A retrospective study of single-unit transfusion in a tertiary care center of Southern India

• Published in: Global journal of transfusion medicine 2021-01, Vol.6 (1), p.38-42
• Main Authors: Das, Soumya, Basavarajegowda, Abhishekh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: red blood cells; single-unit; transfusions
• ISSN: 2468-8398; 2455-8893
• DOI: 10.4103/GJTM.GJTM_51_20

Background and Objectives: Single-unit transfusions continue to be a widespread transfusion practice. Single-unit red blood cell (RBC) transfusions were treated with substantial denunciation in the past but recently have been reviewed as to whether it is acceptable or could be acceptable. This study was undertaken to observe the overall profile of the patients receiving the single-unit transfusion and analyze the possible rationale of such transfusion. Methods: This was a retrospective record-based study conducted in multispecialty tertiary level care teaching hospital over a period of 1 year from January to December 2017. Variables included were age, gender, diagnosis, indication for transfusion, pre- and post-hemoglobin, additional modality of treatment received including other blood components and length of hospital stay. Qualitative variables were described as number and percentages, and quantitative variables as number, mean, and standard deviation. Results: During the study, 50,880 blood components were issued out of which, packed RBCs (PRBCs) accounted to 19760. Twenty-four percent (4742 units) of the total blood units were transfused as single unit of PRBC. 52.1% of these single-unit transfusions were carried out by the surgical specialties. Conclusion: Single-unit transfusions are more common in medical specialties probably due to the chronic nature of the diseases. However, even in surgical specialties, especially those striving toward reducing blood usage and the ones operating in more of an elective setting, single-unit transfusions were higher.