also identify gaps in current research and propose pathways for integrating FDP and fibrinogen into routine military medical practice. Emphasis will be placed on the need for clinical trials to evaluate efficacy, safety, and operational feasibility, as well as ongoing collaboration between academia, industry, and the military to optimize these products for combat environments.
By advancing research and integrating novel solutions like FDP and fibrinogen, military medicine can improve survival rates and enhance the resilience of combat medical systems.