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Changes in red blood cell transfusion practice during the past quarter century: a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients undergoing elective scoliosis surgery using the Mayo database
The Spine Journal, 08/09/2012
Long TR et al. – The authors demonstrated a shift from utilization of allogeneic RBC transfusion toward preoperative donation and intraoperative autotransfusion. Although transfusion triggers were significantly lower in the recent practice group, the authors were unable to demonstrate a difference in major morbidity or mortality. Utilization of autologous RBC transfusion was safe and effective in reducing allogeneic RBC transfusions in this study. The advantages of autologous blood transfusion may be in preserving a relatively scarce resource, rather than mitigating transfusion–related complications.
