Improvement In Transfusion Practice Research Articles

Surgical patients' perception about risks related to blood transfusion: A cross-sectional survey.

To determine the perception of surgical patients at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) about the risks related to blood transfusion. The ultimate aim was to influence patients' acceptability of blood transfusion by reducing their fears through effective counselling. AKUH has a hospital-based blood bank with more than 90% family replacement donation. Many patients perceive blood transfusion as a risky procedure. This survey will help healthcare practitioners in addressing patients' concerns more effectively while counselling them about blood transfusion. It was a cross-sectional survey of patients attending anaesthesia clinic at AKUH during the study period. It assessed patients' perception about adverse effects associated with blood transfusion. A total of 363 patients were included. Among the participants, 18% considered blood transfusion to be very often or always risky. Blood transfusion related infections were considered most frequently occurring adverse events. Female patients were more concerned about the risks (p = 0.046). Many patients consider blood transfusion as a high-risk procedure. Healthcare professionals need to understand patient's perceptions and conduct patient counselling accordingly. This will help physicians in addressing patient-specific concerns related to blood transfusion. Improved knowledge is hoped to translate into improvement in transfusion practices at the national level.

Community-Based Hospitals Benefit From Restrictive Transfusion Practices.

Blood availability was uncertain during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet transfusion remained a common and sometimes necessary procedure. Substantial work on optimizing transfusion practices is centered in tertiary hospitals as high utilizers of blood while the care delivered in smaller community hospitals comprises more than half the nation's transfusions. Improving transfusion practices in community hospitals represents a substantial opportunity to enhance patient safety and the availability of blood resources. Clinical specialists developed a dashboard to retrospectively examine transfusion events including an evidence-based analysis of the patient's clinical situation at the time of transfusion to more accurately identify how appropriately blood was used. The compiled data were discussed and shared with transfusing providers. It was hypothesized that the data provided and communication strategies used would educate providers to current evidence-based practice, leading to more appropriate transfusion with an overall reduction in packed red blood cell utilization. There was an 11% increase in transfusion appropriateness (p = <.001) and a 14% decrease in the units transfused (p = .004). Improvement in transfusion practices demonstrates a significant impact on patient safety and the availability of blood resources. Although absolute opportunity may be less in a community hospital, fewer resources are needed to achieve meaningful change.

Improvements in National Code Red transfusion practice in Scotland after adoption of recommendations from the Scottish National Code Red 2015 review

AimsThe Scottish Transfusion and Laboratory Support in Trauma Group (TLSTG) previously reviewed all National Code Red activations between June 1st 2013 and October 31st 2015, generating a number of recommendations to be adopted to optimise the transfusion support given to patients following major trauma in Scotland. A repeat National survey was undertaken for all patients for whom Code Red was activated between 1st November 2015 and 31st December 2017. MethodsA clinical and transfusion lead for each centre entered anonymised data onto a secure electronic database (REDCap). ResultsDuring the study period there were 66 activations (24 South-East of Scotland, 32 West, 10 East). Mean age was 45 years and 88% were male. Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 28 with 75% blunt trauma. 93% (62/66) of Code Red patients received blood components with a 300% increase in pre-hospital transfusion (48 vs 16 patients; p<0.001). Median time from 999 call to Code Red activation reduced significantly to 37 min from 70 min (p = 0.01) giving the hospital more time to prepare transfusion components. 78% patients received pre-hospital tranexamic acid (TXA; improved from 70%, p = 0.67, ns). Concentrated Red Cell (CRC): Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) ratio was always less than 2:1 and below 1.4:1 at 90 min, compared to 2013–15 when CRC: FFP ratios did not drop to below 2:1 until 150 min after arrival in the ED. Mean time for Full Blood Count (FBC; 46 mins versus 81; p = 0.004) and clotting (53 mins versus 119; p<0.001) result was reduced. Survival to hospital discharge was unchanged (66% versus 63%; p = 1.00 ns). ConclusionsCode Red practice has improved in several ways since our last survey with earlier Code Red activation, more patients receiving pre-hospital transfusion and improved CRC:FFP ratios. Interventions such as earlier on scene Code Red activation, provision of pre-hospital TXA, Emergency Department (ED) resuscitation room pre-thawed FFP and point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation testing have all contributed to these improvements in transfusion practice in Scotland.

Quality Improvement in Transfusion Practice of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Reduces Blood Utilization, Length of Hospital Stay, and Cost

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) can require substantial usage of blood products. Higher rates of transfusion have been associated with increased length of hospital stay, higher rates of infection, graft failure, and mortality. This study was a retrospective analysis to assess the impact of quality improvement interventions in OLT. Data collection included demographics, preoperative and intraoperative data, blood utilization, and cost data. Statistical analysis was performed using R software. Total blood product utilization was reduced by approximately 50%. Statistically significant decreases were noted in blood product usage in the intraoperative and first 48-hour postoperative utilization, the number of OLTs using fewer than five RBC units, length of hospital stay, and cost. This study showed successful implementation of quality improvement team interventions to reduce blood utilization during OLT. Reduced transfusion significantly correlated with decreased length of hospital stay and cost.

A retrospective study of transfusion practice: Blood crossmatch ordering in obstetrics

Background: Parturient undergoing elective cesarian delivery (CD) in a busy tertiary care referral hospital often requires blood transfusions. The preoperative ordering for blood crossmatch frequently overshoots the actual need of transfusion. Aims: The primary aim of this study was to audit the local blood ordering practice in obstetric anesthesia and compare with the international guidelines. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent elective CD over a period of 6 months was done. The data collected included patients' age, pretransfusion hemoglobin, timing of transfusion, number of units crossmatched, and number of units transfused. The crossmatch transfusion ratio (CTR), transfusion probability, and transfusion index were calculated from the data. Results: A total of 425 patients underwent CD with mean age 33 (standard deviation 7). Seventy-seven (18%) of them were crossmatched with total 252 units. Thirty-one (7.3%) patients required transfusion and the number of units transfused was 79. CTR in our study was 3.2. Conclusion: CTR for elective CD is higher than the recommended international quality indicator value. There is a need to develop institutional specific blood ordering schedule to bring improvement in transfusion practices.

Mortality from trauma haemorrhage and opportunities for improvement in transfusion practice.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence, patterns of blood use and outcomes of major haemorrhage in trauma. This was a prospective observational study from 22 hospitals in the UK, including both major trauma centres and smaller trauma units. Eligible patients received at least 4 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in the first 24 h of admission with activation of the massive haemorrhage protocol. Case notes, transfusion charts, blood bank records and copies of prescription/theatre charts were accessed and reviewed centrally. Study outcomes were: use of blood components, critical care during hospital stay, and mortality at 24 h, 30 days and 1 year. Data were used to estimate the national trauma haemorrhage incidence. A total of 442 patients were identified during a median enrolment interval of 20 (range 7-24) months. Based on this, the national incidence of trauma haemorrhage was estimated to be 83 per million. The median age of patients in the study cohort was 38 years and 73·8 per cent were men. The incidence of major haemorrhage increased markedly in patients aged over 65 years. Thirty-six deaths within 24 h of admission occurred within the first 3 h. At 24 h, 79 patients (17·9 per cent) had died, but mortality continued to rise even after discharge. Patients who received a cumulative ratio of fresh frozen plasma to PRBCs of at least 1 : 2 had lower rates of death than those who received a lower ratio. There were delays in administration of blood. Platelets and cryoprecipitate were either not given, or transfused well after initial resuscitation. There is a high burden of trauma haemorrhage that affects all age groups. Research is required to understand the reasons for death after the first 24 h and barriers to timely transfusion support.

Implementation of Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule and an Improvement in Transfusion Practices of Surgeons subsequent to Intervention

Over ordering of blood is a common practice for elective surgeries in many developing countries. Over a decade back, our institution-The Aga Khan University, Pakistan noticed that surgeons were making unnecessary arrangement of red cells. This was reflected in their undesirably high cross-matched to transfusion (CT) ratios. A clinical audit conducted in 1998-2000 confirmed this. This prompted the institution for designing a maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) in 2000 based on the retrospective usage of blood in various elective surgeries. This study aimed at observing the impact of implementation of MSBOS on surgeons' transfusion practices by comparing pre and post intervention cross-matched to transfused ratio in selected elective surgeries. For this purpose, we conducted a clinical audit from 2009 to 2010 and data was retrieved for quantity of red cells units arranged and transfused in the peri-operative period. C:T ratio was computed and compared with those in 2000. Identification of patients and physicians were kept confidential. Baseline C:T ratios for C-section, TURP, total knee replacement, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and CABG were 32, 22, 11.42, 23 and 4.77 respectively. In 2009-2010, red cells were transfused in 86 of 1,224 C-sections (7%), 599 of 727 CABG (82%), 10 of 324 TURP (3%),16 of 890 laparoscopic cholecystectomy (1.7%) and 14 of 85 total knee replacement (16.4%) The C:T ratio in these surgeries was between 0 and 1. Implementation of MSBOS and efforts of BUC showed a significant impact in transfusion practices of surgeons with marked reduction in the utilization of blood and the C:T ratio. We recommend that regular audits should be conducted in every institution to improve the quality of services, encourage team work and ensure high standards.

End‐to‐end electronic transfusion management in hospital practice

Background Errors occur at all stages of the hospital transfusion process and the resulting morbidity and mortality are well documented. Recent initiatives in the UK and elsewhere to reduce transfusion errors have focussed on implementing recommended manual procedures for good practice, but have only been partially effective.Aims Our approach was to ‘re‐engineer’ bedside and laboratory transfusion procedures.Materials and Methods We implemented barcode patient identification, bedside handheld computers and electronically controlled blood fridges to simplify transfusion procedures and improve practice.Results There was an improvement from 11.8% to 100% of staff following the process for correct pre‐transfusion bedside patient identification; no ABO incompatible red cell transfusions in 5 years; a reduction in wrong blood component transfused events from 1 in 27,523 to 1 in 67,935; reduced nursing (one nurse rather than 2 and half the time to administer blood) and laboratory workload; and more rapid delivery of urgently required red cell units to patients (from a median of 18 minutes to 45 seconds). The electronic system provided a simple mechanism for compliance with UK/EU regulatory requirements for the traceability of blood, and the documentation of transfusion and training. Feedback from both staff and patients was positive.Discussion The project was taken through pilot stages between 2001 and 2006 through to its full implementation across the acute hospitals in Oxfordshire in 2006/07. Our group wrote a national specification for the electronic transfusion process, but the implementation elsewhere in the UK has been slow. There is the potential to introduce an additional module into the electronic transfusion process to provide ‘decision support’ for doctors ordering blood to minimise inappropriate use of blood as part of a patient blood management programme, and use the same ‘end‐to‐end electronic’ approach for other clinical procedures such as drug administration.Conclusion The implementation of a hospital electronic transfusion management system was shown to provide improvement in transfusion practice and in the efficiency of the service.

Recidivism in Transfusion Quality Improvement: Support for the Role of Transfusion Nurses

Aim To evaluate longer term outcomes of a quality improvement strategy in transfusion. Method A Clinical Health Improvement Program (CHIP) quality improvement project was conducted in a 290 bed acute general hospital, to decrease the rate of transfusions with high pre-transfusion haemoglobins. Strategies for improvement included: formation of a Transfusion Committee; development of transfusion pathway; implementation of a Maximum Blood Order Schedule; educational strategies targeting clinical staff at all levels; promulgation of the NHRMC Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Blood Components; and feedback to clinicians. The CHIP project was superseded by the ACT Haemovigilance Project, and an ACT wide concurrent transfusion audit was undertaken. There was no formal feedback on clinician performance during, or for 6 months prior to, the Haemovigilance audit. Red cell transfusion was assessed for compliance with the NHMRC Guidelines and compared with CHIP results. Result The CHIP project demonstrated successful implementation of the selected strategies, leading to a reduction in transfusions with pre-transfusion haemoglobins greater than 90 g/L. Follow up auditing commencing six months later demonstrated a progressive, and statistically significant, increase in inappropriate transfusions over the following six months. Conclusion Although improvement in transfusion practice was demonstrated with a multi-factorial approach to quality improvement, the improvement was not sustained in the medium term. Our results indicate the need for organisational commitment to long term quality improvement strategies in transfusion, and support the development of Transfusion Officers or Nurses to improve bedside clinical practice.

Serious hazards of transfusion: a decade of hemovigilance in the UK.

The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme is a UK-wide, independent, professionally led hemovigilance system focused on learning from adverse events. SHOT was established in 1996 as a confidential reporting system for significant transfusion-related events, building an evidence base to support blood safety policy decisions, clinical guidelines, clinician education, and improvements in transfusion practice. Recommendations are formulated by an independent steering group drawn from medical royal colleges and professional bodies. Ten years after its inception, SHOT has analyzed 2630 transfusion safety events, published 8 annual reports with recommendations, and presented data nationally and internationally. These recommendations have underpinned key initiatives, in particular the UK Department of Health "Better Blood Transfusion" strategy. SHOT has encouraged open reporting of adverse events and "near-misses" in a supportive, learning culture, vigilance in hospital transfusion practice, and evaluation of information technology to support this process. The importance of education and training has been emphasized. Detailed analysis of events has identified weaknesses in the transfusion chain. A collaborative initiative between SHOT, the Chief Medical Officer for England's National Blood Transfusion Committee, and the National Patient Safety Agency aims to reduce ABO-incompatible transfusions by improving bedside practice. Cumulative SHOT data have documented the decline in transfusion-related graft vs host disease after implementation of leucodepletion and have highlighted transfusion-related acute lung injury and bacterial contamination of platelets as important causes of death and morbidity. The UK blood services have developed strategies to reduce these risks. Future SHOT data will evaluate the success of these and other blood safety improvements.

大分医科大学，宮崎医科大学附属病院における血液製剤使用適正化への取り組み

We conducted a blood products utilization review in Oita Medical University Hospital (Oita) and Miyazaki Medical College Hospital (Miyazaki) before and after revision of the Japanese Guideline for Appropriate Usage of Blood Products. During the period from April 1998 to September 2001, the usage of red blood cells (RC-MAP), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelet concentrate (PC) and autologous blood in both hospitals was concurrently analyzed. Usage of RC-MAP and PC were reduced by about 30% and 10-15%, respectively, in both hospitals during the study period. A greater than 60% reduction in FFP usage was achieved in Oita as compared to 14% in Miyazaki. In surgical departments, the decrease in RC-MAP and FFP usage was similar in the two hospitals. In internal medicine departments, however, a greater than 80% reduction in FFP usage was observed in Oita. The ratio of autologous red cells to all red cells transfused during operation was increased to more than 30% in Miyazaki. The activities of blood transfusion committees for the education of doctors as well as the computer ordering programs justified by the blood coagulation data seem to have been effective in eliminating unnecessary FFP transfusion, especially in Oita. These results indicate that activities undertaken to inform and promote the new Japanese Guideline for blood transfusion have been successful in producing an overall improvement in transfusion practice in both university hospitals, especially with regard to decreasing FFP usage in Oita and increasing autologous blood usage in Miyazaki.

Role of quality assessment in improving red blood cell transfusion practice.

A prospective analysis of perioperative red blood cell transfusion practice in 110 patients undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty was conducted as a part of a quality assessment programme at the National Orthopaedic Hospital. In addition to demographic and clinical data, blood loss and perioperative transfusions were also recorded. Blood was collected for evaluation of haematocrit levels at predetermined intervals (preoperative and 6 h, 1, 2, 3, 7 days, postoperatively). Blood transfused with the patient's haematocrit of more than 30 per cent was considered inappropriate. In addition, a discharge haematocrit exceeding 36 per cent was chosen to identify overtransfusion. Eighty-four per cent were transfused a total of 191 units of homologous blood. Only 4 units were transfused between 3 patients, intraoperatively. All intraoperative transfusions were appropriate. Using the preset criteria (i.e. blood transfused with haematocrit of more than 30 per cent), 36 per cent of total units transfused were inappropriate. Using the criterion of discharge haematocrit of more than 36 per cent, 24 per cent of the patients were overtransfused. As compared to a previous retrospective analysis of blood transfusion in the same patient population which showed that inappropriate transfusion occurred in 45 per cent of the patients, the results from this study suggest a trend towards a more conservative transfusion practice. The improvement in transfusion practice may be due to the ongoing quality assurance programme and the use of transfusion guidelines.

Causes of refractoriness to platelet transfusion.

Platelet refractoriness is a multifactorial problem that often leads to aggressive measures in an attempt to treat a thrombocytopenic patient. Identification of the underlying causes should allow for prevention and management regimens to improve both transfusion practice and patient outcome. A number of clinical studies have evaluated the relative importance of the various causes of refractoriness. Unfortunately, most are significantly compromised by uncontrolled confounding factors. The causes can be broken down into three categories based on the source of the problem: clinically determined, patient related, or blood bank determined. This breakdown can help to identify appropriate prevention and circumvention measures. Additional causes worthy of increased attention are the platelet transfusion trigger and the tendency for prophylactic transfusion. Improvements in transfusion practice may offer the greatest hope for limiting the complications of platelet transfusion and refractoriness.

Iron-deficiency anemia: A medically treatable chronic anemia as a model for transfusion overuse

Purpose: Transfusion practice in patients with iron deficiency was reviewed. Patients and methods: During the Study period, records of 265 consecutive patients with an unsaturated iron-binding capacity of greater than 53.7 μmol L were evaluated for possible iron-deficiency anemia. Results: Two hundred sixty-three patients met the study criteria for iron deficiency. Of these patients, 50 received 1 or more units of red blood cells (RBCs). The transfusion therapy of 12 patients could not be justified; physicians used laboratory results rather than the clinical status of the patients to initiate transfusion therapy. As a result, units of RBCs were transfused to raise the hematocrit to an arbitrarily chosen level. Furthermore, iron therapy was not prescribed for 97 of the 263 iron-deficient patients, including 11 of the patients for whom transfusion was justifiable and 2 patients for whom transfusion could not be justified. Based on records reviewed, no work-up was initiated to identify the cause of iron deficiency in 13 patients, including 4 patients who received transfusions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the evaluation and treatment of iron deficiency, including transfusion therapy for that condition, may be problematic. In view of the risks of blood transfusion therapy, improvement in transfusion practices for iron deficiency should be emphasized.