INTRODUCTION: Blood is a scarce and expensive product. Although it may be life-saving, in recent years there has been an increased emphasis on the potential hazards of transfusion as well as evidence supporting the use of lower transfusion thresholds. Orthopaedic surgery accounts for some 10% of transfused red blood cells and evidence suggests that there is considerable variation in transfusion practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NHS Blood and Transplant, in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians, undertook a national audit on transfusion practice. Each hospital was asked to provide information relating to 40 consecutive patients undergoing elective, primary unilateral total hip replacement surgery. The results were compared to indicators and standards. RESULTS: Information was analysed relating to 7465 operations performed in 223 hospitals. Almost all hospitals had a system for referring abnormal pre-operative blood results to a doctor and 73% performed a group-and-save rather than a cross-match before surgery. Of hospitals, 47% had a transfusion policy. In 73%, the policy recommended a transfusion threshold at a haemoglobin concentration of 8 g/dl or less. There was a wide variation in transfusion rate among hospitals. Of patients, 15% had a haemoglobin concentration less than 12 g/dl recorded in the 28 days before surgery and 57% of these patients were transfused compared to 20% with higher pre-operative values. Of those who were transfused, 7% were given a single unit and 67% two units. Of patients transfused two or more units during days 1-14 after surgery, 65% had a post transfusion haemoglobin concentration of 10 g/dl or more. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative anaemia, lack of availability of transfusion protocols and use of different thresholds for transfusion may have contributed to the wide variation in transfusion rate. Effective measures to identify and correct pre-operative anaemia may decrease the need for transfusion. A consistent, evidence-based, transfusion threshold should be used and transfusion of more than one unit should only be given if essential to maintain haemoglobin concentrations above this threshold.
INTRODUCTION: Blood is a scarce and expensive product. Although it may be life-saving, in recent years there has been an increased emphasis on the potential hazards of transfusion as well as evidence supporting the use of lower transfusion thresholds. Orthopaedic surgery accounts for some 10% of transfused red blood cells and evidence suggests that there is considerable variation in transfusion practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NHS Blood and Transplant, in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians, undertook a national audit on transfusion practice. Each hospital was asked to provide information relating to 40 consecutive patients undergoing elective, primary unilateral total hip replacement surgery. The results were compared to indicators and standards. RESULTS: Information was analysed relating to 7465 operations performed in 223 hospitals. Almost all hospitals had a system for referring abnormal pre-operative blood results to a doctor and 73% performed a group-and-save rather than a cross-match before surgery. Of hospitals, 47% had a transfusion policy. In 73%, the policy recommended a transfusion threshold at a haemoglobin concentration of 8 g/dl or less. There was a wide variation in transfusion rate among hospitals. Of patients, 15% had a haemoglobin concentration less than 12 g/dl recorded in the 28 days before surgery and 57% of these patients were transfused compared to 20% with higher pre-operative values. Of those who were transfused, 7% were given a single unit and 67% two units. Of patients transfused two or more units during days 1-14 after surgery, 65% had a post transfusion haemoglobin concentration of 10 g/dl or more. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative anaemia, lack of availability of transfusion protocols and use of different thresholds for transfusion may have contributed to the wide variation in transfusion rate. Effective measures to identify and correct pre-operative anaemia may decrease the need for transfusion. A consistent, evidence-based, transfusion threshold should be used and transfusion of more than one unit should only be given if essential to maintain haemoglobin concentrations above this threshold.
Authors: Valerie A Lawrence; Jeffrey H Silverstein; John E Cornell; Thomas Pederson; Helaine Noveck; Jeffrey L Carson Journal: Transfusion Date: 2003-12 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Ethan A Halm; Jason J Wang; Kenneth Boockvar; Joan Penrod; Stacey B Silberzweig; Jay Magaziner; Kenneth J Koval; Albert L Siu Journal: J Orthop Trauma Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 2.512
Authors: Martin David Berger; Bernhard Gerber; Kornelius Arn; Oliver Senn; Urs Schanz; Georg Stussi Journal: Haematologica Date: 2011-09-20 Impact factor: 9.941
Authors: A Shander; H Van Aken; M J Colomina; H Gombotz; A Hofmann; R Krauspe; S Lasocki; T Richards; R Slappendel; D R Spahn Journal: Br J Anaesth Date: 2012-05-24 Impact factor: 9.166
Authors: Felipe Roth; Felipe Cunha Birriel; Daniela Furtado Barreto; Leonardo Carbonera Boschin; Ramiro Zilles Gonçalves; Anthony Kerbes Yépez; Marcelo Faria Silva; Carlos Roberto Schwartsmann Journal: Rev Bras Ortop Date: 2014-01-03