TRANSFUSION MEDICINE, cilt.18, sa.4, ss.261-279, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
Background - Patients’ demographic and epidemiological characteristics,
local variations in clinicians’ knowledge and experience and types of surgery
can influence peri-operative transfusion practices. Sharing data on transfusion
practices and recipients may improve patients’ care and implementation of
Patient Blood Management (PBM).
Materials and methods - This was a multicentre, prospective, observational,
cross-sectional study that included 61 centres. Clinical and transfusion data
of patients undergoing major elective surgery were collected; transfusion
predictors and patients’ outcomes were analysed.
Results - Of 6,121 patients, 1,579 (25.8%) received a peri-operative transfusion.
A total of 5,812 blood components were transfused: red blood cells (RBC),
fresh-frozen plasma and platelets in 1,425 (23.3%), 762 (12.4%) and 88
(1.4%) cases, respectively). Pre-operative anaemia was identified in 2,019
(33%) patients. Half of the RBC units were used by patients in the age group
45-69 years. Specific procedures with the highest RBC use were coronary
artery bypass grafting (16.9% of all units) and hip arthroplasty (14.9%).
Low haemoglobin concentration was the most common indication for
intra-operative RBC transfusion (57%) and plasma and platelet transfusions
were mostly initiated for acute bleeding (61.3% and 61.1%, respectively).
The RBC transfusion rate in study centres varied from 2% to 72%. RBC
transfusion was inappropriate in 99% (n=150/151) of pre-operative, 23%
(n=211/926) of intra-operative and 43% (n=308/716) of post-operative RBC
transfusion episodes. Pre-operative haemoglobin, increased blood loss, open
surgery and duration of surgery were the main independent predictors of
intra-operative RBC transfusion. Low pre-operative haemoglobin
concentration was independently associated with post-operative pulmonary
complications.
Conclusions - These findings identified areas for improvement in
peri-operative transfusion practice and PBM implementation in Turkey.
Keywords: Blood components, patient blood management, peri-operative, transfusion