Utilisation of Blood Components in Trauma Surgery: A Single-Centre, Retrospective Analysis before and after the Implementation of an Educative PBM Initiative

Abstract

Background: The aim of our single-centre retrospective study presented here is to further analyse the utilisation of allogeneic blood components within a 5-year observation period (2009-2013) in trauma surgery (15,457 patients) under the measures of an educational patient blood management (PBM) initiative. Methods: After the implementation of the PBM initiative in January 2012, the Institute of Transfusion Medicine und Transplantation Immunology educates surgeons and nurses at the Department of Trauma Surgery to avoid unnecessary blood transfusions. A standardised reporting system was used to document the utilisation of blood components carefully for the most frequent diagnoses and surgical interventions in trauma surgery. These measures served as basis for the implementation of an interdisciplinary systematic exchange of information to foster decision-making processes in favour of patient blood management. Results: Since January 2012, the proportion of patients who received a transfusion as well as the number of transfused red blood cell (RBC) (7.3%/6.4%; p = 0.02), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (1.7%/1.3%; p < 0.05) and platelet (PLT) (1.0%/0.5%; p < 0.001) units were reduced as a result of our PBM initiative. However, among the transfused patients, the number of administered RBC, FFP and PLT units did not decrease significantly. Overall, patients who did not receive transfusions were younger than transfused patients (p = 0.001). The subgroup with the highest probability of blood transfusion administered included patients with intensive care and long-term ventilation (before/after implementation of PBM: RBC 81.5%/75.9%; FFP 33.3%/20.4%; PLT 24.1%/13.0%). Only a total of 60 patients of 531 patients suffering multiple traumas were massively transfused (before/after implementation of PBM: RBC 55.6%/49.8%; FFP 28.4%/20.4%; PLT 17.6%/8.9%). Conclusion: According to our educational PBM initiative, at least the proportion of trauma patients who received allogeneic blood transfusions could be reduced significantly. However, in case of blood transfusions, the total consumption of RBC, FFP and PLT units remained stable in both time periods. This phenomenon might indicate that the actual need of blood transfusions rather depends on the severity of trauma-related blood loss, the coagulopathy rates or the complexity of the surgical intervention which mainly determines the intra-operative blood loss. Taken together, educational training sessions and systematic reporting systems are suitable measures to avoid unnecessary allogeneic blood transfusions and to continuously improve their restrictive application.

Challenges of antithrombotic therapy in the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with inherited bleeding disorders: A single‐centre experience

“…Patients undergoing cardiac surgery, such as CABG, have a high bleeding risk with some studies reporting over 50% requiring red cell transfusion in the general population 5 . The bleeding is multifactorial and the use of intravenous heparin with subsequent protamine reversal, to allow for the safe conduct of anastomoses and maintenance of graft patency, may be contributory 6 .…”

“…Patients undergoing cardiac surgery, such as CABG, have a high bleeding risk with some studies reporting over 50% requiring red cell transfusion in the general population. 5 The bleeding is multifactorial and the use of intravenous heparin with subsequent protamine reversal, to allow for the safe conduct of anastomoses and maintenance of graft patency, may be contributory. 6 On thromboelastography (TEG), one study documents a prolongation of the TEG-R after protamine administration in a patient with severe haemophilia A, which corrected with a factor VIII (FVIII) bolus.…”

Appropriate blood component therapy can reduce postcardiac surgery acute kidney injury through packed cell transfusion reduction

“…The result of that study indicated a better kidney outcome for the groups, in which the transfusion was circumscribed. [ 5 ] It is well known among the practitioners that blood transfusion is most of the time depending on clinical manifestation; however, using such protocols and algorithm would lead to a more accurate evaluation of patient's status and a better-individualized plan for each person.…”

“…Of note, using BCs in a good manner can result in a PC transfusion reduction. [ 5 ] The aim of the study is to investigate whether appropriate BC therapy can reduce blood transfusion and it would result in AKI decreasing.…”

Terrorist incidents: strategic treatment objectives, tactical diagnostic procedures and the estimated need of blood and clotting products

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