Presenter(s) and Chair: Dr. Ndimele and Dr Jay Chitnis – guest author Dr Ed Barnard / Codes: / Published: 19/05/2026
Summary
Dr. Ndimele and Dr. Chitnis discuss the results of the SWiFT trial, which analysed 616 patients with traumatic haemorrhage recruited by 10 air ambulance services from the UK. A composite outcome of death in 24 hours or transfused >10 units of blood within 24 hours. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome.
Key Learning Points
1. Stratified randomisation ensures equal numbers of participants are recruited from each participating site which accounts for treatment difference between sites
2. Allocation concealment occurs prior to recruitment, whereas blinding occurs after recruitment to the trial.
3. A composite outcome makes it easier to recruit to trials that would otherwise need long periods of time to collect data on rare outcomes
4. Breaking down the individual components of the composite outcome as secondary outcomes makes it easier to parse out the impact of each component
Original Journal Article Title: Prehospital Whole Blood in Traumatic Haemorrhage a Randomised Controlled Trial
Original Journal Article Reference: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2516043
