Abstract
BACKGROUND: As blood transfusion remains life-saving and is being frequently prescribed, a greater number of its practice is unnecessary or inappropriate. This important clinical intervention is reported as one of the five overused medical treatments, with gross over-ordering and whole blood transfusions as the sole component being common in developing countries. Study of recipient's demographics, clinical conditions, appropriate blood utilization, and continuous clinical audits for quality assurance and service improvement plan are important factors to this practice. This study was designed to assess the recipient's characteristics, blood type distributions, appropriateness of blood transfusion, and utilization practice of the big medical center. METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to June 30, 2018. Data were collected using a structured data collection format prepared for this study. All transfusion prescriptions were followed from requisition up to completion. Patient's age, sex, requesting departments, hemodynamics, number and component of units requested and issued, and units transfused were collected. Transfusion appropriateness was assessed by a criterion-based method while blood utilization was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 545 units of blood for 425 patients were cross-matched of the 809 units of total blood prescribed. The mean and median age of transfused individuals was found to be 27.47 ±15.28 years and 26 years respectively, and 65.4% females most in reproductive age groups. O and A Rhesus-positive blood types were the two major blood groups observed. Overall 82.1% of transfusions were appropriate; while only 27.8% of patients received appropriate components as 96.5% of individuals received a whole blood transfusion. Significant blood utilization was recorded with a C/T ratio of 1.05, TP% of 100%, and TI of 1.23. CONCLUSION: Much of the transfusion recipients were relatively young aged and females, most in the reproductive age group. Although whole blood was used as a sole component, significant blood transfusion utilization and appropriateness were recorded; while appropriate component transfusion was recorded to be significantly low. Local transfusion guidelines and appropriate component preparation and utilization are required to improve the sub-optimal blood component transfusion practice.