Blood Transfus Italy
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Blood Transfus Italy · Apr 2009
Comparative StudyDeterminants of transfusion decisions in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit: a prospective cohort study.
For reasons unknown, a restrictive transfusion policy of red blood cells (RBC) is only gradually being implemented by Intensive Care Unit (ICU) physicians, resulting in a large variation in transfusion practice. Insight into physicians' transfusion decisions may aid efforts to restrict transfusion practice. ⋯ RBC transfusion decisions are predominantly based on Hb levels rather than on patients' characteristics. Residents transfuse at a higher Hb level compared to more experienced physicians. The major determinant for physicians to transfuse RBC is bleeding. However, the majority of patients were transfused in the absence of bleeding, and many of these patients received multiple units. The need for RBC may be overestimated, resulting in wasted orders.
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Blood Transfus Italy · Apr 2009
Evaluation of cryopreserved donor skin viability: the experience of the regional tissue bank of Verona.
Allogeneic human skin removed from cadaveric donors is the covering of choice for deep burns, since it accelerates the re-epithelialisation of autologous skin. In this study we evaluated the cellular viability of cryopreserved skin at the regional tissue bank of Verona (Italy). ⋯ The results of the evaluation of cutaneous cell viability document the validity of the skin cryopreservation procedure in use at the tissue bank in Verona.