Necessary blood volume requirement during debridement and skin graft in burn patients

Background and ObjectivesMany of burn patients need to receive blood transfusion during debridement and skin grafting. Although it is vital, blood transfusion adverse effects and risks are not unlikely. Therefore, it is better to minimize blood transfusion. In this study, we have tired to estimate necessary blood volume requirement in proportion to preoperative patient hematocrite level and burn percentage that would eventually lower inappropriate blood use. Materials and MethodsThis prospective study was done on all patients undergoing debridement and grafting skin surgery through 6 months. Demographic data, burn percentage, reserved and transfused blood, preoperative and postoperative Hct level were recorded. Qualified data were analyzed with Chi - square and regression analysis (p-value<0.05). ResultsMean age of all patients was 23 with burns affecting 33 ± 21% of total body surface area. For all patients 181 blood units were reserved and 85 were transfused. But if indication for transfusion was determined to be Hct ≥ 28%, blood requirement would be just 54 units for 33 patients. "Requirement of blood transfusion" had negative correlation with "preoperative Hct" (p = 0.001), and positive correlation with "burn percentage" (p = 0.009). ConclusionsThe blood volume requirement for debridement and skin graft surgery in burn patients can be estimated by "preoperative Hct level" and "burn percentage"; this process can minimize unneccessary reserved and transfused blood units significantly.