Could stored blood transfusions (SBT) alter the mechanisms implied in wound healing, in burned patients?

Several years ago, researchers reported several complications produced after blood transfusions such as transfusion reactions, the transmission of a variety of infectious agents, etc. Recently, many authors appreciate that the stored blood transfusions (SBT) create an important damage for patients' life, because of oxygen metabolism disturbances, induced earlier, after three repeated transfusions and maintained longtime after. Our study proposed to note the consequences of SBT on wound healing, in burned patients, who were submitted to skin grafting and remained in hospital for a long period. We tried estimate the pathophysiological mechanisms implied in microcirculation's failure, microvascular systemic deficiency and death.

Critically patients receiving SBT repeated frequently (six times/monthly for skin grafting) have an oscillatory outcomes depending by the reactivity of their biological terrain, as reflected by a several parameters we have measured.

SBT administered as a restrictive transfusions to the patients with hemoglobin values <8 g% and hematocrit <35% has good effects on wound healing evolution.