title: Blood Transfusion Practices in Military Medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This observational study was conducted in a small, 45 bed border static hospital, located in a field area, where no blood bank facilities were available. The present study was conducted to elucidate the blood transfusion practices of this hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of all blood transfusions performed in this hospital between Dec 2004 and Dec 2006 was carried out. The data collection included blood group patterns, common indications, haemoglobin levels and complications of blood transfusion. Inferences were based on available data and relevant statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 246 blood transfusions were administered to 79 recipients during the study period. Only one patient had an Rh negative blood group. The most frequently transfused blood group was A Rh positive. Majority of transfusions were administered to surgical cases and the commonest indication was gunshot wounds with haemorrhagic shock. The mean haemoglobin at admission was 8.93 g/dl. The mean number of blood transfusions per patient was 3.13. No haemolytic or other transfusion reactions occurred in any of the transfusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that blood transfusions can be safely administered in field conditions despite constraints of not having a blood bank.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Anaesthesiology), Command Hospital (AF) Bangalore.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Surgery), MH Devlali.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Akulwar
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Medicine and Endocrinology), Command Hospital (EC), Kolkata.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Medicine and Neurology), Command Hospital (EC), Kolkata.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Sirohi
authors.affiliation: Ex-Senior Advisor (Anaesthesiology), 158 Base Hospital, C/o 99 APO.
authors.forename: Vrr
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chari
keywords: Anaemia; Blood transfusion practices; Haemoglobin