James Lalloo, Chuyan Yu, Helen West, Benjamin Wetherell
Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom
Abstract
Introduction: Group and save testing for blood type is commonly performed as part of pre-operative work-up for day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Despite little evidence that this is necessary and scant well-defined national guidelines, Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) requires two separate and valid samples prior to commencing anaesthesia for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This causes unnecessary work for a busy transfusion department and also inefficiencies and delays to patient care. The aim of this project is to determine whether any of these patients required transfusions and therefore whether a group and save sample is needed prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
Methods: All patients who had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in BRI during 2022 were identified. This was cross-referenced with patients who had received blood products during 2022. The notes of these patients who received blood products were analysed to determine whether this was related to surgery with regards to reason for transfusion and timing.
Results: 266 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were undertaken in 2022 and four of these patients received blood products in the same year. Of these, three had blood products during separate and unrelated admissions to their surgery and the remaining one was 19 days after surgery having undergone a further laparotomy.
Conclusion: No patients who underwent a laparascopic cholecystectomy in 2022 at BRI required blood products in relation to their operation, suggesting that a group and save sample should not be required prior to starting surgery. This would reduce transfusion workload and associated costs and increase efficiency of theatres and patient care.