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Current practices in perioperative blood management for patients undergoing liver resection: a survey of surgeons and anesthesiologists
Author(s) -
Bennett Sean,
Ayoub Abdul,
Tran Alexandre,
English Shane,
Tinmouth Alan,
McIsaac Daniel I.,
Fergusson Dean,
Martel Guillaume
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.14465
Subject(s) - medicine , perioperative , blood management , blood conservation , blood transfusion , american society of anesthesiologists , anesthesiology , anemia , surgery , intensive care medicine , general surgery , anesthesia
BACKGROUND Development of intraoperative techniques and blood management strategies in liver resection, and the multidisciplinary nature of perioperative transfusion decision making, creates an opportunity for practice variation. The aim of this study was to describe the current practices in perioperative blood management and explore differences between surgeons and anesthesiologists. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A Web‐based survey was developed, piloted, and circulated to Canadian liver surgeons and anesthesiologists. The survey focused on management of preoperative anemia, blood conservation strategies, estimation of blood loss, and transfusion decision making in a multidisciplinary setting. RESULTS A total of 198 physicians received the survey, with 117 responding (59%). Most responding surgeons (67%) perform more than 20 liver resections per year, while most responding anesthesiologists (90%) take part in fewer than 20. Anesthesiologists most commonly stated that preoperative anemia is managed by someone else (38%), while surgeons most commonly reported “no specific treatment” (45%). The most common intraoperative blood conservation technique used is administration of antifibrinolytics (63% used them at least occasionally). The most important factor for anesthesiologists when deciding on an intraoperative transfusion was hemoglobin value (47%); for surgeons, it was patient hemodynamics (33%). Compared to when they started their career, 60% of respondents felt that they were less likely to transfuse a patient now. CONCLUSION The results of our survey provide insights into current transfusion practice and decision making in liver resection, including a comparison between anesthesiologist and surgeon transfusion behavior. Management of preoperative anemia, increased use of intraoperative blood conservation techniques, and improved communication between providers were identified as targets for quality improvement.