Trauma victims' chances of survival may increase dramatically, thanks to a new artificial blood technology to be tested by the University of Utah and LDS hospitals.

The hospitals are among 20 trauma centers around the nation that are investigating the effects of PolyHeme — a solution of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying part of the blood usually found in red blood cells.

"A synthetic blood product is something we've been waiting for for years," said Van Summers, chief of the West Valley City Fire Department.

When patients in traumatic situations lose a lot of blood, emergency personnel can give them an allogenic blood, or red blood cells, and a saline solution made of salt and water to offset the loss. But those solutions don't carry much-needed oxygen to the patient's vital organs.

"We can't start taking care of patients sometimes in the way we would like to for some time," Morris said. "And if a person is bleeding to death, we are pretty limited in what we can do."

PolyHeme, because of its hemoglobin base, can be placed intravenously into the trauma patient at the scene of the accident and can pump oxygen into the blood stream.

"It is something that is compatible to all patients no matter what blood type," Morris said. "It can be transported to the scene and can be given almost immediately."

PolyHeme can be administered to patients who have lost a large amount of blood and are in shock, patients who are at least 18 years old and patients who have sustained severe injuries. PolyHeme cannot be used to treat pregnant women or young children.

The patients who qualify for the study will be selected at random and given a saline or PolyHeme solution based on an envelope that tells the emergency personnel what type of product to use. Thirty-six patients from Utah may be enrolled in the study that will eventually have 720 participants nationwide.

Because the patient, in most cases, will not be able to give consent for participating in the study, the clinical trial is being conducted under an informed-consent waiver from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA will allow the investigation of, and use of, PolyHeme if the community is involved and informed ahead of time.

Two meetings have been scheduled for public information and comment:

• Tuesday, June 21, 4:30-6 p.m. at the Sandy Library, 10100 S. 1300 East, Sandy.

• Wednesday, June 29, 6:30-8 p.m. at the West Valley Family Fitness Center, 5415 W. 3100 South, West Valley City.

For more information, residents can visit uuhsc.utah.edu/polyheme.