NoBlood

Fake Blood
LAST UPDATE: 1/20/2004 6:43:01 AM
Posted By: CyberBob

You could be injected with a new experimental blood substitute and not even know it! This fake blood is being tested right here in San Antonio.

It looks like blood. It works like blood. But it's not. It's a blood substitute for the real stuff, and it could be tested on you.

“The blood substitute is made out of hemoglobin,� explains Dr. Robert Stewart, the Trauma Medical Director at University Hospital.

Just like real blood, the fake stuff carries oxygen to your brain, which is critical when you're being transported to the hospital. This is where the blood substitute would be used.

“We currently can't give blood out in the field, beside the road in the helicopter, etcera,� says Dr. Stewart.

University Hospital is one of a select number of Level 1 Trauma Centers in the country testing the PolyHeme, the blood substitute.

The amazing thing about this new blood substitute is that it can be used on anyone, no matter their blood type. By administering the fake blood in trauma situations, doctors hope to increase patients’ chance to survive.

Once the fake blood is administered, the hospital will continue to use it on you – even

But this study is an unusual one because you have no choice whether you get the real stuff or the fake blood.

So why are they only giving the blood to unconscious people? Is it because they can't make the decision not to use it?

“Absolutely not,� says University Hospital Spokeswoman Leni Kirkman. “This is part of the FDA approval process.�

Essentially, doctors say you'd have to be in critical condition with massive blood loss to even qualify for the blood substitute. Only then will they know if it's working.

University Hospital will be on hand to answer your questions about the blood substitute during a series of meetings. Here is the meeting schedule:

Monday, January 19th
6:30pm
University Center for Community Health
701 S. Zarzamora St.

Wednesday, January 21st
6:30pm
Castroville Public Library

Thursday, January 22nd
6:30pm
University Family Health Center – Southeast
1055 Ada St.

Tuesday, January 27th
6:30pm
University Family Health Center – North
302 W. Recor

Wednesday, January 28th
6:30pm
Uvalde Civic Center

For more information, call (210) 567-3623.

__________________
Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
Email