Transfusion
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Continued hemorrhage remains a major cause of mortality in massively transfused patients of whom many develop coagulopathy. Reviewing transfusion practice for these patients, we found that at our hospital more than 10 percent received a suboptimal transfusion therapy and that survivors had a higher platelet count than nonsurvivors. We therefore investigated whether the blood bank could improve its service and hence improve the outcome. ⋯ The initiative from the blood bank has improved the transfusion practice and, hence, survival in massively transfused patients at our hospital.
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Comparative Study
Rituximab-ESHAP as a mobilization regimen for relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas: a comparison with ESHAP.
It has previously been shown that ESHAP was an effective mobilization regimen for patients with pretreated lymphoma. To extend these observations, the efficacy and feasibility of rituximab plus ESHAP regimen in CD20+ B-cell NHL were assessed. ⋯ Addition of rituximab to ESHAP chemotherapy did not have any adverse effects on PBPC mobilization. Further studies are needed, however, to determine whether addition of rituximab improves outcomes.
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Review Historical Article
Transfusion medicine history illustrated. Technology transfer: the DeBakey roller pump.
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Others have reported significant changes in red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practice during the past two decades during knee, hip, prostate, and carotid surgery. Similar data for patients undergoing major spine surgery, however, are not available. ⋯ In this retrospective analysis, significantly lower acceptable perioperative Hb concentrations were observed in older patients having substantially worse baseline comorbidity and exposed to longer major spine operations, without significant change in the incidence of perioperative morbidity or mortality.