Background: Audit of blood usage in various surgical specialities have shown that over-ordering of blood is widespread, causing unnecessary pressure on the transfusion facilities and giving growing concern over the expense of cross-matching blood. The aim of this study was to assess the blood transfusion requirement in patients undergoing surgery for femoral artery aneurysms.
Methods: The blood transfusion requirements of 120 patients undergoing surgery for femoral artery aneurysms were studied. All patients underwent routine pre-operative and postoperative haemoglobin measurement. Operative blood loss was also assessed.
Results: The transfusion requirements were correlated with the type of aneurysms, the existence of preoperative anaemia and intraoperative blood loss. A total of 62 (52%) patients were transfused with a total of 144 units. Out of 90 patients with anastomotic femoral aneurysms, 42 patients were transfused with a total of 89 units. The average measured intraoperative blood loss was 635 ml. Out of 17 patients with atherosclerotic femoral aneurysms, 13 patients were transfused with a total of 34 units. The average measured intraoperative blood loss was 1107 ml. Out of 13 patients with traumatic or mycotic femoral aneurysms, 7 patients were transfused with a total of 21 units. The average measured intraoperative blood loss was 536 ml.
Conclusions: Patients with a preoperative haemoglobin < 7 mmol/l should be cross-matched 3-4 units. When the preoperative haemoglobin is between 7 and 9 mmol/l, patients should be cross-matched 1-2 units, whereas it should be safe to group and antibody screen patients with a preoperative haemoglobin > 10 mmol/l.