Use of interventions to minimise perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion in Australia A survey by the International Study of Perioperative Transfusion (ISP0T) study group

Objective To investigate use of interventions to minimise need for perioperative transfusion of allogeneic blood in surgical units in Australia. Design Two questionnaire‐based surveys of practice. Setting All hospitals in Australia, 1996‐1997. Participants Survey 1 : all Australian hospitals that have at least 50 beds and undertake surgery; Survey 2: surgical units identified as using the interventions. Main outcome measures Reported rates of use of the various interventions (preoperative autologous donation, acute normovolaemic haemodilution [ANH], cell salvage, and drugs); use of guidelines; and perceptions about the appropriateness of current levels of use. Results Survey 1 was returned by 349 of 400 hospitals (87%) and Survey 2 by 324 of 578 surgical units (56%). Preoperative autologous donation was most widely used (70% of hospitals), most commonly in units performing orthopaedic or vascular surgery (65% and 37%, respectively). Cell salvage and ANH were used by 27% and 24% of hospitals, respectively, most often in units performing cardiothoracic (40% and 44%, respectively) and vascular surgery (29% and 15%, respectively). These three interventions were used significantly more in private than in public hospitals (P