Vox sanguinis
-
Electronic verification of ABO compatibility (computer crossmatching) has been accepted as the crossmatching procedure for patients without clinically significant alloantibodies. Computer crossmatching offers several advantages over the immediate spin crossmatch and enables the setting up of a self service blood banking system. ⋯ Blood banking service can also be provided at satellite hospitals without stationing blood banking staff there. We have also developed a novel self service system that does not require expensive computer hardware and networking.
-
To determine the cause of hypotensive reactions associated with platelet transfusions in coronary artery bypass surgery patients. ⋯ Preliminary findings suggest a new type of transfusion reaction associated with the use of negatively charged leukocyte reduction filters during platelet transfusions to patients on ACE inhibitors.
-
Although we still do not know enough about the influence of anaemia and transfusion on outcomes for the surgical patient, it is possible to develop a general consensus about many aspects of management. A quality programme to improve consistency of practice in these consensus areas is feasible. (Table 6) This should be linked with further randomised trials to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of alternative regimes.
-
The occurrence of iatrogenic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and the isolation of infectivity in some laboratory transmission studies in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies raises the possibility that CJD might be accidentally transmissible through blood or blood products. Epidemiological evidence, although not conclusive, does not suggest that classical CJD is transmitted through this route. However, new variant CJD (nvCJD) might pose greater risks of accidental transmission of infection and mechanisms to reduce the theoretical risk are under consideration. The theoretical risks from CJD and nvCJD must be balanced against the established therapeutic benefits of blood and blood products.