LOW-VOLUME RESUSCITATION WITH VS -101, A NEXT-GENERATION PEGYLATED HEMOGLOBIN-BASED OXYGEN CARRIER, IMPROVES SURVIVAL AFTER SEVERE HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK IN RATS.

Summary: Bleeding out is a leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield and in trauma cases because real blood is difficult to store and transport to the front lines. Scientists have developed a new shelf-stable "artificial blood" called VS-101. In a study involving rats with severe blood loss, those treated with a small amount of VS-101 survived significantly longer than those treated with standard fluids, plasma, or even whole blood. VS-101 successfully delivered oxygen to tissues and maintained blood pressure without causing dangerous vessel constriction. This suggests that VS-101 could be a life-saving bridge for patients until they can reach a hospital.