[Adequacy of blood component transfusion according to previously established criteria]

Transfusion is not devoid of adverse effects; therefore every transfusional procedure must be indicated correctly. With this in mind in 1991 transfusion guidelines were published by our Hospital Transfusion Committee. Four years later, a retrospective audit was performed.

We have evaluated all blood component orders (order is a transfusion request) during one month, classifying them as appropriate or inappropriate according to the transfusion guidelines. The evaluation was performed 24 hours after transfusion. The results obtained were compared with the ones obtained before the published transfusion guidelines.

481 transfusion orders were studied. 87 percent (420/481) were considered appropriate according to the transfusion guidelines. These 481 orders referred to the transfusion of 1178 units to 293 patients. 12 percent of the transfused units was considered as inappropriate. 16 percent of the patients (48/239) had at least on inappropriate transfusion procedure. The comparison with the data obtained in 1991 showed a significant increase of the appropriate transfusion orders (74 versus 87 percent). The use of fresh frozen plasma showed the greatest incidence in inappropriate use, mainly in haemorrhagic disorders without factor deficit. The patients with haemoglobin levels between 70 and 100 g/L without signs of hypoxia were the most important cause of inappropriate use of red cell concentrates. And the patients with platelet levels > 20 x 10(9)/L were the major cause of inappropriate use of platelet concentrates.

Transfusion guidelines knowledge improves the use of blood components.