Transfusion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Seven-day storage of single-donor platelets: recovery and survival in an autologous transfusion study.
Bacterial screening may effectively reduce the morbidity and mortality risk associated with extended storage of platelets. Platelet viability then becomes the primary determinant of acceptable storage time. This study evaluates the effectiveness of platelets stored in plasma for 7 days. ⋯ Although declines in recovery and survival were noted, these are less than used previously to gain licensure of 7-day storage and are unlikely to be clinically significant. Extension of storage to 7 days could be implemented with bacterial screening methods to select out contaminated components without a significant effect on the platelet efficacy compared to 5-day components.
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Guidelines for allogeneic transfusion emphasize minimizing use to avoid transmission of serious illness. However, there is little information on the risks associated from withholding transfusion. ⋯ The risk of death was low in patients with postoperative Hb levels of 7.1 to 8.0 g per dL, although morbidity occurred in 9.4 percent. As postoperative blood counts fall the risk of mortality and/or morbidity rises and becomes extremely high below 5 to 6 g per dL.