Impact of the novel coronavirus disease and lockdown on the packed red blood cells inventory management: An experience from a tertiary care oncology center in Western India

ABSTRACT Introduction The novel coronavirus disease has disrupted blood transfusion services worldwide. Despite blood transfusion services taking several precautionary measures to minimize the risks of COVID-19 during blood donations, donors became anxious regarding the risk of the COVID-19 infection during the donation and the blood transfusion services was facing the inevitable hazard of blood shortage. Methods The study was conducted at a tertiary care oncology hospital-based blood transfusion services and included analysis of blood donations, packed red blood cell units requirements, and packed red blood cell inventory in the pre lockdown and lockdown phase. New COVID-19 standard operating procedures with enhanced safety guidelines and donor confidence-building measures were implemented at the blood transfusion services. Results The total number of average monthly blood donations decreased in lockdown but the decrease was not statistically significant (238.5 vs. 197.8, P = 0.391). The requisitions for the packed red blood cell cross-matches (722.5 vs. 329.0, P = 0.001) and the packed red blood cell utilization (176.5 vs. 103.3, P = 0.028) for the hospital patients also decreased significantly due to the lockdown. In the lockdown phase, an expressive number of packed red blood cell units were outdated due to the unprecedented fall in the number of patients. In the post-lockdown phase, the packed red blood cell inventory was optimized with decreased outdating via a comprehensive approach. A special emphasis was given to the in-house donations. A second partial lockdown also decreased the blood donations. Conclusion Confidence-building in blood donors and the resolution of logistical issues were crucial for the efficient packed red blood cell inventory management in the lockdown. Implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures helped in the blood donor and blood transfusion services staff safety.

Post-transfusion hemoglobin estimation in Filipino children and adolescents using an alternative red cell volume transfusion formula

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:</strong> Conventional red cell transfusion formulae used in clinical practice has shown underestimation of the actual post-transfusion hemoglobin level. To address this problem, we aimed to determine if there is an agreement between computed and actual post-transfusion hemoglobin levels using an alternative red cell transfusion formula.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODOLOGY:</strong> This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Using Morris' formula, the red cell volume requirements of the participants were computed and post-transfusion hemoglobin levels were obtained for comparison.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULT:</strong> Majority of the 116participants belongs to age between 2 to 5 years (39.5%) and female (54.3%). Most common indication was hemoglobin level < 7 g/dL with manifestations of anemia (56%). The computed and actual post-transfusion hemoglobin were in agreement. The increase in hemoglobin had direct relationship to the volume of blood transfused and inverse relationship to the age and weight of the patients.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Using Morris' formula, the computed and actual post-transfusion hemoglobin values were in agreement. The volume of transfused red cells, age, and weight are predictors of the increase in post-transfusion hemoglobin. This formula can be adopted for Filipino pediatric patients and can obviate the need for hemoglobin determination after transfusion.</p>

Embolismo de líquido amniótico / Amniotic fluid embolism

Se valoró un caso de una femenina quien es internada por embarazo en vías de prolongación para inducción del mismo, posterior a su labor presenta sangrado transvaginal abundante por lo que es ingresada a sala de operaciones, no se le encuentra sitio de sangrado, le realizan histerectomía y fallece; es enviada para su respectiva autopsia, se determina como causa de muerte: embolismo de líquido amniótico. Este artículo pretende revisar la etiología de esta patología, fisiopatología, criterios diagnósticos del mismo, factores de riesgo, diagnósticos diferenciales y su tratamiento.

A case of a female who is hospitalized for pregnancy-way extension for induction thereof, after their work presents TVB abundant so it is entered into operating room were assessed, you will not find the bleeding site, we performed hysterectomy and dies; is sent to the respective autopsy determined the cause of death: amniotic fluid embolism. This article reviews the etiology of this pathology, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria thereof, risk factors, differential diagnosis and treatment.

Adequate Change Interval of Transfusion Kits during Rapid Transfusion / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: For a rapid transfusion, pressure is sometimes applied to packed red blood cells during the operation. However, there are neither standard guidelines nor reported data regarding adequate change interval of transfusion kits. The aim of this study is to present relevant data by simulating a surgical situation. METHODS: Each unit of packed red blood cells was mixed with 50 mL of normal saline. Pressure (250 mmHg) was applied to the mixed red blood cells. Each filtration time was measured without change of the transfusion kit. The weight of the mixed red blood cells was measured before and after administration. The passed blood was examined microscopically for detection of possible microaggregation. Eight transfusion sets were tested with 70 packed red blood cells. RESULTS: International guidelines have recommended replacement of the transfusion set if flow rate decreased to less than 100 mL/min. The flow rate of five transfusion sets was recorded as less than 100 mL/min. The flow rate of the third packed red blood cells decreased to less than 100 mL/min. No microaggregate was detected. CONCLUSION: Therefore, we recommended replacement of the blood filter after filtering two units of packed red blood cells with pressure under operation room circumstances.

Prevalence of HBV DNA in Packed Red Blood Cells / 영남의대학술지

Assays for HBsAg, HBV DNA, anti-HBc and anti-HBs of 285 units of packed red blood cells supplied by Taegu Red Cross Blood Center were performed to evaluate the correlation between the prevalence of HBV DNA and the serologic markers for hepatitis B virus. None of 285 plasma samples was positive for HBsAg, however, HBV DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction in 2 samples which both presented only with anti-HBc positivity.. Of 204 samples tested for anti-HBs, 96 samples(47.1%) were positive and among 216 samples tested for anti-HBc, 80 samples(37.0%) were positive. Of 193 samples tested for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc, 80(41.1%) were all negative and 48(24.9%) were positive on both tests. Those samples which showed positivity only to anti-HBc were 25(13.0%). Considering the above results, transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus infection could be prevented by discarding anti-HBc positive blood, however, that may bring insufficient supply of donor bloods in the country like Korea where the prevalence of anti-HBc is high. Anti-HBc positive blood unequivocally positive for anti-HBs should be considered noninfectious for HBV and should be allowed to be transfused. It would reduce the amount of discarding donor blood as the routine blood donor screening tests presently used at Korea Red Cross Blood Center supplemented by anti-HBs and anti-HBc testing.