The Usage of Uncrossmatched Group O, Rh-Negative RBCs for Emergency Transfusion.
- Author:
Seo Jin PARK
1
;
In Cheol BAE
;
Youn Hee PARK
;
In Cheol PARK
;
Seung Ho KIM
;
Hyun Ok KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hyunok1019@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Emergency transfusion;
Uncrossmatched blood;
Group O Rh-negative RBC transfusion
- MeSH:
Accidents, Traffic;
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation;
Critical Care;
Emergencies*;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Mortality;
Retrospective Studies;
Tertiary Healthcare
- From:Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
2007;18(1):9-14
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The use of uncrossmatched group O, Rh-negative RBCs has enabled immediate transfusion of patients who need critical care in life-threatening situations. We examined our 1-year experience with uncrossmatched group O, Rh-negative RBC transfusion in a tertiary care university hospital. METHODS: Uncrossmatched group O, Rh-negative RBCs were available for immediate transfusion upon request without performing any of the following pretransfusion tests: ABO and RhD typing, irregular antibody screening, crossmatching test. The characteristics of the transfused patients were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients received 56 units of uncrossmatched group O, Rh-negative RBCs from November 2005 to October 2006. An average of 2.24 units was issued to each patient, with no more than 4 units per patient being given; subsequent transfusion was done with type-specific, crossmatched blood. The average turnaround time for the release of uncrossmatched group O, Rh-negative RBCs was 1.8 minutes (mean+/-standard deviation: 1.8+/-1.96, range: 0~7 minutes). Seventeen patients died (68%), which included 16 patients who had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSION: Patients admitted for traffic accident, falling down injury, gastrointestinal bleeding and aortic dissection received 72% of the emergency group O, Rh-negative RBCs, with a 72.2% mortality rate, which indicates the dire condition of these patients. The majority of RBCs for transfusion were available within 5 minutes upon request. Though group O, Rh-negative RBCs are recommended in emergency situations in which the blood group of the patient is unknown, the use of group O, Rh-positive RBCs may be an alternative blood supply, when considering the short supply of Rh-negative RBCs.
