J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2021 03;90(3):515-521
From the Department of Emergency Medicine, McGill University (V.H., F.d.C.), Montreal, Canada; Division of Emergency Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre (E.K.), Montreal, Canada; Transfusion Medicine Service, (P.P.) McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Vice-présidence aux affaires médicales et à l'innovation, Héma-Québec (D.B.), Quebec, Canada; County of Renfrew Paramedic Service (M.N.), Pembroke, Canada; Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine (M.-A.R.), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (M.-A.R.), Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine (P.P.), McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Faculty of Medicine (M.M., F.G.-B.), McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Pediatrics (E.K.), McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Family and Emergency Medicine (R.F), Laval University, Quebec, Canada; Research Chair in Innovation and Emergency Medicine (R.F.) Laval University - Dessercom - CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches, Levis, Canada; VITAM Research Centre (R.F.), Quebec, Canada.
Background: Timely and safe distribution of quality blood products is a major challenge faced by blood banks around the world. Our primary objective was to determine if simulated blood product delivery to an urban trauma center would be more rapidly achieved by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) than by ground transportation. A secondary objective was to determine the feasibility of maintaining simulated blood product temperatures within a targeted range.
Methods: In this prospective pilot study, we used two distinct methods to compare UAV flight duration and ground transport times. Simulated blood products included packed red blood cells, platelet concentrate, and fresh frozen plasma. For each blood product type, three UAV flights were conducted. Temperature was monitored during transport using a probe coupled to a data logger inside each simulated blood product unit.
Results: All flights were conducted successfully without any adverse events or safety concerns reported. The heaviest payload transported was 6.4 kg, and the drone speed throughout all nine flights was 10 m/s. The mean UAV transportation time was significantly faster than ground delivery (17:06 ± 00:04 minutes vs. 28:54 ± 01:12 minutes, p < 0.0001). The mean ± SD initial temperature for packed red blood cells was 4.4°C ± 0.1°C with a maximum 5% mean temperature variability from departure to landing. For platelet concentrates, the mean ± SD initial temperature was 21.6°C ± 0.5°C, and the maximum variability observed was 0.3%. The mean ± SD initial fresh frozen plasma temperature was -19°C ± 2°C, and the greatest temperature variability was from -17°C ± 2°C to -16°C ± 2°C.
Conclusions: Unmanned aerial vehicle transportation of simulated blood products was significantly faster than ground delivery. Simulated blood product temperatures remained within their respective acceptable ranges throughout transport. Further studies assessing UAV transport of real blood products in populated areas are warranted.
Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic/care management, level IV.