Higgins, Andrew A

AbstractBackgroundPreoperative anemia is common and associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. Assessment of hemoglobin concentrations may facilitate optimization prior to surgery. However, phlebotomy‐based hemoglobin measurement may contribute to patient discomfort and iatrogenic blood loss, which makes non‐invasive hemoglobin estimation attractive in this setting.Study Design and MethodsThis is a prospective study of adult patients presenting for preoperative evaluation before elective surgery at a tertiary care medical center. The Masimo Pronto Pulse CO‐Oximeter was utilized to estimate blood hemoglobin concentrations (SpHb), which were then compared with hemoglobin concentrations obtained via complete blood count. Receiver operating curves were used to identify SpHb values maximizing specificity for anemia detection while meeting a minimum sensitivity of 80%.ResultsA total of 122 patients were recruited with a median (interquartile range) age of 66 (58, 72) years. SpHb measurements were obtained in 112 patients (92%). SpHb generally overestimated hemoglobin with a mean (± 1.96 × standard deviation) difference of 0.8 (−2.2, 3.9) g/dL. Preoperative anemia, defined by hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL in accordance with institutional protocol, was present in 22 patients (20%). The optimal SpHb cut‐point to identify anemia was 13.5 g/dL: sensitivity 86%, specificity 81%, negative predictive value 96%, and positive predictive value 53%. Utilizing this cut‐point, 60% (73/122) of patients could have avoided phlebotomy‐based hemoglobin assessment, while an anemia diagnosis would have been missed in <3% (3/122).ConclusionThe use of SpHb devices for anemia screening in surgical patients is feasible with the potential to reliably rule‐out anemia despite limited accuracy.

BACKGROUNDRecipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are among the highest consumers of allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) components. The impact of patient blood management (PBM) efforts on HSCT recipients is poorly understood.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThis observational study assessed changes in blood product use and patient‐centered outcomes before and after implementing a multidisciplinary PBM program for patients undergoing HSCT at a large academic medical center. The pre‐PBM cohort was treated from January 1 through September 31, 2013; the post‐PBM cohort was treated from January 1 through September 31, 2015.RESULTSWe identified 708 patients; 284 of 352 (80.7%) in the pre‐PBM group and 225 of 356 (63.2%) in the post‐PBM group received allogeneic RBCs (p < 0.001). Median (interquartile range [IQR]) RBC volumes were higher before PBM than after PBM (3 [2‐4] units vs. 2 [1‐4] units; p = 0.004). A total of 259 of 284 pre‐PBM patients (91.2%) and 57 of 225 (25.3%) post‐PBM patients received RBC transfusions when hemoglobin levels were more than 7 g/dL (p < 0.001). The median (IQR) PLT transfusion quantities was 3 (2‐5) units for pre‐PBM patients and 2 (1‐4) units for post‐PBM patients (p < 0.001). For patients with PLT counts of more than 10 × 109/L, a total of 1219 PLT units (73.4%) were transfused before PBM and 691 units (48.8%) were transfused after PBM (p < 0.001). Estimated transfusion expenditures were reduced by $617,152 (18.3%). We noted no differences in clinical outcomes or transfusion‐related adverse events.CONCLUSIONPatient blood management implementation for HSCT recipients was associated with marked reductions in allogeneic RBC and PLT transfusions and decreased transfusion‐related costs with no detrimental impact on clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUNDThe prevention of excessive allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is an important component of patient blood management initiatives. In this investigation, changes in transfusion behaviors following modification of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) procedures for RBC transfusions to a single‐unit default quantity were assessed.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThis is an observational cohort study of adults for whom nonemergency allogeneic RBC transfusions were ordered in the 2 years before and 2 years after the date of modification of the CPOE system to a single‐unit default (June 18, 2015). Changes in the frequency of single‐ versus multiunit RBC transfusion orders and other transfusion metrics were compared between preintervention and postintervention cohorts.RESULTSA total of 52,773 unique transfusion orders for 61,989 RBC units were included, of which 60,045 (96.9%) were transfused. Single‐unit orders increased annually, from 10,404 (74.1%) in the first year to 11,645 (88.6%) in the last year, while multiunit orders decreased by more than half (p < 0.0001). The number of RBC units transfused decreased by 13.9% from 32,528 in the preintervention cohort to 27,497 in the post intervention cohort (p < 0.0001) with an estimated reduction in transfusion‐related expenditures of nearly $4 million. The percentage of transfusions associated with a posttransfusion hemoglobin of10 g/dL or greater decreased by 34.5% (p < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONModification of the CPOE process such that nonemergency RBC transfusion orders were defaulted to a single unit was associated with decreased rates of multiunit RBC transfusion orders, lower transfusion volumes, and substantial cost savings.

BACKGROUND: Plasma transfusion is commonly performed for the correction of abnormal coagulation screening tests. The goal of this investigation was to assess the relationship between the dose of plasma administered and changes in coagulation test results in a large and diverse cohort of patients with varying levels of coagulation abnormalities and comorbid disease and in a variety of clinical settings. METHODS: In this single-center historical cohort study, all plasma transfusion episodes in adult patients with abnormal coagulation screening tests were extracted between 2011 and 2015. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients attaining normal posttransfusion international normalized ratio (INR ≤ 1.1) with secondary outcomes including the proportion of patients attaining partial normalization of INR (INR ≤ 1.5) or at least 50% normalization in pretransfusion values with respect to an INR of 1.1. RESULTS: In total, 6779 unique patients received plasma with a median (quartiles) pretransfusion INR of 1.9 (1.6–2.5) and a median transfusion volume of 2 (2–3) units. The majority (85%) of transfusions occurred perioperatively, with 20% of transfusions administered prophylactically before a procedure. The median decrease in INR was 0.4 (0.2–0.8). Complete INR normalization was obtained in 12%. Reductions in INR were modest with pretransfusion INR values <3. Patients receiving ≥3 units of plasma were more likely to achieve at least 50% normalization in INR than those receiving ≤2 units (68% vs 60%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in INR after plasma transfusion were modest at typically used clinical doses, particularly in those with less severely deranged baseline coagulation screening tests. Further studies are necessary to assess the relationships between plasma-mediated changes in INR and clinical outcomes.