Are some blood transfusions avoidable? a hospital record analysis in Mwanza Region, Tanzania
Vos, J.; Gumodoka, B.; Ng'weshemi, J.Z.; Kigadye, F.C.; Dolmans, W.M.; Borgdorff, M.W.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 45(6): 301-303
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 8116064 Document Number: 333508
In the Mwanza Region, Tanzania, an analysis of evaluable, available records from 370 patients from the peripheral hospital and 127 patients from the referral hospital who received a blood transfusion during January-June 1990 was conducted to identify unnecessary blood transfusions. Guidelines the researchers used to determine whether or not a blood transfusion was avoidable were based on the hemoglobin (Hb) level (e.g. children under 5 years old = or Hb 4 g/dl for criteria A and 5 g/dl for criteria B). The blood transfusion could have been avoided in 44% of operated patients based on both sets of criteria. Two of the 11 blood transfusions given to pregnant women with chronic anemia were avoidable. Among the under 5 years olds, 62% of blood transfusions were avoidable based on criteria A and 35% were avoidable based on criteria B. 31% and 15% of blood transfusions among 5-14 year olds were avoidable based on criteria A and B, respectively. As for adults, 63% of blood transfusions were avoidable based on criteria A and 27% were avoidable based on criteria B. Overall, 32% of blood transfusions were avoidable based on criteria B and 56% based on criteria A. Since limitations undoubtedly existed for this retrospective study, the researchers have begun a prospective study. They will use the research findings to develop and implement blood transfusion guidelines in the region to reduce unnecessary blood transfusions in order to reduce transfer-associated HIV transmission.