Recommendations for the transfusion management of patients in the peri-operative period. II. The intra-operative period.

Abstract

A thorough pre-operative evaluation is fundamental for stratifying haemorrhagic risk, for predicting transfusion needs in relation to the type of surgical intervention, as well as for evaluating the indications and eligibility of a patient for autotransfusion procedures, and the need for any adjuvant therapies (Grade of recommendation: 2C)1–3. The pre-operative assessment must include a careful review of the patient’s clinical documentation, a thorough personal and family history, focused particularly on revealing a suspected bleeding disorder, as well as a control of the laboratory tests. The evaluation must be carried out a reasonable time before the planned date of the intervention, for example 30 days before, in order to allow detailed diagnostic investigations or planning of appropriate therapeutic measures (Grade of recommendation: 2C)4.