An International Registry of Granulocyte Transfusions.

Introduction: Granulocyte transfusions are used to either treat or prevent life-threatening infections in neutropenic patients. Current evidence from clinical trials does not support or reject efficacy, nor guide practice.

Methods: A group of investigators have led the efforts to create an online registry to gather information on granulocyte transfusion practices from as broad a range of international settings.

Multicountry survey of emergency and critical care medicine physicians' fluid resuscitation practices for adult patients with early septic shock.

Objectives: Evidence to guide fluid resuscitation evidence in sepsis continues to evolve. We conducted a multicountry survey of emergency and critical care physicians to describe current stated practice and practice variation related to the quantity, rapidity and type of resuscitation fluid administered in early septic shock to inform the design of future septic shock fluid resuscitation trials.

Methods: Using a web-based survey tool, we invited critical care and emergency physicians in Canada, the UK, Scandinavia and Saudi Arabia to complete a self-administered electronic survey.

Ensuring high accuracy of data abstracted from patient charts: the use of a standardized medical record as a training tool.

Background And Objective: The quality and integrity of information is pivotal to the validity and reliability of inferences drawn in research. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that standardized medical records can be used as a data abstraction training tool and a quality control measure to assess the validity of medical record data abstraction.

Methods: Sixteen hospitals participating in a large multicenter study completed standardized data abstraction forms for three representative patient charts, one in each of the clinical areas of postoperative critical care and trauma, cardiac surgery, and repair of hip fracture.

Clinical outcomes following institution of the Canadian universal leukoreduction program for red blood cell transfusions.

Context: A number of countries have implemented a policy of universal leukoreduction of their blood supply, but the potential role of leukoreduction in decreasing postoperative mortality and infection is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes following adoption of a national universal prestorage leukoreduction program for blood transfusions.

Design, Setting, And Population: Retrospective before-and-after cohort study conducted from August 1998 to August 2000 in 23 academic and community hospitals throughout Canada, enrolling 14 786 patients who received red blood cell transfusions following cardiac surgery or repair of hip fracture, or who required intensive care following a surgical intervention or multiple trauma.