Washington County paramedics might soon be treating trauma patients with a new blood substitute that could help save lives, local health care officials announced last week.
The treatment is part of a national clinical study to test the safety and effectiveness of PolyHeme, an oxygen-carrying compound developed by Northfield Laboratories, on human patients.
Johnson City Medical Center will be one of 20 trauma centers in the nation to participate in the study.
“This is huge,” said Andrea Hyde, a local trauma nurse who will coordinate the project for Quillen College of Medicine, Mountain States Health Alliance and Johnson City/Washington County Emergency Medical Services. “This could change the way we handle major catastrophes like 9/1l.”
A major advantage of PolyHeme, said Hyde, is that it sends oxygen to vital organs – unlike saline, which is routinely used in trauma situations to restore fluid until a patient’s blood can be matched and transfusion can occur, Hyde said.
Additionally, PolyHeme can be used on patients of all blood types, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and be stored nearly 11 months longer than human blood.
Before the human trials can begin, a series of public meetings will be held for those interested in learning more about PolyHeme and the study.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the study be conducted without patient consent because most trauma patients are unable to give permission.
Dates and locations for the meetings have not been announced yet.
During the study, PolyHeme will be administered randomly to trauma patients, who will receive up to six units of the compound in a 12-hour period.
The study was reviewed and approved by the ETSU/VA Medical Campus Institutional Review Board, which investigates all local studies involving research on human subjects.
Those interested in more information about PolyHeme and the study can call ETSU Physicians and Associates at 439-7201. Online information can be found at www.northfieldlabs.com and www.clinicaltrials.gov.
For men and women who do not wish to participate in the study, wristbands indicating their preference will be provided.

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