Blood transfusion requirements in cleft lip surgery.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Cleft lip repair is a common surgical procedure globally.
• Understanding blood transfusion needs is crucial for patient safety and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the actual blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing cleft lip surgery.
• To identify factors influencing the need for blood transfusion in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Prospective evaluation of 100 consecutive patients undergoing cleft lip surgery.
• Data collection included patient demographics, cleft type, surgical details, blood loss, and transfusion parameters.
• Pre-operative homologous blood donation was standard for all participants.

Main Results:

• Mean estimated blood loss was low (26.5 ± 47.1 ml), with 92% losing 2-50 ml.
• Only 5% of patients (5/100) required blood transfusion.
• Transfused patients had a pre-operative hematocrit <30% (23-27%).

Conclusions:

• Cleft lip surgery is characterized by low blood loss.
• Routine pre-operative homologous blood donation is not indicated for patients with a pre-operative hematocrit ≥30%.
• For patients with a pre-operative hematocrit <30%, a type and screen of donated blood is sufficient.