Shehata et al identified risk factors associated with the need to transfuse blood in a patient undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from blood conservation during and after surgery. The authors are from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Parameters known prior to surgery:
(1) age
(2) gender
(3) urgency for the surgery
(4) preoperative hemoglobin
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
age |
not older |
0 |
|
older |
1 |
gender |
male |
0 |
|
female |
1 |
urgency of surgery |
elective |
0 |
|
urgent or emergent |
1 |
preoperative hemoglobin |
normal |
0 |
|
anemia |
1 |
number of risk factors for blood transfusion =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 4
• The higher the score the more likely that the patient will need a blood transfusion.
Additional factors that may impact blood utilization:
(1) excessive blood loss during surgery
(2) redo operation
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Surgery, general, Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care