title: Rationalising cross-match requests in vascular surgery is safe and cost effective.
abstract: This study describes how a vascular centre rationalised their blood transfusion policy. A multidisciplinary panel reviewed data for blood transfusion protocols and implemented improvements that were analysed. The number of units cross-matched fell from 272 to 183 over a six month period. Unused blood reduced from 80% to 61%. The study concluded that rationalisation of cross matching policies is safe and provides cost and resource benefits.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Loftus
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*