title: Limiting the usage of blood products in cardiovascular surgery.
abstract: We studied the effect of the initiation of a five part program of blood component conservation on blood product utilization in patients undergoing major cardiovascular surgery. We encouraged physicians and nurses to adhere to a set of guidelines that would limit the exposure of these patients to complications associated with blood product administration. Through this effort the amounts of packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate used were markedly reduced. After the start of the conservation program, overall blood product usage was reduced 29% despite a 46% increase in the surgical caseload, and there was a 53% decrease in the amount of donor exposure (units of individual blood products administered) per patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Blood Bank, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lorenzen
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rhydderch