Utilisation of emergency blood in a cohort of South African emergency centres with no direct access to a blood bank

ConclusionTrauma remains a major indication for emergency blood transfusion in this setting. This study questions the use of emergency blood for certain non-urgent diagnoses (i.e. anaemia). Given the scarcity of this resource and limitations to access, appropriate use of emergency blood needs to be better defined locally. Ongoing monitoring of the indications for which emergency blood is used, improved transfusion stewardship and better systems to access emergency blood should be a priority in this setting.
Source: African Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research