[Home blood transfusion].
BACKGROUND
The development of alternatives to hospitalization including home medical care (HAD), an aging population and a more secure transfusion raises the question of the feasibility of home blood transfusion. The legislation allows the home blood transfusion under specified conditions, but when they are met, the texts on nursing care and the transfusion gesture may hamper this progress.


METHODS
We report our experience of 3 years: a protocol was established to do home blood transfusions by trained transfusion nurses from the HAD. Six patients were eligible for transfusion at home but only three of them could be treated at home. Moreover, since late 2009, the Nursing Department no longer allows this practice for legal reasons. At the same time, a questionnaire was sent to 224 HAD to find out about their practice on the subject.


CONCLUSIONS
In the light of practices in different countries, earnings for the quality of life of the patient, lack of space in hospitals and the aging population, it seems essential to change the law to permit a rational transfusion, thoughtful, safe for the patient at home and for caregivers who are involved.
Service d'Hémovigilance, Centre Hospitalier de Chambéry, BP 1125, 73011 Chambéry cedex, France. valerie.gay@ch-chambery.fr
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Gay
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Prévôt
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Amico
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Bonnet
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Mansard
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000451:nursing; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications