title: An association of ABO non-identical platelet and cryoprecipitate transfusions with altered red cell transfusion needs in surgical patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfusion of ABO non-identical plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate is routine practice even though adverse effects can occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our hospital changed transfusion practice in 2005 and adopted a policy of providing ABO-identical blood components to all patients when feasible. We retrospectively compared the transfusion requirements, length of stay and in-hospital mortality in relation to ABO blood group in surgical patients who received platelet transfusions before and after this change to determine whether it resulted in any benefit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to the change in practice, both group B and AB patients received more ABO non-identical platelet transfusion (P=0·0004), required significantly greater numbers of red cell transfusions (P=0·04) and had 50% longer hospital stays (P=0·039) than group O and A patients. Following the policy change, there was a trend for fewer red cell transfusions (P=0·17) and length of stay in group B and AB patients than group O or A patients. Overall, the mortality rate per red cell transfusion decreased from 15·2 per 1000 to 11·0 per 1000 (P=0·013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, in the context of previous findings, suggest that providing ABO-identical platelets and cryoprecipitate might be associated with reduction in transfusion requirements and improve outcomes in surgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Majed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Refaai
authors.forename: Lawrence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Fialkow
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: Kelly F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Henrichs
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masel
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Corsetti
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bankey
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000453:epidemiology; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System