Enhancing the utilization of packed red blood cells stock in maternity hospitals

Abstract

Objectives: To assess and enhance the efficiency of transfusion services in maternity hospitals. Methods: A case control study was conducted from January to December 2016. A corrective policy of replacing preoperative type and hold step with blood transfusion request (BTR) hold was used only on healthy patients undergoing elective cesarean sections (c-section). The crossmatch/transfusion (C:T) ratio and a cost comparison were the evaluating factors. Data were analyzed using an Excel spreadsheet and SPSS statistical software. Results: A total of 1,200 BTRs were analyzed, comprising 659 before implementation of the corrective policy and 541 blood transfusion requests after implementation of the corrective policy. From January to March, the C:T ratio of c-sections was nearly 7 times the American Association of Blood Banks recommended limit of 2.5. Most of the blood units (94%) were damaged due to repeated booking. After implementation, the cost-effectiveness of erythrocyte transfusion was greatly enhanced as all the ordered blood units were used and the C:T ratio was reduced to the ideal limit of one. The number of destroyed units was drastically decreased from 450 units to zero; as a result, 83% of the transfusion costs were saved. Conclusion: The policy enhances the cost-effectiveness of erythrocyte transfusion and laboratory testing, and saves on additional, unnecessary costs.

Blood utilization and quality indicators at a university hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

“…There are few studies from Saudi Arabia regarding blood bank utilization, and most include small sample sizes and short follow-up periods [2,[7][8][9][10]. A study on blood bank utilization conducted in our center between 1996 and 2000 showed an average C/T ratio of 2.96, which did not meet the international standards of less than 2, and over-ordering of blood products and cancellation of over 60% of transfusions [7,11].…”

Demography and blood donation trends in Saudi Arabia: A nationwide retrospective, cross-sectional study

“…To reduce blood wastage and enhance stock management, a number of low-cost policies can be implemented. These include improved communication between blood banks and providers ( Levin et al, 2019 , Mishra et al, 2021 ), staff continual education ( Burk et al, 2021 ), improved transport Kron et al, 2021 ), and updating transfusion protocols ( Bawazir and Dakkam, 2020 , Gholami et al, 2021 ) which all have been proven to have a cumulative effect in reducing blood wastage.…”

Forecasting the need for blood transfusions in non-cardiac thoracic surgery

“…It would be very interesting and informative to see how they roll that out in their institution, and what challenges or facilitators they identified in that process. Although a cost analysis on the unused crossmatched blood was not performed in this study, other studies in the literature have demonstrated the cost benefit to more judicious preparation of crossmatched blood ( 12 ).…”