Blood utilization in elective surgical procedures in Ilorin

Blood utilization was evaluated in elective surgical procedures over a period of 6 months using different indices such as crossmatch to transfusion ratio(C/T ratio), transfusion probability (%T), and transfusion index (TI). Out of 436 units of blood crossmatched for 207 patients, only 132 were transfused with no utilization of 69.7% of crossmatched blood. In wound debridement, split thickness skin grafting (STSG), open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), mastectomy, and prostatectomy all the 3 indices showed significant blood utilization whereas in all ENT surgery utilization of blood provided was nil. This study showed that there was excessive crossmatching of blood and changing the blood ordering pattern can minimize this. Keywords: blood utilization, elective surgery The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13(1) 2006: 15-1