Association between frequency of blood tests and mortality rate in patients undergoing massive blood transfusion: a multicenter study in five regions of China.

In order to provide Chinese clinicians with guidelines for the management of massive blood loss, we investigated the correlation between the frequency of blood tests and the mortality rate in patients undergoing massive blood transfusion (MBT). The aim of this study is to provide Chinese clinicians with guidelines for the management of massive blood loss. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent massive blood transfusion (MBT) from 20 tertiary hospitals in 5 regions of China. The frequency of blood tests performed within 24 or 72 hours was compared between patients infused with < 10 and ≥ 10 U of red blood cells (RBC). The correlation between the frequency of blood tests and the mortality rate was determined. A high frequency of blood tests was associated with a low mortality rate in MBT cases. The frequency of all blood tests performed within 24 hours was negatively correlated with the mortality rate in patients infused with ≥ 10 U of RBC, while the frequency of blood coagulation tests performed within 72 hours was negatively correlated with the mortality rate in both patients infused with ≥ 10 and < 10 U of RBC. In conclusions: Measuring the blood indices frequently within the first 24 hours of MBT links to lower mortality rate. Coagulation indices in MBT patients should be closely monitored in the long term to help improve survival.