Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
06:11
Laparoscopic Anatomical Resection of the Right Anterior Lobe Based on the Laennec Capsule Technique
Published on: May 2, 2025
Are blood group and save samples needed for cholecystectomy?
Martha Quinn1, Stuart Suttie, Alan Li
1Department of Surgery, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, G12 0XH, UK. martha.quinn@doctors.org.uk
Surgical Endoscopy
|February 9, 2011
Summary
Routine blood group and save procedures are not necessary for primary cholecystectomy. A targeted approach to blood transfusions reduces demand on services without harming patients undergoing gallbladder removal.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Procedures
- Transfusion Medicine
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Cholecystectomy is a frequently performed and generally safe surgical procedure.
- The necessity of routine blood group and save protocols for primary cholecystectomy has been questioned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the requirement for routine blood group and save procedures in primary cholecystectomy.
- To assess the impact of current transfusion practices on patient outcomes and blood service demand.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of cholecystectomy patients from pathology records (January 1998 - February 2005).
- Exclusion of patients with secondary operations or incomplete data.
- Categorization of blood sample handling: blood group and save vs. cross-matched.
Main Results:
- Out of 4,462 eligible patients, 1.1% (48) required blood transfusion.
- Transfusions were primarily due to operative complications (66.7% in the operating theater) or reoperations.
- Routine blood banking was performed for 55.2% of patients, while cross-matching was done for 10.2%.
Conclusions:
- Routine blood group and save is not justified for primary cholecystectomy.
- A targeted transfusion approach can decrease demand on blood transfusion services.
- Vigilance for surgical bleeding remains paramount, regardless of transfusion protocols.