The use of cryopreserved platelets in the treatment of polytraumatic patients and patients with massive bleeding.

Background: The short shelf-life of fresh platelets limits their efficient inventory management and availability during a massive transfusion protocol. Risk of insufficient availability can be mitigated by building an inventory of cryopreserved platelets (CPs).

Methods: A comparative study of fresh apheresis platelets (FAPs) and CPs was performed.