Prospective audit of transfusion utilization trends and transfusion practices at a rural tertiary care hospital in Central India

Abstract

Background: In modern health-care system, practicing safe and appropriate transfusion services is essential. Care should be taken at all three phases of transfusion practices, i.e. pretransfusion, transfusion, and posttransfusion. The blood unit should be appropriately used by the clinicians. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate blood transfusion practices at pretransfusion level at blood center as well as bedside and posttransfusion practices. Settings and Design: This was a prospective observational study. Materials and Methods: A total of 15022 requisition forms were received in our blood center for a total of 19904 units of blood and blood products during the study period of 21 months. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were recorded using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2011. The categorical variables were expressed in terms of number and percentage. Results: During the study period, blood bank received transfusion request for a total of 12840 units of blood bag for cross matching. Out of which only 9907 blood units were transfused to the recipients while rest of 2573 blood units were not transfused to the recipient and thus it was ordered excessively for cross match. When looked for overall utilization trends, we found that crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio was 1.26, transfusion probability was 79.38, and transfusion index was 0.79. There were 65 transfusion reactions, out of which only 27.69% (n = 18) reactions were reported and 72.31% (n = 47) were not reported to our blood center. Conclusions: It is important to sensitize the clinicians about the importance of ordering blood unit only when it is absolutely indicated along with correctly and completely filled blood transfusion request forms to lessen the transfusion reactions. It will ultimately improve the clinical practices in the hospital.