Transfusion Risks / Adverse Events

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Blood transfusion increases the risk of nosocomial infection in trauma patients. Specific patient- and transfusion-related risk factors are largely unknown. In this study, risk factors for developing a bacterial infection after transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) or platelets were determined in a cohort of transfused critically ill trauma patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the association between blood component transfusions and the incidence of major postoperative infections in patients undergoing esophageal resection surgery.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Single academic tertiary referral center.

PARTICIPANTS:

All patients who underwent esophagectomy from 2005 through 2009.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The clinical use of frozen plasma (FP) continues to increase, both in prophylactic and in therapeutic settings. In 2004, a systematic review of all published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) revealed a lack of evidence that supported the efficacy of FP use. This is an update that includes all new RCTs published since the original review.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Whether the duration of storage of blood has an impact on patient outcomes remains controversial. The objective was to determine feasibility of a comparative effectiveness trial to evaluate duration of storage of blood before transfusion on in-hospital mortality.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

Summary This prospective observational study is another in a growing number identifying an association between blood transfusion and higher complications rates. The authors evaluated transfusion patterns and their effect on complications in trauma patients admitted to a single Level 1 academic trauma center. Of the 757 patients admitted during the study period, 120 were enrolled in the study (48% blunt injury, 58% penetrating injury).

Because of a sudden increase in the postoperative infection rate in spinal surgery in their unit these authors developed an assessment protocol. They refer to the literature reporting a range of 1-13% infection rate in spinal surgery. Theirs increased during a 6-month period to 16.7%. However, infection rates had not increased during this same period in other major orthopedic surgery. Nor had it increased in spinal surgeries performed in the neurosurgery department which, they state, operates in the same shared operating rooms and with the same nursing staff.

Summary Morbidity and Mortality Risk Associated with Red Blood Cell and Blood-component Transfusion in Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Summary Transfusion in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting is Associated with Reduced Long-Term Survival

Koch CG, Li L, Duncan AI, Mihaljevic T, Loop FD, Starr NJ, Blackstone EH. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 May;81(5):1650-7.
Department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Abstract Here

Summary Given burn injury patients were not analyzed in the TRICC (Hebert PC et al) and CRIT (Corwin HL et al) studies and the limited applicability of these studies to this patient group, 21 burn centers (centers participating in

Summary In a retrospective observational study published in 2002 Taylor and colleagues reported an association between red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and increased nosocomial infection (NI) and worse outcomes in critically ill patients. The authors believe this current prospective observational cohort study provides stronger evidence for an association between RBC transfusion and NI and increased mortality and hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS). 2,085 surgical and medical ICU patients admitted to a single center were enrolled in the study.