[Organization of urgent blood transfusion in France: analysis of practice patterns in centers involved in care delivery to multiple trauma patients].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the organization of medical and transfusion services within the framework of hospital admission for multiple trauma.


METHODS
National survey in France.


METHODS
All French hospitals caring for multiple trauma patients were sent a questionnaire. Organization of the medical and transfusion services, and their related resources were evaluated.


RESULTS
Among 372 questionnaires sent, 116 replies were received from structures which care for 18 (1-500) multiple trauma patients each year. An orthopaedic and an abdominal surgery unit were widely available whereas a neurosurgeon was available in 21% of responding centers. A transfusion site was found in 43%, whereas others have either a deposit for distribution to specific patients (40%) or a small deposit to cover urgent situations (17%). Comparison with legal or expert based rules of adequate transfusion process disclosed a variable incidence of practice dysfunctions (2-49%) depending on the parameter assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
The French organization of multiple trauma patients' care and blood transfusion delivered for these patients is not homogenous. Dysfunctions were found in all types of hospitals. Recommendations describing good practice seem necessary to be built at the national level.
Lagneau
F
F
Service d'anesthésie-réanimation Samu Smur, APHP, hôpital Henri-Mondor, 94010 Créteil, France.
Chalhoub
V
V
Courtois
F
F
Peynaud-Debayle
E
E
Nguyen
L
L
François
A
A
Benhamou
D
D
D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*