Possible guidelines for autologous red blood cell donations before total hip arthroplasty based on the surgical blood order equation

OBJECTIVES: To determine, in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), clinical predictive criteria for preoperative autologous blood donation and to propose guidelines to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of preoperative autologous blood donation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of 165 adult patients undergoing primary THA, a stepwise regression analysis was used to determine which clinical variables predict erythropoiesis in patients donating autologous blood before THA. The surgical blood order equation (SBOE), which includes values for hemoglobin lost at surgery, preoperative hemoglobin level, and minimal acceptable hemoglobin level, was used to estimate the number of units of red blood cells (RBCs) needed for each patient at surgery and thus identify which patients should have made preoperative autologous blood donations. RESULTS: The statistically significant indicators for RBC production were predonation hemoglobin concentration (P<.001) and male sex (P=.003). Combining the regression equation for erythropoiesis with the SBOE allowed development of guidelines for the use of preoperative autologous RBC donation and erythropoietic therapy. For primary THA surgery, a patient with a predonation hemoglobin level higher than 14.7 g/dL does not need preoperative autologous donation. Preoperative autologous RBC donation would be effective for men with hemoglobin concentrations of 14.7 g/dL or less and for women with predonation hemoglobin levels of 13.2 to 14.7 g/dL. In women whose hemoglobin level is less than 13.2 g/dL, erythropoietic therapy should accompany autologous donation. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of patient factors with the SBOE system may result in increased efficiency and decreased cost of autologous blood ordering practices before THA.     

The predictors of red cell transfusions in total hip arthroplasties

BACKGROUND: Most blood crossmatched in a hospital blood bank is for surgical patients, and the majority is never transfused. The maximal standard blood order schedule is used to promote efficient ordering practices for surgical patients. STUDY DESIGN and METHODS: To ascertain the predictors of red cell transfusions for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, the charts of 299 adult patients undergoing primary and revision total hip arthroplasty were reviewed. A surgical blood order equation was developed for calculating the number of units of red cells that should be ordered. Stepwise regression analysis was used to determine which patient-and-case-related variables should be considered in the surgical blood order equation. RESULTS: The significant indicators for allogeneic red cell transfusion to patients on the day of total hip arthroplasty were preoperative hemoglobin concentration, weight, age, estimated blood loss, and aspirin use. The surgical blood order equation would result in a lower crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio than would the maximal standard blood order schedule (1.23 vs. 3.14). Costs were also lower with the surgical blood order equation. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of patient factors resulted in increased efficiency of blood-ordering practices in total hip arthroplasty.     

Use of autologous blood in support of orthopaedic surgery using a hospital-based autologous donor programme

SUMMARY. The use of autologous blood in support of orthopaedic surgery has been assessed for 296 patients; 150 underwent hip arthroplasty, 69 underwent knee arthroplasty, 37 underwent spinal procedures and 40 underwent miscellaneous operations. Overall, 87% of patients received no allogeneic blood and 23% of the autologous blood collected was not used. For hip and knee arthroplasty, there appears to be an increased willingness to transfuse patients when autologous blood is available, and a decreased proportion of patients receiving more than 3 units for hip arthroplasty and 2 units for knee surgery, when compared with an audit of blood use
when almost all blood used was allogeneic. Wastage of autologous blood in support of spinal surgery was 66%, prompting a review of ordering practices. Assessment of avoidance of allogeneic transfusion by the standard schedule of 3 units for hip arthroplasty and 2 units for knee arthroplasty appears justified by the calculation that collection of an additional unit in each case would avoid allogeneic transfusion in 11 (5%) more patients with the unnecessary collection of 208 units.     

Surgical blood order equation in femoral fracture surgery

Aim: This study aimed at establishing the clinical utility of the surgical blood order equation (SBOE) in patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery. Background: A blood ordering schedule defines the perioperative blood use in elective surgery. It lists the number of units of blood required for each procedure preoperatively. Materials and methods: A case–control study was performed among homogeneous groups of patients (n = 62 each) undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of femoral fractures. Correct prediction of blood use in the group of patients using the SBOE was compared to the group whose blood orders were made without any guideline. Results: The surgical blood ordering equation was exactly correct in ordering blood for 46 (74·2%) of 62 patients (cases). The current unaided blood ordering method was exactly correct in ordering blood for 27 (43·5%) of 62 patients (controls). Use of the SBOE resulted in a significantly lower crossmatch‐to‐transfusion ratio compared to that of the current ordering system (1·5 vs 2·3) and saved the hospital transfusion laboratory 465 US$ of crossmatch and inventory management costs in this cohort of patients. Conclusion: The SBOE is a more accurate and cost‐saving tool in predicting blood use. It should replace the current unaided method of ordering for perioperative blood in femoral fracture surgery at Mulago Hospital. However, its introduction to other hospitals should be preceded by more rigorous research to strengthen its external validity.     

A randomized trial comparing acute normovolemic hemodilution and preoperative autologous blood donation in total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: The value of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) as compared to preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) in orthopedic surgery is unknown. Therefore, a prospective, randomized study was conducted to compare these techniques in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: ANH patients underwent phlebotomy for up to 3 units, or to a target Hct level of 28 percent after induction of anesthesia. PABD patients were asked to donate up to 3 units before admission. RESULTS: Mean baseline Hct levels were not different in ANH and PABD patients (39. 7 +/- 4.5 vs. 41.8 +/- 3.8%, p = 0.09). No difference was found in allogeneic blood exposure among ANH and PABD cohorts: 4 (17%) of 23 ANH patients received a total of 9 allogeneic blood units, compared to no allogeneic transfusions in the PABD cohort (p = 0.30). Total blood costs associated with ANH were significantly (p<0.05) lower than blood costs associated with PABD ($151 +/- 154 vs. $680 +/- 253, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, ANH is safe, can be considered equivalent to PABD in effectively reducing exposure to allogeneic RBCs, and is less costly than PABD.     

Changing blood use in the AIDS era: the case of elective hip surgery

BACKGROUND: Concern about the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus via blood has substantially increased the public's anxiety about the safety of the blood supply and has encouraged practices to minimize risks deriving from transfusions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To assess changes in transfusion practices in elective surgery as awareness of transfusion-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus emerged, 80 randomly selected patients per year undergoing elective total hip replacement in five calendar years between 1977 and 1989 at a large university teaching hospital were studied. RESULTS: Total blood use decreased significantly from an average of 3.3 units per patient in 1977 to 2.1 units per patient in 1989 (p = 0.0003). Autologous blood use increased from essentially zero in 1977 to 82 percent of total blood use in 1989 (p < 0.0001). The threshold hematocrit for postoperative transfusion of allogeneic blood (defined by use of logistic regression models) decreased from 30.1 percent (0.30) in 1977 to 26.7 percent (0.27) in 1989 (p = 0.01). As a result of these changes, the proportion of patients exposed to allogeneic blood decreased from 90 to 16 percent across the study period (p < 0.0001). The dramatic decrease in the use of allogeneic blood in elective total hip replacement surgery during the study period was due to decreased demand for blood during and after the operation and to a striking shift in the blood supply from allogeneic to autologous sources. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that physicians can appropriately alter practices when there are perceived health risks.     

A cost study of postoperative cell salvage in the setting of elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: The increasing costs, limited supply, and clinical risks associated with allogeneic blood transfusion have prompted investigation into autologous blood management strategies, such as postoperative red blood cell (RBC) salvage. This study provides a cost comparison of transfusing washed postoperatively salvaged RBCs using an orthopedic perioperative autotransfusion device (OrthoPat, Haemonetics Corporation) versus unwashed shed blood and banked allogeneic blood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cell salvage data were retrospectively reviewed for a sample of 392 patients who underwent primary hip or knee arthroplasty. Mean unit costs were calculated for washed salvaged RBCs, equivalent units of unwashed shed blood, and therapeutically equivalent volumes of allogeneic RBCs. RESULTS: No initial capital investment was required for the establishment of the postoperative cell salvage program. For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the mean unit costs for washed postoperatively salvaged cells, unwashed shed blood, and allogeneic banked blood were $758.80, $474.95, and $765.49, respectively. In patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), the mean unit costs for washed postoperatively salvaged cells, unwashed shed blood, and allogeneic banked blood were $1827.41, $1167.41, and $2609.44, respectively. CONCLUSION: This analysis suggests that transfusing washed postoperatively salvaged cells using the OrthoPat device is more costly than using unwashed shed blood in both THA and TKA. When compared to allogeneic transfusion, washed postoperatively salvaged cells carry a comparable cost in TKA, but potentially represent a significant savings in patients undergoing THA. Sensitivity analysis suggests that in the case of TKA, however, cost comparability exists within a narrow range of units collected and infused.     

Blood use in elective surgery: the Austrian benchmark study

BACKGROUND: Benchmarking transfusion activity may help to eliminate inappropriate use of blood products. The goal of this study was to measure and to compare the current transfusion practice and to identify predictors of transfusion in public hospitals to develop strategies to optimize transfusion practices. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study in 18 randomly selected public hospitals from April 2004 to February 2005. Primary outcome measures were the amount of intra- and postoperative blood components transfused and intercenter variability of transfusion rate. Secondary outcome measures were prevalence of preoperative anemia, calculated perioperative blood loss, and lowest measured perioperative hemoglobin (Hb) level. RESULTS: Adult patients undergoing primary unilateral total hip replacement (THR, n = 1401), primary unilateral knee replacement (TKR, n = 1296), hemicolectomy (HECOC, n = 148), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (n = 777) were enrolled. Due to the small number, data of HECOC patients were not fully analyzed. In the remaining procedures, there was a large intercenter variability in the percentage of patients who received transfusions: THR 16 to 85 percent, TKR 12 to 87 percent, and CABG 37 to 63 percent. In the patients who received transfusions, the number of red blood cells (RBC) units transfused varied significantly. There was also a considerable intercenter variability in RBC loss. The prevalence of preoperative anemia was 19 percent and identical in both sexes. The incidence of preoperative anemia was three times higher in patients who received transfusions compared to those who did not. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high intercenter variability in RBC transfusions and RBC loss in standard surgical procedures. Whereas the variability in blood loss remains largely unexplained, the main predictors for allogeneic RBC transfusions are preoperative and nadir Hb and surgical RBC loss.     

Storage time of transfused red blood cells and impact on clinical outcomes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion may prolong recovery in some patients, perhaps due to changes that occur during more prolonged RBC storage. We examined the impact of RBC transfusion and the age of transfused RBC units on clinical outcomes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data concerning RBC transfusions between Day 0 and Day +30 were analyzed for patients undergoing HSCT (n = 555) at a single institution. “Old” RBC units were defined as those stored for 15 days or longer. RESULTS: The proportion of old RBC units transfused and the mean age of transfused units did not correlate with 100‐day nonrelapse mortality, organ‐specific toxicity, length of stay (LOS), or incidence of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p > 0.05). In comparing the 71 patients who received only old RBC units with 218 patients who received only “new” RBC units, there was no increase in adverse clinical outcomes after HSCT. Autologous transplant recipients (n = 355, 3.8 units/patient) were more likely to avoid RBC transfusion and received fewer units compared with allogeneic recipients (n = 200, 6.4 units/patient, p < 0.0001). The mean number of transfused RBC units was greater in patients admitted to the ICU (10.5 units vs. 3.7 units/patient, p < 0.01), correlated with longer LOS (p < 0.0001), and correlated with increasing number of organ systems with toxicity of at least Grade 2 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The importance of RBC storage time does not appear to influence clinical outcomes in HSCT. Patients with increased RBC transfusion requirements have greater toxicity after HSCT. Whether RBC transfusion contributes to toxicity, however, remains unclear.     

The value of oxygen-carrying solutions in the operative setting, as determined by mathematical modeling

BACKGROUND: The use of oxygen carriers (red cell [RBC] substitutes) in acute trauma and in surgery, with or without the use of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), is being investigated. Mathematical modeling was used to assess the impact of RBC substitutes, with or without ANH, in the elective surgical setting. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Mathematical equations and computer models were developed on the basis of previously described mathematical principles, for better understanding of the potential efficacy of RBC substitutes for blood needs with or without ANH. Savings were calculated for a patient with a blood volume of 5000 mL and an initial hematocrit (Hct) of 45 or 30 percent. RESULTS: Substantial increases in the tolerable blood losses (or reduced allogeneic RBC needs) were most evident when the use of an RBC substitute to achieve severe ANH to a Hct that the patient might not otherwise have been able to tolerate was combined with the use of RBC substitutes as replacement for the surgical blood subsequently lost. However, the benefit was greatly dependent on the patient's initial Hct. For example, for a patient with a blood volume of 5000 mL and an initial Hct of 45 percent, a blood loss of approximately 2500 mL resulted in a final Hct of 28 percent without the use of an RBC substitute or ANH. In contrast, with the combined use of staged ANH with an RBC substitute and the RBC substitute for lost surgical blood, a blood loss of up to 14.5 L could be tolerated. However, in an anemic patient (blood volume 5000 mL, initial Hct 30%), a Hct of 28 percent cannot be sustained without the use of allogeneic RBCs for any of the described strategies, even when blood losses were as low as 1 L. CONCLUSION: The use of RBC substitutes has the potential to result in a substantial reduction in allogeneic RBC exposure. This benefit is essentially limited to the nonanemic patient when the use of an RBC substitute is combined with severe ANH and there is concomitant large perioperative blood loss. Anemic patients can be expected to have only limited benefit, because of an inability to sequester an adequate volume of autologous RBCs via ANH.     

Clinical efficacy of postoperative autologous transfusion of filtered shed blood in hip and knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) regularly results in postoperative requirement of blood transfusion. Because of the disadvantages of allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) such as the risk of transfusion-associated infections, incompatibility-related transfusion fatalities, or immunomodulatory effects, a continuing effort to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion is important. For this purpose, the effect of reinfusion of drain blood, via a postoperative wound drainage and reinfusion system, on the need for allogeneic blood transfusion was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a prospective observational quality assessment design, we compared 135 patients scheduled for TKA or THA with a historic group of 96 patients. In the study group the Bellovac ABT autotransfusion system was used. The shed blood was returned either when 500 mL were collected or at most 6 hours after surgery. Compared were the preoperative, postoperative, and discharge hemoglobin, as well as the number of allogeneic blood transfusions. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between preoperative, postoperative, and discharge hemoglobin levels. Autologous transfusion reduced the number of patients receiving ABT overall from 35 percent (control) to 22 percent (study). The decrease of allogeneic transfusion requirement was most significant after TKA: from 18 percent to 6 percent (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Bellovac ABT device reduces allogeneic blood transfusions in TKA and THA.     

Electronic remote blood issue: a combination of remote blood issue with a system for end-to-end electronic control of transfusion to provide a "total solution" for a safe and timely hospital blood transfusion service

BACKGROUND: The rapid provision of red cell (RBC) units to patients needing blood urgently is an issue of major importance in transfusion medicine. The development of electronic issue (sometimes termed "electronic crossmatch") has facilitated rapid provision of RBC units by avoidance of the serologic crossmatch in eligible patients. A further development is the issue of blood under electronic control at blood refrigerator remote from the blood bank. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study evaluated a system for electronic remote blood issue (ERBI) developed as an enhancement of a system for end-to-end electronic control of hospital transfusion. Practice was evaluated before and after its introduction in cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Before the implementation of ERBI, the median time to deliver urgently required RBC units to the patient was 24 minutes. After its implementation, RBC units were obtained from the nearby blood refrigerator in a median time of 59 seconds (range, 30 sec to 2 min). The study also found that unused requests were reduced significantly from 42 to 20 percent, the number of RBC units issued reduced by 52 percent, the number of issued units that were transfused increased from 40 to 62 percent, and there was a significant reduction in the workload of both blood bank and clinical staff. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated a combination of remote blood issue with an end-to-end electronically controlled hospital transfusion process, ERBI. ERBI reduced the time to make blood available for surgical patients and improved the efficiency of hospital transfusion.     

Retransfusion of filtered shed blood in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic blood transfusions are associated with a number of well-recognized risks and complications. Postoperative retransfusion of filtered shed blood is an alternative to (reduce) allogeneic blood transfusion. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical efficacy of retransfusion of filtered shed blood and to evaluate the complications, in particular febrile reactions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this clinical trial 160 patients undergoing primary total hip or knee replacement were randomly assigned to receive either a retransfusion system (Bellovac, AstraTech AB) or a regular drain (Abdovac, AstraTech AB). Patients with a preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) level of between 13.0 and 14.6 g per dL were included. The shed blood was returned 6 hours after operation. After surgery the anesthesiologist determined the transfusion trigger. When Hb level dropped below this trigger, an allogeneic blood transfusion was given. The following data were obtained: number of allogeneic blood transfusions, total volume of blood collected in the bag used for retransfusion, perioperative Hb levels, febrile reaction, and other complications. RESULTS: In the control group 19 percent of the patients received at least one allogeneic blood transfusion. In the study group this percentage was 6 percent of the patients (p = 0.015). Comparing total knee and total hip arthroplasty (control vs. study) the percentages were, respectively, 16 percent versus 2 percent (p = 0.040) and 21 percent versus 11 percent (NS). On average 308 mL of filtered shed blood was retransfused in the study group. In the study group 18 percent of patients had febrile reactions compared to 20 percent in the control group. CONCLUSION: Postoperative retransfusion of filtered shed blood is effective for decreasing allogeneic blood transfusions after total hip and knee arthroplasty. There was no relationship between retransfusions and postoperative febrile reactions.     

Allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND: In patients having open heart surgery, allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) may be related to an enhanced inflammatory response and impaired pulmonary function, resulting in the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The records of 416 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital were reviewed. Possible predictors and the number of days of postoperative ventilation, as well as the number of RBC units transfused and the length of their storage, were recorded. The association between mechanical ventilation after the day of operation and the number of RBC units transfused was calculated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The number of RBC units transfused, but not the length of their storage, differed (p<0.0001) among patients ventilated for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 or more days after the day of operation. Patients taken off ventilation on the day of operation received (mean +/- SE) 2.01 +/- 0.14 RBC units; patients kept on ventilation for 4 or more days received 9.45 +/- 1.83 units. After adjusting for the effects of 18 confounding factors, the number of RBC units transfused was not a significant predictor of ventilation past the day of operation. There was, however, a trend suggesting that the likelihood of such ventilation might increase by 26 percent per RBC unit transfused (p = 0.0628). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies of the outcomes of ABT should examine further the possibility of a relationship between the number of transfused RBCs and the likelihood of postoperative ventilation after the day of operation.     

A provincial program of blood conservation: The Ontario Transfusion Coordinators (ONTraC).

PURPOSE: Although often life-saving, blood transfusions are associated with significant risk to the patient and escalating costs to the blood system and hospital. Transfusions are often given unnecessarily. Blood conservation represents the use of alternatives to transfusion. The ONTraC program attempts to enhance transfusion practice outside the blood transfusion laboratory, promote blood conservation in surgery patients, and reduce allogeneic red cell use. METHODS: In the first such large scale program, funding was obtained from the Ontario MOHLTC for a Transfusion Coordinator in 23 Ontario hospitals selected based on blood utilization and geography. At specific time periods, detailed anonymized information was collected in a defined number of all consecutive patients admitted for the three designated surgical procedures: knee arthroplasty (N=approximately 1200 at each time point), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; N=300 at each time) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (N=300 at each time point). RESULTS: Considerable inter-institutional variation was observed in the proportion of patients and amount of blood transfused. At the 12 month analysis, most, although not all, hospitals had decreased use of allogeneic blood and there was an overall 24% reduction in blood use in patients undergoing knee surgery, 14% in AAA and 23% in CABG. In addition to reduction in proportion of patients transfused, transfused patients received fewer units of allogeneic blood. Patients who did not receive allogeneic transfusions had significantly lower postoperative infection rates (p<0.05) and length of stay (p<0.0001); multivariate analysis showed that allogeneic transfusion was an independent predictor of increased length of stay. Eighteen-month analysis indicates even greater reduction in allogeneic transfusion. The main measures of blood conservation employed were preoperative autologous donation and education, with recent increasing use of erythropoietin and the cell saver. These measures have been demonstrated to be very effective in avoiding allogeneic transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The ONTraC have become leaders locally, nationally and internationally in blood conservation. The reduction in allogeneic transfusion associated with the implementation of the ONTraC program represents important savings in costs associated with blood components, hospital stay and work in transfusion laboratories and nursing units, as well as enhancing patient satisfaction and safety.     

Mathematical analysis of isovolemic hemodilution indicates that it can decrease the need for allogeneic blood transfusion

BACKGROUND: The implementation of acute isovolemic hemodilution prior to surgical blood loss is a strategy used in an attempt to diminish the need for or obviate allogeneic transfusion and to avert the potential, attendant complications. Studies examining the efficacy of this technique have produced conflicting results. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The present mathematical analysis was undertaken to resolve these conflicts by determining the efficacy of hemodilution and examining the influence of the variables affecting the outcome. Efficacy was defined as the volume of additional blood loss permitted and the volume and number of units of allogeneic blood saved from transfusion. A mathematical analysis evaluated the impact of circulating blood volume and initial and target hematocrits on the efficacy of isovolemic hemodilution. It was assumed that 1) hemodilution was completed before surgical blood loss; 2) transfusion of removed blood was begun when the target hematocrit was reached and lost surgical blood was replaced at a rate that maintained the target hematocrit; 3) allogeneic transfusion was begun after all autologous blood drawn was transfused; 4) normovolemia was maintained; and 5) a unit of allogeneic blood contains 175 mL of red cells. RESULTS: The analysis showed that isovolemic hemodilution can result in substantial additional allowable surgical blood loss that can diminish the need for or obviate allogeneic transfusion of red cells. Larger circulating blood volume, higher initial hematocrits, and lower target hematocrits increase the efficacy of hemodilution. Removal and isovolemic replacement of 1 to 2 units of blood provide minimal potential savings, as does hemodilution to a circulating (target) hematocrit of 30 percent. The extension of hemodilution to a hematocrit of (or below) 20 percent allows a disproportionately greater surgical blood loss and diminishes the need for allogeneic transfusion. It allows, for example, an additional 4.5 L of surgical blood loss, which represents a savings of 4 units of allogeneic blood when a patient with an initial blood volume of 5.0 L and a hematocrit of 45 percent undergoes isovolemic hemodilution to a hematocrit of 15 percent. CONCLUSION: Isovolemic hemodilution can diminish or in some circumstances eliminate the need for allogeneic transfusion.     

Feasibility and success of a single-donor red cell program for pediatric elective surgery patients

Although the risks of allogeneic blood transfusions are small, it is wise to limit donor exposure whenever possible. A program has been developed in which one donor provided all red cell (RBC) units for each patient awaiting elective surgery. Patients were mostly children who were ineligible for autologous blood donation. Seventy-three patients and 115 donors (mostly parents) entered the program. Of the 115 donors, 90 (78%) were eligible to participate and 25 (22%) were ineligible; 21 were ineligible because of RBC incompatibility. For each of the 73 patients, one eligible donor was selected to donate all RBC units. Preoperative RBC orders were 1 to 2 units for 41 patients and > or = 3 units for 32 patients. Of the 73 donors, 58 (79%) gave all RBC units ordered; 15 (21%) failed to complete all donations, but only 1 because of anemia (hematocrit < 33% [0.33]). Of 73 patients entered, 46 (63%) underwent transfusion, and 27 (37%) did not. Of 46 patients transfused, 38 (83%) received only single-donor RBCs. Thus, the RBC needs of nearly all pediatric elective surgery patients were provided by a single donor for each patient. Single-donor blood programs should be considered for elective surgery patients who are ineligible for autologous blood donation and who would otherwise be exposed to multiple donors.     

Declining value of preoperative autologous donation

BACKGROUND: Preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) has been shown to decrease allogeneic blood transfusion requirements in major elective surgery. Changes in transfusion practice motivated an examination of blood use from 1993 to 2000 of patients participating in the Héma-Québec PABD program. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood donation and transfusion, type of surgery, and demographic characteristics were prospectively entered into a computer database for patients participating in the Héma-Québec PABD program. RESULTS: Autologous donations represented from 0.8 to 2 percent of total blood collections and have declined by 26 percent after peaking in 1995. The mean number of units collected per patient declined, as did the number of units transfused per patient and the utilization rate. For radical prostatectomy, knee replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, and scoliosis, utilization rates were 72, 60, 83, and 78 percent in 1993 compared with 50, 50, 58, and 58 percent in 2000, respectively. In 2000, 18 percent of patients were receiving a 1-unit autologous transfusion. Depending on the surgical procedure, 85 to 95 percent of patients avoided allogeneic transfusion; this did not change significantly from 1993 to 2000. CONCLUSION: Patients participating in the PABD program successfully avoided allogeneic transfusion in over 85 percent of cases. However, declining utilization rates and frequent 1-unit transfusions demonstrate the decreasing utility of PABD over time.     

From maximum surgical blood ordering schedule to unlimited computer crossmatching: evolution of blood transfusion for surgical patients at a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong

The maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) was developed to permit efficient use of blood stocks and reduce blood wastage due to outdating. Success of the MSBOS required full cooperation between surgeons, anaesthetists, blood bankers and house officers. However, clinical staff sometimes disregarded the system or distrusted the ability of the laboratory to provide blood in an emergency. This led to frustration and wastage of laboratory staff effort. We developed a computer crossmatch system that could overcome the shortcomings of the MSBOS. The advantages of this system are reported.     

Frozen preoperative autologous blood donation for heart transplantation at the Mayo Clinic from 1988 to 1999

BACKGROUND: Preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) has been used to reduce the need for allogeneic RBC transfusion, decreasing risk and conserving supply. A frozen PABD program for heart transplant patients was instituted at the Mayo Clinic in 1988, but participation has steadily declined. The aims of this study were to determine how the availability of PABD influenced the transfusion RBC components, whether the availability of PABD reduced exposure to allogeneic RBC components, and the costs of providing PABD units. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all heart transplant cases from 1988 to 1999 was performed (n = 141). Data on collection and transfusion practices were compared for patients with (n = 88, 62%) and without PABD (n = 53, 38%). RESULTS: Total RBC transfusion requirements did not differ between the groups. Patients with frozen PABD received fewer allogeneic units, but they also had less blood salvaged and reinfused. Twenty patients (23%) completely avoided exposure to allogeneic RBCs in the PABD group versus three patients (6%) in the group without PABD. Although patients in the PABD group successfully donated a total of 423 units, 41 percent were discarded. Over 11 years, the need for 251 units of allogeneic RBCs was avoided ($27,610), but $283,500 was spent to have the frozen PABD units available. CONCLUSION: PABD can be performed for heart transplantation, but it is expensive.