[Questionnaire survey of anesthesiologists' opinion regarding the Japanese guidelines for transfusion]

Anesthesiologists' opinions regarding the Japanese guidelines for transfusion were surveyed.

From December 28, 2004 to January 28, 2005 a questionnaire survey was performed in 958 hospitals registered with the Japanese Society for Anesthesiologists. Queries regarding the guidelines for packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrates, autologous blood transfusions, and other miscellaneous subjects were sent to these hospitals.

A total of 537 hospitals (56.1%) responded to the survey. The guidelines for packed red cells were complied with and widely accepted. The trigger value of hemoglobin concentration was 7-9 g x dl(-1). Although 54.4% of the anesthesiologists used the coagulation disorder as the triggering factor for transfusion of fresh frozen plasma, only 19.6% of the hospitals monitored coagulopathy. In most hospitals, the trigger value of hemorrhage for use of fresh frozen plasma was the bleeding amount of less than 3000 ml, which is less than 70% of the recommended triggering value (bleeding exceeding 100% of circulating blood volume). The guideline for platelet concentrate transfusions for elective surgery was somewhat accepted (77.1%), but the triggering value; 3 x 10(4) x l(-1) for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery was considered too strict (41.4%).

These guidelines for transfusions appear to be widely accepted. The most dominant complaint was the inadequacy of the guidelines for rapid massive bleeding.