Red blood cell transfusion in a tertiary Haitian hospital’s emergency department: patient characteristics and availability challenges
Dublin Core
Title
Red blood cell transfusion in a tertiary Haitian hospital’s emergency department: patient characteristics and availability challenges
Subject
RBC transfusion, Transfusion practice, Emergency medicine, Haïti
Description
Abstract
Background Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are essential for many patients admitted to emergency departments
(ED). However, accessibility to red cell transfusions is often limited, especially in low-income countries such as Haiti.
This article aims to determine the proportion of patients requiring emergency transfusion, transfused patients’
characteristics, as well as the response rate and timeliness of blood product delivery for requests made.
Methods A retrospective study was conducted among all patients with RBC transfusion indications from January
to June 2022 at the ED of Mirebalais Teaching Hospital. The parameters studied included transfusion indications, pre-
transfusion hemoglobin levels, and delay from prescription to transfusion.
Results During the study period, 3993 patients received treatment in the ED. The proportion of patients requiring
RBCs was 7.69%, including 145 males and 117 females, with a median age of 43 [30–56] years. Only 21.7% of these
patients received a transfusion. The average pre-transfusion hemoglobin level was 4.75±1.68 g/dL. The most
common transfusion’s indications were infection/sepsis (36.74%), trauma (23.48%), and cancer (21.57%). The median
time delay from prescription to transfusion was 2.37 [0.97–4.93] days. The study identified significant associations
between RBC transfusion probability and patient factors like hemoglobin levels, patient disposition, urgency of RBC
request, and length of stay.
Conclusion RBC transfusion requests are frequent in the ED of Mirebalais Teaching Hospital, with a relatively high
transfusion delay. Further studies on the relevance of RBC requests and ways to reduce delay from prescription to
transfusion would be beneficial to improve this situation.
Keywords RBC transfusion, Transfusion practice, Emergency medicine, Haïti
Background Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are essential for many patients admitted to emergency departments
(ED). However, accessibility to red cell transfusions is often limited, especially in low-income countries such as Haiti.
This article aims to determine the proportion of patients requiring emergency transfusion, transfused patients’
characteristics, as well as the response rate and timeliness of blood product delivery for requests made.
Methods A retrospective study was conducted among all patients with RBC transfusion indications from January
to June 2022 at the ED of Mirebalais Teaching Hospital. The parameters studied included transfusion indications, pre-
transfusion hemoglobin levels, and delay from prescription to transfusion.
Results During the study period, 3993 patients received treatment in the ED. The proportion of patients requiring
RBCs was 7.69%, including 145 males and 117 females, with a median age of 43 [30–56] years. Only 21.7% of these
patients received a transfusion. The average pre-transfusion hemoglobin level was 4.75±1.68 g/dL. The most
common transfusion’s indications were infection/sepsis (36.74%), trauma (23.48%), and cancer (21.57%). The median
time delay from prescription to transfusion was 2.37 [0.97–4.93] days. The study identified significant associations
between RBC transfusion probability and patient factors like hemoglobin levels, patient disposition, urgency of RBC
request, and length of stay.
Conclusion RBC transfusion requests are frequent in the ED of Mirebalais Teaching Hospital, with a relatively high
transfusion delay. Further studies on the relevance of RBC requests and ways to reduce delay from prescription to
transfusion would be beneficial to improve this situation.
Keywords RBC transfusion, Transfusion practice, Emergency medicine, Haïti
Creator
Flawendjee Djaweelentz Jacques1*, Samentha Cyndie Julmisse1
, Ange Cindy Laurore1
, Ralph Mackenson Lefruit1
,
Maurice Junior Chery1
and Kobel Dubique1
, Ange Cindy Laurore1
, Ralph Mackenson Lefruit1
,
Maurice Junior Chery1
and Kobel Dubique1
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00672-8
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Flawendjee Djaweelentz Jacques1*, Samentha Cyndie Julmisse1
, Ange Cindy Laurore1
, Ralph Mackenson Lefruit1
,
Maurice Junior Chery1
and Kobel Dubique1, “Red blood cell transfusion in a tertiary Haitian hospital’s emergency department: patient characteristics and availability challenges,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12392.