Excessive wastage of blood resources in elective colorectal surgery
Farouk, R.; Drury, J.K.; Smith, I.S.; Mack, A.J.
Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 37(6): 387-388
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-8835 PMID: 1491372 Document Number: 403597
A prospective study of perioperative blood transfusion requirements for elective colorectal surgery over a 6-month period has been conducted. A total of 106 procedures was performed, 94 of which were for malignancy. A median of 2 units of packed red cells was cross-matched per patient. Twenty-three patients (21.7%) required a transfusion in the postoperative period. Fourteen of these patients required a second cross-match sample because their transfusion occurred more than 48 h after the original request. The greatest transfusion requirements were for patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection or subtotal colectomy. Routine perioperative cross-matching and reservation of blood for elective colorectal surgery may be an unnecessary expense, resulting in wastage of resources. A selective policy of serum being retained for grouping in these patients is justified.