title: The 'transfusion trigger' in three large West of Scotland hospitals: medical staff questionnaire survey.
abstract: Efficient use of blood is desirable due to increased demand for blood, shortfall in donations, and the risk of mismatch transfusion accidents and transfusion-transmitted infections. We surveyed transfusion practice in three hospitals. Low haemoglobin was a feature in 91% of transfusion requests and is the commonest 'trigger' for transfusion. Forty-eight per cent of transfusions were initiated with the aim of restoring haemoglobin to 10 g dL(-1). Seventy-three per cent of transfusions were given when the patient's haemoglobin was between 7 and 10 g dL(-1). These figures suggest liberal blood use when compared with international practice. Major healthcare resource and patient safety implications result from this. Evidence-based guidelines issued at both local and national levels would be helpful.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Anaesthesia, University of Glasgow and South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust, 1345, Govan Road, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garrioch
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sandbach
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McIlveney
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003625:Data Collection; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000172:deficiency; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006752:Hospital Planning; D006801:Humans; D008503:Medical Staff; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins