Predictors of transfusion for spinal surgery in Maryland, 1997 to 2000.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative patient, hospital, and surgeon characteristics associated with transfusion for spinal surgery.


METHODS
Discharge data were obtained from 39 Maryland hospitals for adult patients (n = 3988) who had a primary procedure code for spinal surgery between July 1997 through June 2000, and with these codes, surgeons and hospitals were characterized by annual patient volume. Outcome variables included any allogeneic transfusion, any transfusion, RBCs, autologous blood, FFP, or platelet transfusion. Logistic regression was used for univariate and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
Characteristics independently associated with an increased risk of receiving any allogeneic transfusion (n = 786) included age >54 (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.1), age >66 (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.0-3.5), female sex (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0), diabetes with chronic complications (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.9), and metastatic tumor (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.3-10.5), emergency room admission (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.8), and greater hospital volume (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.8-8.6). Characteristics independently associated with increased autologous transfusions (n = 574) included white race (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), female sex (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), and greater surgeon volume (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-9.1).


CONCLUSIONS
This information can be used to provide informed risk-benefit discussions with patients regarding the risk for blood transfusion as well as to target high-risk patients and institutions for interventions to reduce the risk of exposure to blood components.
Berenholtz
Sean M
SM
Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. sberenho@jhmi.edu
Pronovost
Peter J
PJ
Mullany
Daniel
D
Garrett
Elizabeth
E
Ness
Paul M
PM
Dorman
Todd
T
Klag
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010949:Plasma; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*