Transfusion Therapy in the Emergency Department

Cho, Young Duck; Choi, Sung Hyunk; Yoon, Young Hoon; Kim, Jung Youn; Park, Sang Min; Lim, Chae Seung

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Most patients requiring transfusion are admitted to the general ward; however, the number of patients visiting the emergency department for transfusion is increasing. In this study, we reviewed the transfusion therapies that are performed in the emergency department and analyzed their status.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of the charts of patients who visited the emergency department in our hospital for transfusion therapy from October 1, 2008 to October 30, 2012. We collected and analyzed general information on the patients and divided them into groups according to the number and kind of blood products they received.
RESULTS
A total of 4,497 patients visited the emergency department for transfusion therapy during the study period. Among 4,497 patients, 2,925 patients were enrolled in the study and 1,572 patients were excluded. Out of 2,925 patients, there were 1,745 male patients (59.66%) and 1,180 female patients (40.34%), mean age was 61.24 (+/-17.49); 2,340 patients (80.00%) were admitted, 364 (12.45%) discharged, 44 (1.50%) expired, and 177 (6.05%) were transferred. The most common cause for transfusion was upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (928, 32%), followed by trauma (548, 19%), malignancy (376, 13%), anemia (294, 10%), infection (281, 10%), and gynecologic (137, 5%) respectively.
CONCLUSION
Performance of transfusion therapy in the emergency department is not uncommon; therefore, proper protocols by cause of bleeding will be required for prevention of unnecessary complication that may occur during transfusion therapy.