RBCs transfused in the last 7 days of their 42-day storage limit may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in high-risk patients.

Background It is well recognized that increased transfusion volumes are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but dose–response relations between high- and very-high-dose transfusion and clinical outcomes have not been described previously. In this study, the authors assessed (1) the dose–response relation over a wide range of transfusion volumes for morbidity and mortality and (2) other clinical predictors of adverse outcomes. Methods The authors retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records for 272,592 medical and surgical patients (excluding those with hematologic malignancies), 3,523 of whom received transfusion (10 or greater erythrocyte units throughout the hospital stay), to create dose–response curves for transfusion volumes and in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Prehospital comorbidities were assessed in a risk-adjusted manner to identify the correlation with clinical outcomes. Results For patients receiving high- or very-high-dose transfusion, infections and thrombotic events were four to five times more prevalent than renal, respiratory, and ischemic events. Mortality increased linearly over the entire dose range, with a 10% increase for each 10 units of erythrocytes transfused and 50% mortality after 50 erythrocyte units. Independent predictors of mortality were transfusion dose (odds ratio [OR], 1.037; 95% CI, 1.029 to 1.044), the Charlson comorbidity index (OR, 1.209; 95% CI, 1.141 to 1.276), and a history of congestive heart failure (OR, 1.482; 95% CI, 1.062 to 2.063). Conclusions Patients receiving high- or very-high-dose transfusion are at especially high risk for hospital-acquired infections and thrombotic events. Mortality increased linearly over the entire dose range and exceeded 50% after 50 erythrocyte units.

Adding CPOE with CDS after a successful education effort to promote evidence-based transfusion practice did not further reduce RBC utilization. These findings suggest that education is an important and effective component of a patient blood management program and that CPOE algorithms may serve to maintain compliance with evidence-based transfusion guidelines.

Compliance with SCIP Inf-10 body temperature management guidelines during surgery is associated with improved clinical outcomes and can be used as a quality measure.

The use of "older" blood was an independent predictor of postoperative morbidity among patients undergoing hepato-pancreatic or colorectal procedures. Transfusion of "older" blood products may contribute to a higher risk of postoperative complications.