Abstract
In Akita Prefecture, a joint meeting of the transfusion committees of all medical institutions in the prefecture has been held every year since 1998 to promote the proper use of blood products. In this study, we analyzed changes in blood transfusion practices in the past 10 years. The survey included the transfusion management system of approximately 50 institutions; status of the usage of blood products, including albumin; the number of patients transfused classified by disease, sex and age; and the status of autologous blood transfusion. Currently, blood products are mainly managed in an established blood transfusion service. There has been little change in the number of patients with red cell transfusion over 10 years. While the number of patients with platelet transfusion has increased, the number with plasma transfusion has considerably decreased. By disease, gastrointestinal conditions accounted for the largest usage of red cell transfusion and hematological conditions the largest usage of platelet transfusion. The decrease in the number of plasma transfusion patients is mainly due to the decrease in the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. By age and sex, the number of patients aged 80 years or older has recently increased, particularly woman. The number of patients with autologous blood transfusion has increased in Akita Prefecture, as have the percentages of patients with autologous blood among patients receiving red cell transfusion and percentages of units of autologous blood among total units of red cell products. The joint meeting of transfusion committees in Akita Prefecture provides a good opportunity for the exchange of information and education for hospitals, and the meeting survey is useful for evaluating the status of blood transfusion practice. The joint meeting plays a significant role in promotion of the proper use of blood products.
