JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
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In the absence of an explicit maximum blood order policy, ordering for blood transfusion is frequently based on subjective anticipation of blood loss instead of evidence based estimates of average requirement in a particular procedure. This study was done to assess current practice and the feasibility of a prospective randomized work to develop practice guidelines. ⋯ In vast majority of elective surgical procedures routine cross match is not necessary. We propose a draft Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule (MSBOS). It provides guidelines for frequently performed elective surgical procedures by recommending the maximum number of units of blood to be cross-matched preoperatively. Implementation of MSBOS will result in about 60% reduction of cost to the patients.