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Red blood cell storage: how long is too long?
Colleen G Koch1, Priscilla I Figueroa, Liang Li
1Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|October 5, 2013
Summary
Red blood cell (RBC) storage duration impacts transfusion effectiveness. Modern inventory management could significantly reduce RBC storage times, improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Red blood cells (RBCs) develop a "storage lesion" during preservation, altering their biochemical and structural properties.
- Extended storage duration of RBCs is linked to reduced post-transfusion efficacy.
- The influence of RBC storage duration on transfusion morbidity and the role of inventory management strategies require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the impact of RBC storage duration on transfusion effectiveness.
- To emphasize the need to consider storage duration as a variable in transfusion morbidity studies.
- To explore the potential of modern inventory management for reducing RBC storage duration.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on RBC storage lesion and transfusion outcomes.
- Analysis of factors influencing RBC inventory management.
- Conceptualization of inventory strategies to minimize storage duration.
Main Results:
- Evidence indicates a negative correlation between RBC storage duration and post-transfusion effectiveness.
- Current research often overlooks storage duration as a confounding variable in transfusion-associated morbidity.
- Incomplete investigation into supply, demand, and inventory management strategies for blood products.
Conclusions:
- Reducing RBC storage duration is crucial for optimizing transfusion efficacy.
- Implementing advanced inventory management systems can potentially decrease RBC storage times.
- Further research is needed to fully integrate inventory strategies into blood management to mitigate storage lesion effects.
Keywords:
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