Reducing Allogenic Blood Transfusion in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery: Reporting 15 Years of a Multidisciplinary, Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project. Issue 8 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dick, Alastair G.; Pinder, Richard J.; Lyle, Shirley A.; Ember, Tom; Mallinson, Claire; Lucas, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Global spine journal. Volume 9:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 843
• Page End: 849
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: spinal surgery -- scoliosis -- transfusion -- tranexamic acid -- cell salvage; Spine -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Spine -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Spine -- Abnormalities -- Periodicals; Spine -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.73
• DOI: 10.1177/2192568219837488
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-5682

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected spinal surgery and transfusion databases. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of a care pathway developed at our institution since 2003 with a focus on reducing the need for blood transfusions in children undergoing scoliosis correction surgery. The care pathway includes nurse-led clinics facilitating preoperative hemoglobin optimization, intraoperative cell salvage, the use of tranexamic acid, and a transfusion criteria awareness program. Methods: Retrospective review of our institution's prospectively recorded spinal surgery and transfusion databases including all cases of scoliosis surgery in patients 18 years and younger between 2001 and 2015. Results: A total of 1039 procedures were included in the analysis. Overall, 24.4% of patients received a transfusion. The proportion of patients transfused was 89.2% in 2001-2003, 39.6% in 2004-2006, 16.5% in 2007-2009, 15.6% in 2010-2012, and 20.1% in 2013-2015. The volume of blood products transfused in those undergoing transfusion was 9.1 units in 2001-2003, 4.8 units in 2004-2006, 5.0 units in 2007-2009, 2.3 units in 2010-2012, and 2.1 units in 2013-2015. A multivariate logistic regression demonstrated adjusted odds ratios for the probability of receiving any transfusion of 5.45 (95% confidence interval 3.62-8.11) for patients with neuromuscular diagnoses and 11.17 (5.02-24.86) for those undergoing combined anterior and posterior surgical approach. Conclusions: We have demonstrated over a 15-year period that the introduction of a multifaceted, multidisciplinary pathway can dramatically and sustainably reduce the need for blood transfusions and their attendant risks in pediatric scoliosis surgery. This data lends weight to the adoption of such a care pathway in pediatric scoliosis surgery.