Comparative audit of blood transfusion during war and peace in Sarajevo.

Journal article

A comparative study was made between 146 patients receiving blood transfusion at the State Hospital, Sarajevo, in a 3-month period of peace (group 1) and 250 patients receiving transfusions in a 3-month period of war (group 2). In group 1, trauma accounted for only 7% of transfusions while it accounted for 99% in group 2. The threshold for transfusion was increased in war and the mean pretransfusion haematocrit in group 2 was 21%, compared with 27% in group 1 (P < 0.001). Less blood was also transfused per patient in war with a mean transfusion volume of 1.1 units in group 2 compared with 2.6 units in group 1 (P < 0.001). The reasons and justification for such a conservative transfusion practice in a besieged city are discussed.

Authors: Lavy, C; Keene, G; Begovic, M; Strauss, S

• Journal: Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 56-58
• Publication date: 1996-01-01
• EISSN: 1478-7083
• ISSN: 0035-8843
• Language: English
• Keywords: War; Blood Transfusion; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Humans; Wounds and Injuries; Hematocrit; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Medical Audit