title: Transfusion protocol for implantation and explantation of cardiac devices in an academic medical center.
abstract: Few reports in the literature describe the transfusion support needed for implantation and explantation of cardiac assist devices. Because such devices are frequently used at this institution, we have established a protocol to support these patients. We reviewed blood bank records to document the usage of blood components in all patients on cardiac assist devices from 1989 to 2005 (n = 215). The data were separated into components given at the time of implantation and explantation of the device. Implantation data on 214 patients showed the mean use as follows: red blood cells (RBC), 5.7 U; platelets (PLT), 2.4 U; fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 7.5 U; and cryoprecipitate, 0 U. Explantation data on 134 patients showed a mean use as follows: RBC, 7.7 U; PLT, 2.4 U; FFP, 9.9 U; and cryoprecipitate, 3.7 U. Our protocol for the preparation of blood components for implantation and explantation of a cardiac device is, implantation: RBC, 4 U; PLT, 1 U; FFP, 6 U; explantation: RBC, 8 U; PLT, 2 U; FFP, 8 U. Our data do not support the need for preparation of cryoprecipitate before implantation or explantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Angela N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Redford
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010949:Plasma; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies