Related Experiment Videos
[Benefit of a blood conservation program in elective orthopaedic surgery]
M Mercedes López Soques1, Alfonso León, Joana García Alvarez
1Comité de Transfusión, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. MLopezS@imas.imim.es
Background:
Due to shortage of blood as well as blood-associated risks, blood conservation programs should be implemented.
Patients And Method:
We compared the use of blood in 109 patients who were included in our program by their surgeons with that in 115 patients who were not recruited by them.
Results:
Twenty percent of patients under the program were allo-transfused vs 41% in the other group (p < 0.001). A 67% reduction in homologus blood transfusion was achieved.
Conclusions:
The combination of blood conservation techniques can be useful to spare blood, especially in good condition patients or in those with moderate anemia.