Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on preoperative haemoglobin levels as a risk factor for long-term outcomes in patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery: a prospective multicentre observational study.

Background: Preoperative anaemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. It is unknown whether perioperative RBC transfusions mediate the relationship between preoperative haemoglobin levels and postoperative outcomes.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study among patients aged ≥50 yr undergoing elective major noncardiac surgery from four Swedish hospitals.

Insights into the diversity of blood donation practice across Asia: How blood collection agencies adapt donor criteria and processes to their population.

Background And Objectives: Securing an adequate blood supply relies on accurate knowledge of blood donors and donation practices. As published evidence on Asian populations is sparse, this study aims to gather up-to-date information on blood donors and donation practices in Asia to assist planning and strategy development.

Materials And Methods: Ten blood collection agencies (BCAs) provided 12 months' data on donors who met eligibility criteria or were deferred, as well as details of their donation practices.

Outcomes following perioperative red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Perioperative red blood cell transfusion is a double-edged sword for surgical patients. While transfusion of red cells can increase oxygen delivery by increasing haemoglobin levels, its impact on short- and long-term postoperative outcomes, particularly in patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery, is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of perioperative blood transfusions on postoperative outcomes in elective major abdominal surgery.

Determining sex-specific preoperative haemoglobin levels associated with intraoperative red blood cell transfusion in cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Anaemic cardiac surgery patients are at greater risk of intraoperative red blood cell transfusion. This study questions the application of the World Health Organization population-based anaemia thresholds (haemoglobin <120 g L in non-pregnant females and <130 g L in males) as appropriate preoperative optimisation targets for cardiac surgery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adults ≥18 yr old undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

World human neutrophil antigens investigation survey.

Background And Objectives: Human neutrophil antigens (HNAs) are categorized into five systems: HNA-1 to HNA-5. Given the importance of neutrophils in immunity, we sought to create awareness of the role of HNA diagnostic services in managing immune neutropenia and transfusion-related acute lung injury. To provide health communities all around the world with access to these services, we conducted a survey to create a directory of these HNA diagnostic services.

Fibrinogen, Coagulation, and Ageing.

The World Health Organization estimates that the world's population over 60 years of age will nearly double in the next 30 years. This change imposes increasing demands on health and social services with increased disease burden in older people, hereafter defined as people aged 60 years or more. An older population will have a greater incidence of cardiovascular disease partly due to higher levels of blood fibrinogen, increased levels of some coagulation factors, and increased platelet activity.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI): Potential pathways of development, strategies for prevention and treatment, and future research directions.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) can occur during or after a transfusion, and remains a leading cause of transfusion-associated morbidity and mortality. TRALI is caused by the transfusion of either anti-leukocyte antibodies or biological response modifiers (BRMs). Experimental evidence suggests at least six different pathways that antibody-mediated TRALI might follow: (i) two hit neutrophil activation; (ii) monocyte and neutrophil dependent; (iii) endothelial cell, neutrophil Fc receptor, platelet and neutrophil extracellular trap dependent; (iv) direct monocyte activation; (v) direct endothelial cell activation; and (vi) endothelial cell, complement and monocyte dependent.

The contribution and potential of older blood donors in Asia Pacific regions.

Objectives: To investigate the blood supply contribution of older donors in five Asia Pacific regions.

Background: Older people are often the largest blood user group. Thus, as the population ages blood supply needs increase.

Unplanned blood use within 24 hours of emergency department presentation: A cohort study in an ageing population.

Objective: This research aims to elucidate drivers of blood use in an older population, with a focus on unplanned transfusions following ED presentation.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study we examined 2015 data for ED presentations and blood use in two hospitals serving a population containing a high proportion (21%) of adults aged ≥65 years. Unplanned blood use was defined as any transfusion ≤24 h of presentation.

Longitudinal study of intravenous versus subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy in hematological malignancy.

Aim: To present findings from a longitudinal study on infection risk, mortality, and patient perspective of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) treatment for patients with hypogammaglobulinemia secondary to hematological malignancy or its treatment (abbreviated as SID).

Methods: Observational study period included final year of IVIg (13 patients) and of the first 3 years of SCIg (17 patients) with SID. Data were collected on clinical outcomes from medical records and patient perception via study specific questionnaire.

Ovine red cell concentrates for transfusion research - is the storage lesion comparable to human red cell concentrates?

Background And Objectives: Sheep are increasingly being used as a large in vivo animal model of blood transfusion because they provide several advantages over small animals. Understanding the effects of storage duration on ovine (ov) red cell concentrates (RCCs) and how these changes compare with stored human (hu) RCCs is necessary to facilitate clinical translation of research findings.

Materials And Methods: OvRCCs (n = 5) collected and processed in standard human blood collection packs, and equivalent huRCCs provided by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (n = 5), were stored at 2-6°C for 42 days, with samples collected weekly.

Investigating Age Appropriate Coagulation Reference Intervals to Support Patient Blood Management in the Elderly: A Verification Study.

Reference intervals are vital for interpreting coagulation results. Current interval ranges have no upper age limit, although there is evidence that coagulation function changes with age. This study compared coagulation results from healthy people aged >60 years against adult reference intervals for routine clotting assays and thromboelastography (TEG) to determine if reference intervals are relevant to older adults.

Impacts of Aging on Anemia Tolerance, Transfusion Thresholds, and Patient Blood Management.

Evidence-based patient blood management guidelines commonly recommend restrictive hemoglobin thresholds of 70 to 80 g/L for asymptomatic adults. However, most transfusion trials have enrolled adults across a broad age span, with few exclusive to older adults. Our recent meta-analysis of transfusion trials that focused on older adults paradoxically found lower mortality and fewer cardiac complications when these patients were managed using higher hemoglobin thresholds.

Cost-utility analysis comparing hospital-based intravenous immunoglobulin with home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin in patients with secondary immunodeficiency.

Background And Objective: Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT) is often used to support patients with primary immunodeficiency disease (PID) and secondary immunodeficiency disease (SID). Home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) is reported to be a cheaper and more efficient option compared to hospital-based intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for PID. In contrast, there is little information on the cost-effectiveness of IRT in SID.

Blood management in hip fractures; are we leaving it too late? A retrospective observational study.

Background: Anaemia in hip fracture patients has been associated with increased risk of allogenic blood transfusion (ABT), poorer functional outcomes and increased mortality. Few studies have reported the prevalence of anaemia on admission or its progression prior to surgery in this cohort. We aimed to measure the prevalence of anaemia on admission in older persons who sustain a hip fracture, identify if anaemia develops or progresses prior to surgery, and to report associations with outcome.

A retrospective explanatory case study of the implementation of a bleeding management quality initiative, in an Australian cardiac surgery unit.

Background: Bleeding management in cardiac surgery is challenging. Many guidelines exist to support bleeding management; however, literature demonstrates wide variation in practice. In 2012, a quality initiative was undertaken at The Prince Charles Hospital, Australia to improve bleeding management for cardiac surgery patients.

Outcomes of restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies in older adults from nine randomised controlled trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Guidelines for patient blood management recommend restrictive transfusion practice for most adult patients. These guidelines are supported by evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs); however, one of the patient groups not explicitly examined in these studies is the geriatric population. We examined RCTs relevant to transfusion outcomes in older patients.

Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy for Hypogammaglobulinemia Secondary to Malignancy or Related Drug Therapy.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT) has an important role in minimizing infections and improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with immunodeficiency, who would otherwise experience recurrent infections. These plasma-derived products are available as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg). The global demand for these products is growing rapidly and has placed pressure on supply.

The impact of acute lung injury, ECMO and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels in an ovine model.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of smoke induced acute lung injury (S-ALI), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and transfusion on oxidative stress and plasma selenium levels. Forty ewes were divided into (i) healthy control (n=4), (ii) S-ALI control (n=7), (iii) ECMO control (n=7), (iv) S-ALI+ECMO (n=8) and (v) S-ALI+ECMO+packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion (n=14). Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were analysed at baseline, after smoke injury (or sham) and 0.

A comprehensive study of ovine haemostasis to assess suitability to model human coagulation.

Introduction: Similarities in size, anatomy and physiology have supported the use of sheep to model a wide range of human diseases, including coagulopathy. However, coagulation studies involving sheep are limited by the absence of high quality data defining normal ovine coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Materials And Methods: Full blood examination, routine and specialised coagulation tests, rotational thromboelastometry and whole blood platelet aggregometry was performed on 50 healthy Samm & Border Leicester Cross ewes and compared to corresponding human ranges.

Oxidative stress during extracorporeal circulation.

There is an increased oxidative stress response in patients having cardiac surgery, haemodialysis or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation that is related to poorer outcomes and increased mortality. Exposure of the patients' blood to the artificial surfaces of these extracorporeal devices, coupled with inflammatory responses, hyperoxia and the pathophysiological aspects of the underlying illness itself, all contribute to this oxidative stress response. Oxidative stress occurs when there is a disruption of redox signalling and loss of control of redox balance.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery induces prolonged alterations to host neutrophil physiology.

Persistent alteration to host polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) physiology has been demonstrated after cardiac surgery performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, to date, PMN physiology and function beyond the first 24 h have not been investigated after cardiac surgery performed without CPB (off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting [OPCAB]). Blood samples of 15 patients were collected preoperatively and on days 1, 3, and 5 after OPCAB.

Antioxidant trace element reduction in an in vitro cardiopulmonary bypass circuit.

Many complications occurring after cardiac surgery are attributed to an acute increase in reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, which under normal conditions are balanced by the antioxidant response. Two key enzymes of the antioxidant response, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), rely on trace elements for normal function. It was hypothesized that circulation of blood through the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit would 1) reduce trace element levels and antioxidant function, 2) increase oxidative stress, and that 3) prepriming circuits with albumin would ameliorate trace element loss.

Recipient T lymphocytes modulate the severity of antibody-mediated transfusion-related acute lung injury.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious complication of transfusion and has been ranked as one of the leading causes of transfusion-related fatalities. Nonetheless, many details of the immunopathogenesis of TRALI, particularly with respect to recipient factors are unknown. We used a murine model of antibody-mediated TRALI in an attempt to understand the role that recipient lymphocytes might play in TRALI reactions.