[Incidence and mortality of massive transfusion in a university hospital: study of the period 2001-2005].
OBJECTIVE
There are few epidemiological studies on massive transfusion (MT), although they may be important to evaluate possible strategies to reduce the number of transfused units, as well as transfusion side-effects. We, therefore, retrospectively assessed the incidence of MT at our institution (a 700-bed university hospital) during a 5-year period.


METHODS
Local blood bank records were searched for MT episodes occurred from January 2001 to December 2005. MT was defined as the transfusion of 8 or more packed red cell (PRC) units within 24 h. Patient's clinical data were exclusively gathered from the blood requesting form.


RESULTS
Overall, 304 episodes of MT were identified in 288 patients (one episode per week), who received 4,845 PCR units (3,515 units within the first 24 h), because of ruptured aortic aneurism (n = 62), poly-trauma (n = 57), upper digestive bleeding (n = 51), cardiac surgery (n = 41), elective surgery (n = 36), emergency surgery (n = 30), and oncology surgery (n = 27). Mortality rate was 48%, and multivariate analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR] =1.023; 95% confidence interval [CI]. 1.006-1.040) and number of PRC transfused within the first 24 h (OR = 1.094; 95% CI, 1.0032-1.160) as weak but significant independent predictors of mortality, whereas poly-trauma diagnosis was a protective factor (OR = 0.325; 95% CI, 0.112 - 0,940).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the mortality rate among patients receiving MT was very high, and was influenced by the number of transfused units, patient's age, and admitting diagnose. As the majority of the MT episodes occurred within the surgical or polytrauma context, possible strategies to reduce the volume of MT are discussed.
Campos
Arturo
A
Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
Muñoz
Manuel
M
García-Erce
José Antonio
JA
Ramírez
Gemma
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain