Croatian blood transfusion service in prevention of HIV spread during the war

Beside the war, an unfavorable epidemiological situation and a large number of foreign peace troops that entered the country without having been previously tested for infectious diseases, the number of AIDS cases in our country remained relatively low. The transfusion service played a considerable part in the prevention of HIV infection spread. Although the blood transfusion service was faced with higher demands for blood and blood products, throughout the period of the war not a single blood unit was imported and no single unit of blood components was transfused without having been previously tested for the presence of viral disease markers. Despite enormous economic difficulties, three new diagnostic tests were then introduced in our transfusion practice as a regular procedure: anti-HCV in 1993, anti-HIV 2 in 1994 and anti-HIV 1/0 in 1995.     

Costs of blood transfusion: a process-flow analysis

PURPOSE: To determine the cost of transfusing 2 units (U) of packed RBCs at a comprehensive cancer center. METHODS: We performed a process-flow analysis to identify all costs of transfusing 2 U of allogeneic packed RBCs on an outpatient basis to patients with either (1) solid tumor who did not undergo bone marrow transplantation (BMT), (2) solid tumor who underwent BMT, (3) hematologic malignancy who did not undergo BMT, (4) hematologic malignancy who underwent allogeneic BMT, or (5) hematologic malignancy who underwent autologous BMT. We conducted structured interviews to determine the personnel time used and physical resources necessary at all steps of the transfusion process. RESULTS: The mean cost of a 2-U transfusion of allogeneic packed RBCs was $548, $565, $569, $569, and $566 for patients with non-BMT solid tumor, BMT solid tumor, non-BMT hematologic malignancy, allogeneic BMT hematologic malignancy, and autologous BMT hematologic malignancy, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that total transfusion costs were sensitive to variations in the amount of clinician compensation and overhead costs, but were relatively insensitive to reasonable variations in the direct costs of blood tests and the blood itself, or the probability or extent of transfusion reaction. CONCLUSION: The costs of the transfusion of packed RBCs are greater than previously analyzed, particularly in the cancer care setting.     

Platelet transfusion: a dose-response study

Early recommendations on prophylactic transfusion of thrombocytopenic patients involved a standard platelet dose of about 0.5 x 10(11)/10 kg body weight. Given the lack of data supporting this dose, we prospectively studied the dose response to platelet transfusions in adults and children with hematologic malignancies. Each patient received, in similar clinical conditions, a medium, high, and very high dose of fresh (< 24 hours old) ABO-compatible platelets, in the form of apheresis platelet concentrates (APC). For the adults, the medium dose was defined as APC containing between 4 and 6 x 10(11) platelets, the high dose between 6 and 8 x 10(11), and the very high dose > 8 x 10(11); for the children, the three doses corresponded to 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and > 6 x 10(11) platelets. The end points were the platelet increment, platelet recovery, and the transfusion interval, and the results were compared with a paired t-test. Sixty-nine adults and 13 children could be assessed. Recoveries in the adults were similar with the three doses (from 28% to 30%), but the high and very high doses led to a significantly better platelet increment (52 and 61 x 10(9)/L, respectively) than the medium dose (33 x 10(9)/L, P < .01). The main difference was in the transfusion interval, which increased with the dose of platelets transfused, from 2.6 days with the medium dose to 3.3 and 4.1 days with the high and very high doses, respectively (P < .01). The positive effect of the high dose was observed regardless of pretransfusional clinical status, but was more marked in patients with no clinical factors known to impair platelet recovery. In these patients, a platelet dose of 0.07 x 10(11) per kg of body weight led to a transfusion interval of more than 2 days in 95% of cases. In patients with clinical factors favoring platelet consumption, the proportion of transfusions yielding an optimal platelet increment and transfusion interval increased with the dose of platelets. The platelet dose-effect was also significant in the children, in whom the high and very high doses led to 1.5-fold to twofold higher posttransfusion platelet counts and transfusion intervals. We conclude that transfusion of high platelet doses can reduce the number of platelet concentrates required by thrombocytopenic patients and significantly reduce donor exposure.     

A newly designed parallel connecting tube makes feasible high speed blood transfusion with a transfusion pump

Use of a transfusion pump (BP 101, Terumo, Tokyo) makes it feasible to obtain a stable and almost constant ejection volume at a flow rate of 99 ml.min-1, with no untoward effects of the intravenously placed needle and the microfilter located in the circuit. An air sensor ensures that the pump will cease operation immediately and automatically if an air bubble occurrs in the circuit. When a blood bag is conventionally connected to a connecting tube, at the maximum flow rate, one must set up a new blood bag within a few minutes, and in emergency situations with a shortage of hands, this would be unduly troublesome. When 5-7 blood bags (400 ml) is connected to 5-7 parallel connecting tubes, the pump will continuously eject blood approximately to 2000 ml at 99 ml.min-1, without replacing the blood bags.     

Shed mediastinal blood transfusion after cardiac operations: a cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgical patients consume a significant fraction of the annual volume of allogeneic blood transfused. Scavenged autologous blood may serve as a cost-effective means of conserving donated blood and avoiding transfusion-related complications. METHODS: This study examines 834 patients after cardiac operations at the University of Alabama Hospital. Data were collected on patients receiving unwashed, filtered, autologous transfusions from shed mediastinal drainage and those receiving allogeneic transfusions. The data were incorporated into clinical decision models; confidence intervals for parameters were estimated by bootstrapping sample statistics. Costs were estimated for transfusing both allogeneic and autologous blood. RESULTS: The study found a 54% reduction in transfusion risk or a mean reduction of 1.41 allogeneic units per case (95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.79 units). The process saved between $49 and $62 per case. CONCLUSIONS: The use of autologous blood has the potential to significantly reduce the costs and risks associated with transfusing allogeneic blood after cardiac operations.     

The quality audit in a blood transfusion center

A quality audit is a systematic and independent examination used to determine whether quality activities and related results comply with planned arrangements, and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives. It typically applies to, but is not limited to, a quality system or elements thereof, to processes, products or services. Such audits are often called "quality system audit", "process quality audit", "product quality audit" or "service quality audit". Confidence is necessary between the quality auditor and auditees. In blood transfusion, the audit is a tool for improvement and risk management of processes, products or services.     

Nucleic acid technology (NAT) testing and the transfusion service: a rationale for the implementation of minipool testing

Breast cancer is the single largest cancer and causes the high rate of cancer mortality among women. A positive family history of breast cancer is recognized as one of the major risk factors for this disease. The present study evaluates bleomycin (BLM)-induced chromosome sensitivity analysis in breast cancer families which provides indirectly a measure of the DNA repair defect of each person. BLM sensitivity assay on cultured lymphocytes of 36 familial breast cancer patients, their 85 first or second degree female relatives, 36 sporadic breast cancer patients and 40 age- and sex-matched controls (without any family history of cancer) were carried out to measure interindividual variation in their DNA repair capacity through mutagen-induced chromosome sensitivity analysis. Fifty percent of familial breast cancer patients and seven unaffected relatives showed hypersensitivity. Compared to hyposensitive relatives these seven subjects may be considered as high risk individuals.     

Haemophilia A: mutation type determines risk of inhibitor formation

The formation of factor VIII antibodies is a major problem for replacement therapy of haemophilia A patients. Antibodies occur in 5-30% of patients with severe haemophilia A. The reason for antibody formation is still unknown. In this study we correlate for the first time different factor VIII gene mutations, stop- and missense mutations, large and small deletions and intrachromosomal intron 22 recombinations to antibody formation. A total of 364 patients with known inhibitor status of our institute, of the database, and of 3 studies representing intron-22-inversion data are included. The results show that the risk for developing factor VIII antibodies is strongly related to stop mutations. large deletions and intrachromosomal recombinations. A probable explanation could be the complete lack of endogenous circulating factor VIII protein in these cases. Other factors that might be important for the pathogenesis of inhibitor formation, e. g. the antenatal period, as well as possible therapeutic effects, are discussed.     

Protection of the lungs during a blood transfusion by using antimicroaggregate filters

The role of antimicroaggregational filters of Pall firm (Great Britain) with 40 micrometer pores diameter for the disorders of lungs function prophylaxis while hemotransfusion in patients during the operation conduction for gastrointestinal hemorrhage and in the early postoperative period was studied. Application of antimicroaggregational filters while hemotransfusion prevented the postoperative pneumonia occurrence caused by secondary protective effects, and the decrease of the donor's leucocytes entrance.     

Untoward effects of blood transfusion: common problems and simple safeguards

Potential transfusion reactions include hemolysis, disease transmission (particularly hepatitis), allergic and febrile reactions, and symptoms of circulatory overload. Limiting the number of transfusions given to patients for whom the procedure will achieve some clearly defined clinical goal is one way of reducing the number of adverse reactions. When transfusion is to be carried out, great care should be taken in correctly identifying both patient and blood to avoid ABO mix-ups, and thorough pretransfusion laboratory testing should be done. During and after transfusion the patient should be closely observed for complications.     

Collection and transfusion of blood and blood components in the United States, 1989

A poor response to L-DOPA in addition to parkinsonian, cerebellar, and autonomic signs is commonly regarded as indicative of clinical multiple system atrophy (MSA). We compared the motor response to a single oral administration of 250 mg L-DOPA/25 mg carbidopa in eight MSA patients and eight Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with the "on-off" phenomenon, evaluating L-DOPA peripheral pharmacokinetics. Motor response was consistently good in all PD patients, but only four MSA patients had a (moderate) response. Pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ between the groups. The varying extent of putaminal damage could be responsible for the differing motor response to L-DOPA in MSA patients.     

Collection and transfusion of blood and blood components in the United States, 1994

BACKGROUND: Collections and transfusions of blood in the United States in 1994 were measured and compared with those in 1992. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Completed survey questionnaires were returned by all 147 regional blood centers, 1340 American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) member hospitals, and 523 non-AABB hospitals. Statistical tests verified the representativeness of the sample. RESULTS: The United States domestic blood supply in 1994 (13,340,000 units) was 3.3 percent less than in 1992. It included allogeneic blood (11,773,000 units), autologous blood (1,013,000 units), and directed donations (334,000 units). Of these, 432,000 units were rejected on testing, 11,107,000 units were transfused to 3,398,000 patients, and 1,801,000 units were discarded or unaccounted for. Platelet transfusions amounted to 7,866,000 units. Compared with the totals for 1992, transfusions of single-donor platelets (714,000 packs or 4,284,000 units) increased by 17.6 percent, while transfusions of platelet concentrates (3,582,000 units) fell by 23.6 percent. Fresh-frozen plasma transfusions (2,621,000 units) increased by 16.2 percent over the number for 1992. CONCLUSIONS: The US blood collection rate in 1994 was 74.6 units per 1000 population of donor age, the lowest recorded level since 1971. The US RBC transfusion rate in 1994 was 42.8 units per 1000 population, about the same as 1979. Transfusions of single-donor platelets, 16.5 units per 1000 population, exceeded transfusions of platelet concentrate (13.8/1000) for the first time. Plasma transfusions were 10.1 units per 1000 population. The US blood supply in 1994 was adequate to meet patient demands.