Unnecessary blood transfusions in elective colorectal cancer surgery

Abstract

In this 3 yr study, the transfusion pattern of 288 patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer was analyzed to determine the magnitude and causes of unnecessary blood transfusion. Transfusions were considered unnecessary if the preoperative hematocrit exceeded 36% or the discharge hematocrit exceeded 33%. Twenty-five percent of the units of blood administered were unnecessary by these criteria. Excessive intraoperative transfusion (67 patients) and the practice of administering blood in pairs of units (33 patients) without reevaluating the hematocrit between successive units accounted for 90% of unnecessary transfusions. Determination of the hematocrit immediately before administration of each unit of blood will reduce blood consumption of elective colon resections by 25%. [Implications with respect to USA national blood supply and demand were presented.].