NoBlood

ScienceDaily (Jan. 4, 2008) — Heart attack patients in the U.S. are far more likely to receive a blood transfusion than patients in other countries with the very same condition, but the outcome of their treatment is no better, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.

The team examined almost 24,000 records of patients in 27 countries who suffered a certain type of heart attack, and found that non-U.S. patients were 80 percent less likely to get a transfusion when undergoing non-invasive treatments, 70 percent less likely to get blood when having an invasive procedure and 60 percent less likely to undergo transfusion as a result of coronary bypass surgery – a difficult and bloody procedure where transfusion rates might be expected to be similar.

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Sharon Grant
Editorial Team

I found some interesting links and the greatest threat at times for blood transfusion is human mistakes. I am still chasing after information on how best to inform the patient as to alternatives and choices, including no blood, and the dearth of easy to access information is concerning in my research (and to me personally).

One transplantation MD that I have class with gave me a nice link with informing the patient.

I hope that some of the visitors to this site will find this information useful - from a UK perspective.

www.leambloodtransfusion.org.uk

The Handbook of Transfusion Medicine [4th ed] (2006)
Professional guidelines for transfusion and for the collection , testing , processing of blood and tissues.
BCSH Guidelines for the use of blood components
BCSH Guidelines Home Page
SIGN: Perioperative Blood Transfusion for Elective Surgery (2001)
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)
Serious Hazards of Transfusion
SERIOUS HAZARDS OF TRANSFUSION