An Analysis of Surgical Blood Use in United States Hospitals with Application to the Maximum Surgical Blood Order Schedule

Abstract

Excessive preoperative crossmatching can be limited with a maximum surgical blood order schedule (MSBOS) which is a list of the commonly performed elective surgical procedures perfomed in a hospital and the maximum number of units of blood which will be crossmatched preoperatively for each. The blood requirements of 535,031 surgical patients treated in 300 US hospitals during 1974 were analyzed, and maximum preoperative blood orders including type and screen recommendations were suggested. Recommendations were offered for 63 common elective surgical procedures. Specific reference was made to blood utilization during hysterectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate and cesarean section. A preoperative type and screen order was adequate for the majority of patients undergoing these latter procedures.