INTRODUCTION Studies in intensive care unit (ICU) patients have suggested that anemia and blood transfusions can influence outcomes, but these effects have not been widely investigated specifically in surgical ICU patients. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data from all adult patients (>18 years old) admitted to a 50-bed surgical ICU between 1st March 2004 and 3...

The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare the effects of the transfusion of unprocessed and cell saver-processed residual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) volume on haemostasis, complement activation, postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements after elective cardiac surgery. Blood samples were taken at eight points in time, perioperatively. Haematological data, includin...

Red cell unexpected alloantibodies can be present in healthy donors who were either transfused previously or pregnant previously. Presence of irregular erythrocyte alloantibodies can occasionally cause severe transfusion reaction if a large amount of plasma or whole blood is transfused as in massive transfusions and in pediatric patients. Here we are presenting a case report of a donor who had ...

Blood transfusion and iron chelation currently represent a supportive therapy to manage anemia, vasculopathy and vaso-occlusion crises in Sickle-Cell-Disease. Here we describe the first 5-year long-term randomized clinical trial comparing Deferiprone versus Deferoxamine in patients with Sickle-Cell-Disease. The results of this study show that Deferiprone has the same effectiveness as Deferoxami...

BACKGROUND Serological safety is an integral part of overall safety for blood banks. Emphasis is on the use of routinue Red Blood Cell (RBC) antibody screen test, at set time intervals, to reduce risks related to alloantibodies. Also emphasis is on importance of issuing antigen negative blood to alloantibody positive patients. Effect of using leucodepleted blood on the rate of alloimmunization ...

BACKGROUND Prolonged storage of red blood cells (RBCs) leads to fundamental changes in both the RBCs and the storage media. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between the RBC age and in-hospital and long-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass. METHODS The electronic medical records of 1,072 OPCAB patients were reviewed and information on ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study reviews the perioperative use of red blood cell transfusion in cerebrovascular neurosurgery. The current algorithm for preoperative ordering of red cells is historical and dated. More blood is ordered than is actually transfused, and considerable variability exists between different institutions. We determine the use of blood transfusion in cerebrovascular surg...

BACKGROUND/AIM In spite of the evidence suggesting a significant morbidity associated with blood transfusions, the use of blood and blood products remain high in cardiac surgery. To successfully minimize the need for blood transfusion, a systematic approach is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different anesthetic techniques, general vs combine epidural and gener...