The clinical significance of ABO blood group is evident and universally accepted with regards to blood transfusion and pregnancy; however, the importance of ABO blood group as it relates to other diseases or disorders and overall mortality is not fully understood by the scientific community. Many studies have suggested associations between blood groups and disease, but consensus has not been reached regarding overall survival or longevity. This epidemiological, retrospective review of ABO blood group and age at the time of death in a hospitalized population in the Southeastern United States is the first multi-site study to examine this relationship. The study population was 56% male, 63.4% White, 31.0% Black and 2.1% Hispanic. Over half (61.1%) of the population had been transfused with red blood cells within one year of death. Overall, group O (46.6%) was the most prevalent ABO blood group, followed by group A (36.8%), Group B (12.9%) and group AB (3.7%). The population exhibited differences in the frequencies of ABO blood groups across the races, with the Hispanic population having the highest prevalence of group O (71.2%) and the Black and Asian populations having higher frequencies of group B (22.2% and 23.1% respectively) when compared to the overall population distribution. Lifespan ranged from 0 to 110 with a mean age at death of 58.7 years. While some differences in the mean age at death were noted across ABO blood groups, the main effect of ABO blood group on lifespan did not reach statistical significance when controlling for race, gender and history of red blood cell transfusion. These results contradict other studies that found an association between a particular ABO blood group and lifespan. Future work should consider including cause of death or primary disease as potential confounders and targeting expanded populations over a wider geographic area to increase generalizability and racial diversity.

Foram revisadas 10.918 fichas de anestesia e respectivos prontuários médicos de pacientes submetidos à anestesia no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo, no ano de1999, com o objetivo de avaliar as condutas frente à transfusão sanguínea. A transfusão sanguínea foi realizada em 809 (7,40%) pacientes. Houve relação entre a incidência de transfusão e a duração do procedimento cirúrgico, mas não foi possível estabelecer esta relação para as diferentes técnicas anestésicas. Os pacientes pediátricos e os geriátricos foram os que, proporcionalmente, tiveram maior taxa de transfusão. O Serviço de Anestesiologia do Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto não apresenta um protocolo para a indicação de transfusão sanguínea / A Survey was performed of 10.918 charts and respective medical records of patients submitted to anesthesia at the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto from January to December 1999, in order to evaluate the conduct followed for hemotherapy. The blood transfusion was performed in 809 (7,40%) patients. There was relation between the incidency of transfusion and the duration of Surgery, but was not possible to establish any relation for different types of anesthesia. The pediatric and the geriatric were the patients who received transfusion more frequently. The Department of Anesthesia of University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto has not a protocol for hemotherapy during anesthesia.

Audit and feedback (A&F), provision of performance data, can be an effective means to change behaviour. We hypothesize that A&F may be useful in the complex environment of critical care to address routine ordering behaviours. This thesis describes a systematic review assessing the use and effectiveness of A&F for the improvement of intensive care unit laboratory test and transfusion ordering and an analysis of how these interventions adhere to recent suggestions for best practice. The review identified relatively few published studies, almost all of which involved multi-component interventions; these were generally found to be moderately effective. Through development of an evaluation tool, we found recent suggestions for best practice may be underutilized in existing A&F interventions. This work has identified several priorities for future research to aid in the optimization of critical care A&F interventions aimed at improving test and transfusion ordering.

Nos últimos anos, registra-se um importante crescimento da população felina no Brasil semelhante ao que vem ocorrendo nos países desenvolvidos. Desta forma, houve uma elevação considerável do diagnóstico de doenças oncológicas e infecciosas em decorrência da maior sobrevida desta espécie. Consequentemente, os casos de anemias, coagulopatias e hipoproteinemias vem aumentando acompanhando esta evolução requisitando como tratamento suporte a transfusão sanguínea. As pesquisas na área de medicina transfusional nesta espécie são escassas no Brasil com ausência de artigos que documentem a implantação de bancos de sangue. Assim sendo, o projeto teve como objetivos: a viabilização do banco de sangue de gatos com a comparação de três métodos de coleta de bolsas de sangue em doadores felinos em sistema fechado, determinação dos grupos sanguíneos de raças puras e sem raça definidas de gatos domésticos mais comuns no Estado de São Paulo e avaliação do protocolo de sedação para doadores felinos. Para determinação do método de coleta foram empregados 45 gatos doadores de diferentes raças distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos de 15 animais cada. Nos animais do Grupo 1 a coleta de sangue foi realizada através de \"kit\" comercial importado com sistema de seringa; no Grupo 2 a coleta de sangue foi realizada pelo método gravitacional empregando-se para tanto bolsas de sangue manufaturadas a partir de bolsas destinadas a transferência de sangue humano e no Grupo 3 empregou-se a mesma metodologia do Grupo 2, mas com uso do aparelho a vácuo. Os diferentes grupos foram cotejados quanto ao tempo para realização de cada coleta, valor de hematócrito e de pressão arterial antes e depois da coleta, e praticidade do sistema. Em relação à tipagem sanguínea foram utilizados 220 gatos e a análise do tipo sanguíneo foi realizada por meio do teste de aglutinação rápida em cartão importados (Rapid Vet, DMS laboratories). Para a sedação dos doadores empregou-se protocolo composto pela associação de acepromazina, diazepam e midazolam administrados pela via intramuscular. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análise estatística. Como resultados verificou-se que a melhor técnica de coleta de sangue no que tange a praticidade de coleta foi o sistema de coleta com seringa, principalmente pela disponibilidade de materiais semelhantes nacionais, permitindo a montagem e esterilização do sistema sem necessidade de importação. A associação proposta para a sedação não acarretou diminuição significativa da pressão arterial com exceção no grupo de animais nos quais se empregou o aparelho a vácuo (grupo 3) para a retirada de sangue nos quais se verificou valores significativamente menores de pressão arterial quando comparados ao grupo 2. Tanto a frequência cardíaca quanto a respiratória, mantiveram-se estáveis durante o estudo. O grau de sedação obtido foi considerado adequado para a manipulação dos animais permitindo a doação de sangue excetuando-se 5 animais, excluídos do estudo. Com relação a tipagem sanguínea verificou-se que 204 gatos (92,7% ) eram do tipo A, 14 gatos (6,4%) eram do tipo B e apenas 2 gatos (0,9% ) do tipo AB. Os gatos sem raça definida demonstraram prevalência de 95% (62/65) de sangue do tipo A e 5% (3/65) do tipo B. Entre as raças testadas, os da raça Ragdoll foram os que apresentaram maior prevalência do tipo sanguíneo B e AB (16,7% ou 3/18 e 5,5% ou 1/18, respectivamente). Os gatos da raça Persa tiveram prevalência de 7,6 % (4/53) do sangue tipo B e 92,4% (49/53) do sangue tipo A, enquanto que os gatos da raça Maine Coon apresentaram prevalência do tipo B de 6,9% (4/58) e AB 1,7% (1/58). Os gatos da raça Britsh Shorthair, tiveram 100% (26/26) de prevalência do tipo A. Estes dados enfatizam a necessidade da realização da tipagem sanguínea, tendo-se em vista a importante diferença entre as raças. / The Brazilian feline population has increased considerably in the last few years following the same trend that has already occurred in developed countries. This growth leads to improvement in the diagnosis of some important diseases such as oncologic and infections processes. As a consequence, cases of anemia, coagulopathies and hypoproteinemias have become more common requiring blood transfusion. Researches in feline transfusion medicine in Brazil are still reduced, lacking scientific papers about blood banks in general. The objective of this project was to create a cat blood bank in order to research comparative closed blood collection systems in cats, determination of blood group prevalence in domestic cats of different pure and mixed breeds in São Paulo state, and finally to establish the safest and most appropriate anesthesic protocol for feline donors. Forty-five cats were enrolled in the study of blood collection system. The cats were divided in tree groups with 15 animals each. All cats were anesthetized with the same protocol, an association of acepromazine, butorphanol and diazepam given by intramuscular injection. In the first group, we performed a blood collection using a imported kit with serynge (from Animal Blood Resources International); The group 2, were submitted to the blood collection by gravity using manufactured pediatric transfer human bags with afferesis needle (similar as used by Penn\'s Blood Bank, University of Pennsylvania) and the group 3, the collection was performed with the same bags as group 2, but the collection used a vaccum chamber equipament. All groups were analysed concerning the collection time, hematocrit and arterial blood pressure before and after the collection. We also evaluetd the practicality of each system. Regarding the blood typing of cats, 220 cats were selected and the test was performed by using blood cards (Rapid Vet Feline DMS laboratories). All results were submitted to statistical analysis. The blood collection system more viable considering practicality was the syring kit, since there is nacional materials available in the country in order to manufacture it in the future. The anesthesic protocol was a good choice since there was no significant impact on arterial blood pressure or hematocrit of the donors, except in the group 3, when comparing with the group 2, had lower arterial blood pressure after collection. The sedation status was adequate and the animals allowed manipulation and the collection procedure, exception by 5 cats whose were excluded from the study. Frequencies of blood types A, B and AB were 92,7% (204/220), 6,4% (14/220) and 0,9% (2/220), respectively. The mixed breed cats shown a prevalence of 95% type A and 5% type B. Regarding the pure breed cats, the Ragdoll have shown the highest prevalence of B and AB blood types (16,7% e 5,5%, respectively). The Persian cats were 92,4% type A and 7,6 % type B blood and the Maine Coons shown a prevalence of 6,9% and 1,7% of B and AB blood types. Britsh Shorthair, were all type A blood. This prevalence study shown the importance of blood type for cats, especially in pure breed cats.

Objective: To identify statistical associations with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) severity as dichotomized into cases with Bell stage II and III disease. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective study using eight consecutive years of data from a multihospital healthcare system analyzed NEC severity (Bell stage II vs. III). Results: We identified 220 neonates with stage ≥ II who had 225 separate episodes of NEC (157 stage II and 68 stage III). Those with stage III were born at earlier gestational age (P<0.0001) and lower birth weight (P<0.0001). Diagnosis of NEC occurred on about the same day of life in stage II and stage III cases. Those who developed stage III had significantly higher C-reactive protein (P<0.0001), I/T ratio (P= 0.0005), mean platelet volume (MPV) (P= 0.0001) and lower pH (P<0.0001) and platelet counts (P<0.0001). Transfusions were more common to those who progressed to stage III (P<0.0001). Regression analysis indicated higher odds of stage III in relationship to the volume of RBC transfusions (OR 2.41, {CI 1.85 to 3.11}, P<0.0001) and pasteurized human milk (PHM) (OR 1.32, {CI 1.07 to 1.62}, P = 0.0089). In contrast, feeding early mother's own milk (colostrum) for five days reduced the odds for stage III (OR 0.802, {CI 0.67 to 0.96}, P=0.0170). Those with small bowel resection were less likely to have received mother's own milk before NEC (OR 0.94, {CI 0.89 to 0.99}, P = 0.019) and factors predicting death from NEC were a low pH (OR 2.21, {CI 1.27 to 3.85}, P = 0.0005) and less colostrum (OR 0.96, {CI 0.94 to 0.99}, P = 0.003). Conclusions: RBC transfusions and PHM increased the odds for stage III NEC, whereas early mother's own milk five days reduced the odds. Mother's own milk with PHM decreased the risk for small bowl resection and early mother's milk decreased the odds for mortality from NEC. Future research and prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to quantify any reduction in NEC severity on the basis of decreasing RBC transfusions and increasing early mother's own milk or colostrum.

Dentro de las especialidades quirúrgicas que necesitan más recursos hemáticos se encuentra la cirugía ortopédica. La artroplastia total de cadera (ATC) es una de las más sangrantes con unas pérdidas cercanas a los 2000 ml según el mayor registro europeo para este tipo de cirugía .Ante tal nivel de sangrado y la necesidad, en ocasiones, de administrar sangre se nos plantea el potencial problema de los riesgos asociados a la transfusión. El potencial daño de una estrategia de transfusión liberal está demostrada por lo que en el momento de indicar una transfusión sanguínea, el médico debe de ser muy consciente de que está utilizando un recurso escaso y con potenciales peligros asociados. A pesar de los avances en la anestesiología y en la reanimación de pacientes críticos, los actos quirúrgicos se han visto acompañados de un aumento de las demandas de hemoderivados. Este hecho, desafortunadamente, no se acompaña de un aumento significativo de las donaciones. En España el índice de donaciones en el 2010 fueron de 38,63 por 1.000 habitantes y en Cataluña fue de 38,86 por 1.000 habitantes, por lo que estamos ante el uso de un recurso caro y limitado. Por lo tanto todo procedimiento que nos ayude a planificar un adecuado uso de recursos hemáticos o la disminución de las transfusiones es de claro interés clínico en la práctica asistencial diaria. El objetivo de la tesis ha sido establecer un modelo predicativo sobre las transfusiones en un proceso quirúrgico frecuente en nuestro medio y por tanto con impacto en el consumo de hemoderivados. Al ser un proceso programado, la planificación de estos recursos hemáticos es totalmente factible siendo por lo tanto tributario de mejoras continuas en su asistencia y debería de ser uno de los objetivos de los servicios implicados. El resultado nos arroja que en nuestro medio la cifras de hemoglobina, el género y el peso son los factores más vinculados entre sí para determinar la probabilidad que tiene cada paciente de ser transfundido en la cirugía por artroplastia de cadera.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-117).

published_or_final_version / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Είναι γνωστό ότι οι μεταγγίσεις ομόλογου αίματος ασκούν ανοσοκατασταλτική δράση, ευνοόντας την υποτροπή των καρκινικών όγκων και των μεταστάσεων. Επιπλέον η περιεγχειρητική αναιμία θεωρείται ανεξάρτητος προγνωστικός παράγων σε ασθενείς που υποβάλλονται σε ογκολογικές επεμβάσεις. Οι μείζονες θωρακικές επεμβάσεις, όπως αυτές για καρκίνο του πνεύμονα συνοδεύονται από αυξημένες απώλειες αίματος και ανάγκες για μετάγγιση οδηγώντας σε επακόλουθη αύξηση της νοσηρότητας και θνησιμότητας. Παράλληλα η ευεργετική επίδραση της απροτινίνης είναι ευρέως γνωστή όσον αφορά τις Καρδιοχειρουργικές επεμβάσεις. Σκοπό των μελετών μας αποτέλεσε, από τη μία η πιθανή επίδραση των μεταγγίσεων ομολόγου αίματος και της προεγχειρητικής αναιμίας στην απώτερη επιβίωση των ασθενών που υπεβλήθησαν σε εκτομή μη μικροκυτταρικού καρκίνου του πνεύμονα και από την άλλη η επίδραση της απροτινίνης στις ανάγκες για μετάγγιση και την αιμορραγική διάθεση, χορηγούμενη σε πολύ χαμηλή δόση σε μείζωνες πνευμονικές εκτομές. Κατά την πρώτη μας μελέτη, 331 ασθενείς (άνδρες/γυναίκες=295/36, μέσης ηλικίας 64 ± 9 έτη), οι οποίοι υπεβλήθησαν σε ριζική εκτομή μη μικροκυτταρικού καρκίνου πνεύμονα, εξετάσθηκαν προοπτικά. Ο μέσος χρόνος μετεγχειρητικής παρακολούθησης ήταν 27,2 μήνες. Η συνολική επιβίωση των ασθενών εξετάσθηκε συγκριτικά με την χορήγηση μεταγγίσεων ομολόγου αίματος και την περιεγχερητική αναιμία. Οι παράμετροι αυτοί εξετάσθηκαν αρχικά για τον συνολικό πληθυσμό ασθενών και εν συνεχεία ξεχωριστά για τους ασθενείς σταδίου I. Οι ασθενείς ταξινομήθηκαν ανάλογα με την χορήγηση περιεχειρητικής μετάγγισης αίματος στην Ομάδα Α (μεταγγιζόμενοι) και Ομάδα Β (μη μεταγγιζόμενοι) και ανάλογα με το επίπεδο της προεγχειρητικής αιμοσφαιρίνης (Hb) στην Ομάδα 1 (Hb<12 g/dl) και Ομάδα 2 (Hb≥12 g/dl) αντίστοιχα. Κατά τη δέυτερη μας μελέτη, μια υποομάδα 59 ασθενών (μέσης ηλικίας 58 ± 13.25 έτη) οι οποίοι υπεβλήθησαν σε μείζονα θωρακοχειρουργική επέμβαση ταξινομήθηκαν στην ομάδα ελέγχου (Ομάδα Α) και στην ομάδα απροτινίνης (Ομάδα Β). Η δεύτερη ομάδα (n=29) έλαβε κατά την εισαγωγή της αναισθησίας διεγχειρητικά 500.000 I.U απροτινίνης, ακολουθούμενη από μία δεύτερη ισόποση δόση αμέσως μετά το κλείσιμο της θωρακοτομής. Τα αποτελέσματά μας για την πρώτη μελέτη κατέγραψαν ποσοστό μετάγγισης 25,7%. Η μονοπαραγοντική ανάλυση για το σύνολο του πλυθησμού ανέδειξε συνολική επιβίωση μικρότερη στην Ομάδα Α (μεταγγιζόμενοι) (μέση επιβίωση 33.6 μήνες, 5-ετής επιβίωση 25.1%) σε σύγκριση με την Ομάδα B (μέση επιβίωση 48.0 μήνες, 5-ετής επιβίωση 37.3%) (p=0.001). Παρατηρήσαμε επίσης ότι οι ασθενείς με προεγχειρητική τιμή Hb<12 g/dl (Ομάδα 1) (μέση επιβίωση 33.0 μήνες, 5-ετής επιβίωση 21.3%), παρουσίασαν μικρότερη επβίωση συγκρινόμενοι με την Ομάδα 2 (μέση επιβίωση 49.3 μήνες, 5-ετής επιβίωση 40%) (p=0.002). Η πολυπαραγοντική ανάλυση του συνόλου των ασθενών ανέδειξε ότι η προεγχειρητική αναιμία αποτελεί ανεξάρτητο προγνωστικό παράγοντα για την επιβίωση, ενώ η μετάγγιση με μονάδες ομόλογου αίματος όχι. Παρατηρήσαμε επίσης κατά την πολυπαραγοντική ανάλυση ότι στους ασθενείς του σταδίου I, οι μεταγγίσεις ομόλογου αίματος αποτέλεσαν ανεξάρτητο προγνωστικό παράγοντα για την απώτερη επιβίωση, γεγονός που δεν επιβεβαιώθηκε για την προεγχειρητική αναιμία. Στην δεύτερη μελέτη μας, η μέση παροχή αιματηρού περιεχομένου που κατεγράφη από τους σωλήνες θώρακος κατά την 1η και 2η μετεγχειρητική ημέρα στην Ομάδα Β (απροτινίνης) ήταν σημαντικά ελαττωμένη (412.6±199.2 έναντι 764.3±213.9 ml, p<0.000 και 248.3±178.5 έναντι 455.0±274.6, p<0.001 αντίστοιχα). Παρομοίως, οι ανάγκες μετάγγισης με φρέσκο κατεψυγμένο πλάσμα ήταν λιγότερες στην Ομάδα της απροτινίνης. Επιπλέον, τόσο ο διεγχειρητικός χρόνος, όσο και η διάρκεια παραμονής στο νοσοκομείο ήταν χαμηλότερα υπέρ της Ομάδας Β, χωρίς όμως να αγγίζουν την στατιστική σημαντικότητα (84.6±35.2 έναντι 101.2±52.45 λεπτών και 5.8±1.6 έναντι 7.2±3.6 ημερών αντίστοιχα) (p<0.064). το συνολικό ποσοστό μετάγγισης δεν δέφερε σημαντικά ανάμεσα στις δύο ομάδες. Δεν παρατηρήθηκαν ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες κατά τη χορήγηση της ουσίας. Τα συμπεράσματά μας συνιστούν ότι οι μεταγγίσεις ομολόγου αίματος επηρεάζουν αρνητικά την απώτερη επιβίωση των ασθενών με πρώιμο μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνο (σταδίου I) του πνεύμονα, χωρίς να παρατηρείται όμως η ίδια επίδραση στην επιβίωση αυτών με χειρουργικά εξαιρέσιμη πιο προχωρημένη νόσο. Τα ευρήματα αυτά καταδεικνύουν ότι οι μεταγγίσεις ομολόγου αίματος πιθανώς να ασκούν ανοσοτροποποιητική δράση στα πρώιμα στάδια της νόσου, ενώ για τα πιο προχωρημένα το φιανόμενο αυτό δεν είναι προφανές. Επιπλέον, η χορήγηση της απροτινίνης σε πολύ χαμηλή δόση, συνοδεύεται από ελάττωση των μετεγχειρητικών απωλειών αίματος και αναγκών για μετάγγιση των παραγώγων του αίματος. Με βάση τα δεδομένα αυτά θεωρούμε την χορήγηση της απροτινίνης ως ασφαλή και ευεργετική στις μείζονες θωρακοχειρουργικές επεμβάσεις. / It has been postulated that transfusions have immunosuppressive effects that promote tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover perioperative anaemia is considered an independent prognostic factor on outcome in patients operated for malignancy. Major thoracic operations (such as lung cancer resections) are associated with increased blood losses and transfusion requirements leading to increased mortality and morbidity. In addition, the blood saving effect of aprotinin has been well documented in cardiac surgery. The aims of our studies were to evaluate, on the one hand the possible influence of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and perioperative anaemia on survival in patients operated for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC); and on the other hand, we have tested the influence of aprotinin using an ultra-low dose drug regime on major pulmonary operations concerning bleeding diathesis and need for transfusion. In our first study, 331 consecutive patients, male/female=295/36, (mean age 64±9 years), who underwent radical surgery for NSCLC were prospectively enrolled in this cohort and followed up for a mean of 27.2 months. The overall survival of patients was analyzed in relation to RBC transfusions and perioperative anemia. These parameters were analyzed in the whole cohort of patients and separately for stage I patients. Patients were divided according to perioperative transfusion, into Group A (transfused) and Group B (non-transfused) and according to the preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) level into Group 1 (Hb<12g/dl) and Group 2 (Hb≥12gr/dl) respectively. Furthermore in our second study, a subgroup of 59 patients, of mean age 58±13.25 years (mean±SD) undergoing general major thoracic procedures were randomized into placebo (Group A) and treatment–aprotinin group (Group B). The group B (n=29) received 500.000 IU of aprotinin after induction to anesthesia and a repeat dose immediately after chest closure. In our fisrt study, the overall transfusion rate was 25.7%. Univariate analysis showed that in the whole cohort of patients overall survival was significantly shorter in Group A (mean 33.6 months, 5-year survival 25.1%) compared to Group B (mean 48.0 months, 5-year survival 37.3%) (p=0.001). It also showed that patients with preoperative Hb level<12g/dl (Group 1), (mean of 33.0 months, 5-year survival 21.3%) had shorter survival compared to Group 2 patients (mean 49.3 months and 5-year survival 40.0%) respectively (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis in the whole cohort of patients showed that preoperative anemia was an independent risk factor for survival while RBC transfusion was not. In particular for stage I patients, it was shown that RBC transfusion was an independent prognostic factor for long-term survival as detected by multivariate analysis (p=0.043), while anemia was not. In our second study, the two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, diagnosis, pathology, comorbidity and operations performed. The mean drainage of the first and second postoperative day in group B was significantly reduced (412.6±199.2 vs. 764.3±213.9 ml, p<0.000, and 248.3±178.5 vs. 455.0±274.6, p<0.001). Similarly, the need for fresh frozen plasma transfusion was lower in group B, p<0.035. Both the operation time and the hospital stay were also less for group B but without reaching statistical significance (84.6±35.2 vs 101.2±52.45 min. and 5.8±1.6 vs 7.2±3.6 days respectively, p<0.064). The overall transfusion rate did not differ significantly. No side effects of aprotinin were noted Our conclusions suggested that RBC transfusions affect adversely the survival of stage I NSCLC patients, while do not exert any effect on survival of patients with surgically resectable more advanced disease, where preoperative anemia is an independent negative prognostic factor. These findings indicate that RBC transfusion might exert an immunomodulatory effect on patients with early disease while in more advanced stages this effect is not apparent. Additionally perioperative ultra-low dose aprotinin administration was associated with a reduction of total blood losses and blood product requirements. We therefore consider the use of aprotinin safe and effective in major thoracic surgery.

Platelets are small fragments, but they are of crucial importance for the coagulation. The risk of spontaneous bleeding increases when the level of platelets falls below a thrombocyte particle concentration threshold value of 50 x 109/L. In those cases a platelet transfusion might be compulsory. Ongoing research tries to improve the quality of the platelets and to increase the safety of the method used. However, we still need to better understand which factors that affect how patients react upon platelet transfusion. In this study, 100 transfusions performed at Uppsala University Hospital during 2009 were examined. The platelets used had been produced with apheresis followed by pathogen inactivation by Intercept Blood SystemTM. Platelets were counted before and after transfusions and the increase was calculated in purpose to examine how well the patients responded to the platelet transfusions. These values were plotted against platelet storage time in order to examine the possible impact on the result of treatment.