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Red blood cell transfusion probability and associated costs in neurosurgical procedures

  • Original Article - Neurosurgical Techniques
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The extent of red blood cell units (RBC) needed for different neurosurgical procedures and the time point of their administration are widely unknown, which results in generously cross-matching prior to surgery. However, RBC are increasingly requested in the aging western populations, and blood donations are significantly reduced. Therefore, the knowledge of the extent and time point of administration of RBC is of major importance.

Methods

This is a retrospective single center analysis. The incidence of RBC transfusion during surgery or within 48 h after surgery was analyzed for all neurosurgical patients within 3 years. Costs for cross-matched and transfused RBC were calculated and risk factors for RBC transfusion analyzed.

Results

The risk of intraoperative RBC administration was low for spinal and intracranial tumor resections (1.87%) and exceeded 10% only in spinal fusion procedures. This was dependent on the number of fused segments with an intraoperative transfusion risk of > 12.5% with fusion of more than three levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a significantly increased risk for RBC transfusion for female gender (p = 0.006; OR 1.655), higher age (N = 4812; p < 0.0001; OR 1.028), and number of fused segments (N = 737; p < 0.0001; OR 1.433). Annual costs for cross-matching were 783,820.88 USD and for intraoperative RBC administration 121,322.13 USD.

Conclusions

Neurosurgical procedures are associated with a low number of RBC needed intraoperatively. Only elective spine fusion procedures with ≥ 3 levels involved and AVM resections seem to require cross-matching of RBC. The present data may allow changing the preoperative algorithm of RBC cross-matching in neurosurgical procedures and help to save resources and costs.

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Abbreviations

RBC:

Red blood cell units

AVM:

Arteriovenous malformation

C/T ratio:

Cross-matched to transfused ratio

aSAH:

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

PABD:

Preoperative autologous blood donation

COBCON:

Cost of Blood Consensus Conference

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    Martin Barth & Kirsten Schmieder

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst, Gotenstraße 6-9, 65929, Frankfurt, Germany

    Martin Barth

  3. Institute for Medical Statistics, University Medicine Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Christel Weiss

Authors
  1. Martin Barth
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  2. Christel Weiss
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  3. Kirsten Schmieder
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Correspondence to Martin Barth.

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Conflicts of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

Although this is a retrospective analysis, an ethical approval has been obtained. All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. With its retrospective character, no informed consent had to be obtained from all individual participants.

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Barth, M., Weiss, C. & Schmieder, K. Red blood cell transfusion probability and associated costs in neurosurgical procedures. Acta Neurochir 160, 1483–1489 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-018-3516-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-018-3516-x

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