Perioperative use of allogenic blood components in live-related donor orthotopic liver transplantation: A cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: In spite of many improvements that have reduced the blood component requirements, substantial numbers of transfusions are still needed in liver transplantation. AIMS: The objective of the present study was to analyze the perioperative usage of allogenic blood components and predict the preoperative factors as predictors of red cell transfusion in live-related donor liver transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The retrospective data on utilization of allogenic blood components were analyzed for a total of 150 liver transplant procedures. The data on utilization of blood components during surgery and till 48 hours of ICU stay was collected from the blood bank record and hospital information system (HIS). RESULTS: Red cell concentrate was commonest blood component used in liver transplant recipient and most of the transfusion took place during surgery. During intraoperative period 92.7% (N = 139) of the cases utilized red cell components with the median number of five whereas in postoperative period only 38% (N = 57) of patients received blood with the median number of one. This study demonstrates that the preoperative hemoglobin and platelet count are the predictors of utilization of red cell concentrates during surgery. There were a total of 11 (7.3%) recipients who didn’t receive allogeneic blood transfusion in any form. Utilization of blood components was negligible among organ donors. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the pattern and predictors of usage of allogeneic blood components in liver transplant recipients at a tertiary healthcare center in India.