WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Mohammad Jasim al-Taee and Mohammed Hasan Ali

ABSTRACT

Background: Blood transfusions are used in medical, surgical, and obstetric wards to replace acute or chronicblood loss. Special criteria now govern replacements. Aim of study: To evaluate the indications, effectiveness,and response of blood transfusions in patients admitted to Baghdad teaching hospital. Method: Our researchcomprised 160 blood transfusion recipients (65 men and 95 females) from Baghdad Teaching Hospital's generalmedicine, haematology, surgery, obstetrics, and gynaecology wards from October 2011 to October 2012.Patientgender, age, blood group, ward, pre- and post-transfusion PCV/heamoglobin, number of transfused units, type oftransfused blood (whole blood or packed RBCs), past blood transfusion history, co-morbid diseases that affectoxygenation, indication of blood transfusion, and patient response were collected. Results: Most bloodtransfusions occurred pre-operatively (38.125%) and for haematological conditions/chemotherapy (25%). Ingeneral wards, upper GIT bleeding was the top reason (27.5%), while in haematology, acute myeloid leukemia led(45%). The majority of transfusions involved patients with a PCV under 30% (Hb < 10 g/dl). Packed RBCs werecommonly used in general and haematology wards, while surgical and OB/GYN wards primarily used wholeblood. Symptoms were relieved in 93.4% of symptomatic patient’s post-transfusion. Conclusion: There is anoveruse of blood transfusions in surgical, obstetrics, and gynecology wards, with some patients having pretransfusionhemoglobin levels over 13.5 g/dl, despite WHO discouraging single-unit transfusions. These wardsalso contravene guidelines by using whole blood instead of packed RBCs. Upper GIT bleeding and acute myeloidleukemia are the primary reasons for transfusions in general medicine and hematology wards, respectively, whilepre-operative preparation is the main indication in surgical and OB/GYN wards.