Utilization of blood and blood products in a tertiary care hospital- A descriptive cohort study

Abstract

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells, such as oxygen and nutrients and transports waste products away from these cells. It is composed of cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) and plasma. Till date no substitute of blood is formed therefore transfusion of donated blood is the mainstay of treatment in medical or surgical conditions. Blood must be transfused while keeping precautions because, blood and its components can cause side effects in recipient such as transfusion reactions or transmission of transfusion transmissible disease like HbsAg, HCV, HIV, Syphilis and malaria. It is very important for clinicians to be aware of these potential risks and hence blood should be transfused in conditions where it is needed only. This study aims to evaluate the pattern of blood component usage, its demand and utilization in a tertiary care hospital.This is a retrospective cohort study in which data concerning request and utilization of blood and its products from January 2019 to December 2019 in blood bank of tertiary care hospital were collected and analyzed.The blood units issued were 5190. Packed red blood cell was the most utilized product. Supply of blood was maximum to the surgical wards followed by medicine ward. The patients of anemia followed by surgery required packed red blood cells mostly. Most common indication for blood products was anemia. Periodic review of blood component usage is important to assess the utilization pattern of blood in any hospital.