Effectiveness of a protocol to improve transfusion practice in knee replacement surgery

Background and Objectives The available guidelines on red cell transfusion are not clearly defined and therefore have had only a modest impact on transfusion practice. The aims of this study were to assess the rate of compliance with a transfusion algorithm and its effect on transfusion practice. Ma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vox sanguinis 2001-11, Vol.81 (4), p.248-253
Main Authors: Boralessa, H., Contreras, M., Lang-Stevenson, A., DeSilva, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
algorithm
Algorithms
Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - methods
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - standards
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Loss, Surgical
Blood Transfusion - methods
Blood Transfusion - standards
Blood Transfusion - statistics & numerical data
Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis
Clinical Protocols - standards
compliance
Female
Guideline Adherence
Hemoglobins - analysis
Humans
inappropriate
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Orthopedic surgery
Perioperative Care - methods
Perioperative Care - standards
Prospective Studies
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background and Objectives The available guidelines on red cell transfusion are not clearly defined and therefore have had only a modest impact on transfusion practice. The aims of this study were to assess the rate of compliance with a transfusion algorithm and its effect on transfusion practice. Materials and Methods A prospective observational study was carried out on 101 patients who underwent primary elective total knee replacement surgery. Results Only 30% of the patients were transfused. An overall compliance rate of 77% was achieved with the transfusion algorithm. Conclusion A transfusion algorithm, together with staff education, is effective in reducing both the number of patients transfused and inappropriate transfusions.
ISSN:0042-9007
1423-0410
DOI:10.1046/j.1423-0410.2001.00117.x