Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Transfusion protocol for implantation and explantation of cardiac devices in an academic medical center.

Bartley AN, Redford DT, Berg MP

Department of Pathology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Few reports in the literature describe the transfusion support needed for implantation and explantation of cardiac assist devices. Because such devices are frequently used at this institution, we have established a protocol to support these patients. We reviewed blood bank records to document the usage of blood components in all patients on cardiac assist devices from 1989 to 2005 (n = 215). The data were separated into components given at the time of implantation and explantation of the device. Implantation data on 214 patients showed the mean use as follows: red blood cells (RBC), 5.7 U; platelets (PLT), 2.4 U; fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 7.5 U; and cryoprecipitate, 0 U. Explantation data on 134 patients showed a mean use as follows: RBC, 7.7 U; PLT, 2.4 U; FFP, 9.9 U; and cryoprecipitate, 3.7 U. Our protocol for the preparation of blood components for implantation and explantation of a cardiac device is, implantation: RBC, 4 U; PLT, 1 U; FFP, 6 U; explantation: RBC, 8 U; PLT, 2 U; FFP, 8 U. Our data do not support the need for preparation of cryoprecipitate before implantation or explantation.

Published 22 May 2007 in ASAIO J, 53(3): 320-3.
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