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Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Routine Screening Method for Microparticles in Platelet Transfusions
Published on: January 31, 2018
Project S.T.O.P (Stop the Over-ordering of Platelets): An initiative to reduce platelet wastages for pediatric
Insights
Implementing standardized
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- A national policy change in platelet unit management led to increased wastage.
- Platelet wastage became a significant issue in the institution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce platelet wastage in pediatric heart surgeries.
- To implement an effective patient blood management strategy.
Main Methods:
- Quality Improvement (QI) tools were utilized to identify priority areas.
- An intervention involving 'Order Sets' for pediatric open-heart surgeries was developed.
- Standby platelet orders were standardized based on surgery type and patient weight.
Main Results:
- Platelet wastage decreased from 47.6% to 16.9% for pediatric open-heart surgeries.
- The intervention led to a significant reduction in standby platelet orders.
- No adverse events were reported during the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Standardized 'Order Sets' and continuous education effectively reduced unnecessary standby platelet requests.
- This patient blood management (PBM) strategy significantly decreased platelet wastage.
- Substantial cost savings were achieved through reduced platelet wastage.
Introduction:
Due to a national policy change in the management of unused platelet units from September 2018, there was a drastic increase in the number of platelet units wasted in our institution.
Methods:
Using Quality Improvement (QI) tools, platelet wastages from pediatric heart surgeries was identified as a priority area to work on. An intervention based on the creation of 'Order Sets' for pediatric open-heart surgeries was implemented, standardizing standby platelet orders based on type of surgery and patient weight.
Results:
This intervention led to a dramatic improvement in the number of platelets ordered on standby, and consequently a decrease in platelet wastage from 47.6% to 16.9% for pediatric open-heart surgeries, without any reported adverse events.
Conclusion:
With the creation of Order Sets and continuous education, it was possible to eradicate the practice of requesting unnecessary standby platelets for surgeries. This is an effective patient blood management (PBM) strategy resulting in a significant decrease in platelet wastage rate and substantial cost savings.
