Current status of clinical transfusion practice in Sichuan, China: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: The safety and effectiveness of clinical transfusion are highly associated with clinical blood transfusion level. A survey was conducted with the aim of providing references to improve the level of clinical blood transfusion.

Study design and methods: A survey was undertaken by means of a questionnaire which consisted of hospitals' basic conditions, utilization of blood products and application of autologous blood transfusion in hospitals with scale, geographic and religious diversity in Sichuan, China. Data analysis was conducted in 3 groups according to the official classification of hospital.

Results: 76.8% (384/500) hospitals answered the questions completely. From 2011 to 2015, the usage of whole blood showed significant decreasing trend (P = 0.047); in level 2 and level 3 hospitals, the used units of plasma and RBC were closely associated with the number of inpatient and operation (all r ≥ 0.442; P < 0.01). The plasma used per operation per year by level 3 hospitals and RBC used per inpatient per year by level 2 hospitals both showed a decreasing trend (P = 0.047 and P < 0.001); the plasma: RBC transfused by level 3 hospitals was higher than 1:1.8; the ABT rate was lower than 42.16% in all hospitals.

Conclusions: The clinical blood transfusion level of hospitals in Sichuan, China has improved a lot in the past 5 years, but problems still existed, such as whole blood still being used, overuse of plasma and low ABT rate, and further work and improvements are needed to strengthen the management of clinical blood transfusion.