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Clinical audit of the use of fresh‐frozen plasma and platelets in a tertiary teaching hospital and the impact of a new transfusion request form
Author(s) -
Hui C.H.,
Williams I.,
Davis K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2005.00803.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fresh frozen plasma , audit , transfusion medicine , platelet transfusion , blood transfusion , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , clinical audit , medical audit , warfarin , platelet , medical emergency , surgery , management , economics , atrial fibrillation
Aim : To carry out an audit of the appropriateness of fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP) and platelets (Plt) transfusion with reference to the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council/Australian Society of Blood Transfusion Clinical Practice Guidelines, and to assess the impact of a self‐educating transfusion request form. Methods : A prospective review of the clinical indications and laboratory data in all transfusion episodes of FFP and Plt occurring in a tertiary teaching hospital in South Australia in two 2‐month periods of the years 2002 and 2003. Results : Reversal of warfarin has emerged as the major indication to transfuse FFP (34%). More than 72% FFP and 88% Plt were prescribed in an appropriate manner, and the majority were monitored adequately. The transfusion request form further improved the appropriate uses and was met with a satisfactory compliance. Further grounds for improvement are in FFP usage by the haematology unit and in cardiac bypass surgery, and Plt by surgical units. Conclusion : Clinical transfusion audit helps to identify current pattern of usage and areas of improvement. A self‐educating transfusion specific request form is also beneficial. (Intern Med J 2004; 35: 283–288)