Improved Cost-Effectiveness and Blood Product Utilization From Instituting a Blood Ordering Algorithm for Cardiac Surgical Cases.

Background: Results of a previous study revealed an over-ordering of blood products for cardiac surgery and led to the creation of a new blood ordering algorithm. This follow-up study has been conducted to evaluate improvement in ordering practices.

Methods: Retrospective data were collected for 171 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery from March 2015 to March 2016 to determine the crossmatch-to-transfusion ratio (C:tx) and potential cost savings.

Outcomes utilizing imported liver grafts for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver transplantation (LT) offers the best chance of survival in selected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Wait-list mortality or dropout due to tumor progression can be significant, and therefore, timely transplantation is critical. Liver grafts discarded by outside organ procurement organizations are a potential source of grafts for low Model for End-Stage Liver Disease tumor patients.