Can hospital transfusion committees change transfusion practice?
Blood and blood products are commonly over-used in hospital practice. We investigated whether the introduction of a red-cell transfusion trigger (haemoglobin <8 g dL(-1)) influenced transfusion practice in surgery. Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs, n=400), total hip replacements (n=107), colectomies (n=85) and transurethral prostatectomies (TURPs, n=158) were reviewed over two periods of six months, before and after the introduction of the policy by the local hospital transfusion committee. After introduction of the policy, the proportion of patients transfused fell from 57% to 45% with CABGs (P=0.02) and from 52% to 26% with hip replacements (P=0.006); for colectomies and TURPs there was no change. Hospital stay did not increase in any of the groups. In the second period, haemoglobin concentration on discharge was lower after total hip replacement, by a mean (95% CI) of 0.7 (0.3-1.2) g dL(-1) (P=0.002) and after colectomy, by a mean of 0.6 (0.1-1.1) g dL(-1) (P=0.03). Although other factors cannot be excluded, we suggest that the reductions in red-cell transfusion were in large part attributable to the new transfusion policy.
Academic Surgery Unit, Education and Research Centre, South Manchester University Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK. FCMTDR@aol.com
Francesco
F
Torella
Sarah L
SL
Haynes
Joanne
J
Bennett
Darreul
D
Sewell
Charles N
CN
McCollum
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004739:England; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000379:methods; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*