Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The ideal ratio of plasma, platelets, and red blood cells in a transfusion is 1:1:1. This balanced approach aims to provide equal amounts of each component to address coagulopathy and promote optimal hemostatic function, particularly in cases of trauma hemorrhage.

Utilizing this ratio allows for more effective management of hemorrhagic shock by ensuring that along with red blood cells, which help restore oxygen-carrying capacity, there are adequate platelets necessary for clot formation and plasma that contains clotting factors. This combination is crucial in trauma scenarios where patients may experience significant blood loss and require aggressive resuscitative measures to restore hemostasis.

In contrast, other ratios might lead to an imbalance in the components being transfused, which can hinder recovery and increase mortality in trauma patients. For example, using a higher proportion of red blood cells than platelets can lead to dilutional coagulopathy, where the patient's ability to clot is impaired, increasing the risk of bleeding complications. Therefore, the 1:1:1 ratio is established as the optimal strategy to counteract these risks and improve patient outcomes in critical situations.