Study on Patient Blood Management in Haematological Patients

Study on Patient Blood Management in Haematological Patients

The investigators noticed a variable prescription of blood components to haematological patients in the hospital. This study will analyze the prescription and administration of blood components to Haematological patients (pre measurement). Based on these results guidelines on transfusion triggers will be updated and educated to the physicians and new ICT (information and communications technology) implementations will be added to the electronic order for blood components. The investigators hope to see afterwards (post measurement) a more stable prescription and administration of blood components and a more economic use of blood components.

This study is set up as a first step of implementing patient blood management (PBM) in this hospital. PBM is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to optimizing the care of patients who might need transfusion. Not only in pre/per/postoperative setting but also in haematology PBM guidelines can be implemented. Examples are: use of a restrictive haemoglobin trigger for red blood cells (RBC) transfusion, single use policy for the administration of RBC and platelets, administration only for correct indications (including the introduction of an electronic clinical decision support system for ordering blood components), ...

Inclusion Criteria:

• all adult patients hospitalised at the haematology wards of the University Hospitals of Leuven (UZ Leuven) between 01/08/2017 and 31/07/2018 (pre measurement) and between between 01/08/2019 and 31/07/2020 (post measurement)

Exclusion Criteria:

• ambulatory patients
• patients without blood transfusion administered in their hospitalised period
• patients with no haematological illness that were hospitalised at the haematological wards