Ensuring a Safe Surgical Experience for the Patient Likely to Require an Intraoperative Blood Transfusion

We serve a patient population which includes many complex pediatric patients who often present for surgery with an extensive list of comorbidities. When the surgical plan includes a spinal fusion, pelvic or femoral osteotomy, calvarial vault remodeling, or the patient has a known coagulopathy, there is a great likelihood that the patient will require a blood transfusion intraoperatively. Patients who have had previous blood transfusions are at risk for developing antibodies, which can make cross matching blood difficult and time consuming.
Source: Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: ASPAN National Conference Abstract Source Type: research