title: [Update on transfusion practice among anesthesiologists and its impact on the surgical patient].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of a new educational program on transfusion practice, directed to the staff of an anesthesia and postoperative recovery service, by evaluating its impact on intraoperative transfusion (IOT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the incidence of IOT during the first semesters of 1996 and 2001 for general, urologic, otolaryngologic, maxillofacial, thoracic, and vascular surgery. Other factors such as sex, age, type of intervention, emergency status, duration of operation, and use of blood products were also taken into consideration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant overall reduction in IOT occurred between 1996 (4.9%) and 2001 (3.6%). The decrease in transfusions (a reduction of 18.8% in transfused patients) was even greater in general surgery and urology, particularly in scheduled surgery (4.1% in 1996 vs 2.6% in 2001). However, the total use of packed red blood cells did not change inasmuch as the number of units per patient was higher in 2001 (2.8 units/patient) than in 1996 (2.4 units/patient). In emergency surgery, the IOT rate increased from 7.6% in 1996 to 8.1% in 2001. We also noticed a higher rate of multiple transfusions (defined as the use of 5 or more units of packed red blood cells during surgery) in 2001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The introduction of an educational program directed to anesthesiologists has been useful for reducing IOT, although the overall use of blood products has not decreased.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza. salvadorlt@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laglera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasal
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Erce
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Matienzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pardillos
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Tirado
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data