In patients suffering from massive bleeding, transfusion of allogenic blood products (red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelets) and the application of other hemostatic therapy in form of coagulation factor concentrates represent therapeutic approaches to optimize hemostasis and to restore and assure tissue oxygenation. In accordance to the "Helsinki declaration on patient safety" of the European Society of Anaesthesiology, this review article describes a clinical practice guideline for the treatment of patients requiring massive transfusion that was implemented at the University hospital Frankfurt in 2013. Our guideline may be used as a template for other institutions.
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York.