Koopman-Van Gemert AW, Schweitzer A; International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Meeting.

Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet. 2000; 16: 056.

Hospital Dordrecht, Breeweg 15, 1251 DX Laren (NH), The Netherlands.

Introduction: The Netherlands participated in the International Study Of Perioperative Transfusion (ISPOT) to investigate the use of blood transfusion saving techniques. Other participating countries were Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Japan, Spain, Scotland and the United States. Methods: All anesthesia departments in the country were sent a questionnaire asking which techniques were used, when and how often. Clinicians, decision makers and groups related to blood transfusion were also interviewed to identify and compare the influences on uptake of blood saving techniques. Results: 100% of departments responded to the questionnaire. In total, 36 interviews were conducted (72% response rate). Blood saving techniques were available in 29% of the Dutch hospitals. Perioperative autotransfusion (PA) was available in 29% of hosptials, acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) in 19%, preoperative autologous donation (PAD) in 18% and various pharmacological techniques in 4-17% of hospitals. Within hospitals, the frequency of use varied >from <1 to 100% of cases. Reasons for use of the techniques were reported to be: the reduction of blood transfusion transmitted diseases, the reduced use of donor blood and the techniques being considered good quality patient care. Patient demand for the techniques was not cited as an important factor. Respondents stated that anesthesiologists and to a lesser extent, surgeons, played an important role in developing these techniques. They attributed the greater use of PA and ANH to not requiring the cooperation of the blood bank and surgeons to use them. Respondents expressed disappointment about the attitude of the bloodbanks toward blood saving techniques. Almost all respondents stated that there was a lack of knowedge by all involved persons and that it was important to promote the use of these techniques. Some also indicated that the government should play a role. Conclusions: Compared to other ISPOT countries, the Netherlands, similar to Denmark and Scotland, is generally an infrequent user of blood transfusion saving techniques. Of the various techniques, PA and ANH were the ones used most frequently in the Netherlands. Popularity of these techniques was explained by the ability of anesthesiologists to independently organize and use PA and ANH with minimal blood bank or surgeon cooperation. Moreover, the logistics of using these particular techniques are less complicated than other techniques such as PAD. Anesthesiologists are well suited to play a major role in the organization of blood transfusion therapy through their preoperative assessment.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Australia
• Blood Banks
• Blood Transfusion
• Blood Transfusion, Autologous
• Canada
• Denmark
• France
• Hemodilution
• Hospitals
• Humans
• Israel
• Japan
• Netherlands
• Questionnaires
• Scotland
• Spain
• United States
• blood
• methods
• utilization
• hsrmtgs

Other ID:

• GWHSR0000198

UI: 102271872

From Meeting Abstracts