Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Drop for drop: A descriptive analysis of blood product usage in a South African tertiary care setting during the Covid-19 pandemic
Dublin Core
Title
Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Drop for drop: A descriptive analysis of blood product usage in a South African tertiary care setting during the Covid-19 pandemic
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Drop for drop: A descriptive analysis of blood product usage in a South African tertiary care setting during the Covid-19 pandemic
Subject
Covid-19
Corona
Blood
Transfusion
Trauma
Corona
Blood
Transfusion
Trauma
Description
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on the global community. Blood products are
precious resources especially in the African context and this has been especially compounded during the Covid-
19 pandemic. Concurrent to this during the Covid-19 level 5 lockdown in South Africa from 26 March – 30 April
2020, a decrease in trauma admissions to state hospitals was noted. The aim of this data collection was to assess
whether lowered blood product issuance was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Method: Areas at Tygerberg Hospital with trauma patients were identified, namely: the A1W intensive care unit
(Surgical ICU), Trauma Front Room (Trauma Admissions), Trauma Resuscitation unit (Trauma Resus Area) and
J7(Trauma Ward). Data of blood product issuance (red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma) for these 4 areas was
provided by the Western Cape Blood Service for the period 26 March-30 April 2018, 2019 and 2020. This
included the stage 5 Covid-19 South African lockdown, as well as Easter for all three years which is traditionally
associated with raised trauma admissions. This data was quantitative.
Results: 201 products were issued in 2018 versus 103 for the same period in 2020 for the 4 trauma areas in
Tygerberg Hospital. The surgical ICU received the most products over 3 years with 183 of the product issuances.
Discussion: As expected there was a significant decrease in blood product (red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma)
issuance during the 2020 period which paralleled the lowered trauma numbers. This represented a significant
cost saving of over R150 000 despite increased yearly costs for blood products over the same period. This data
collection did not consider the reasoning for these blood transfusions or the clinical appropriateness thereof. The
author acknowledges the wide variability of transfusion thresholds and protocols within various centres around
the world, including Tygerberg and was not seeking to prove commentary on the appropriateness thereof in this
research.
precious resources especially in the African context and this has been especially compounded during the Covid-
19 pandemic. Concurrent to this during the Covid-19 level 5 lockdown in South Africa from 26 March – 30 April
2020, a decrease in trauma admissions to state hospitals was noted. The aim of this data collection was to assess
whether lowered blood product issuance was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Method: Areas at Tygerberg Hospital with trauma patients were identified, namely: the A1W intensive care unit
(Surgical ICU), Trauma Front Room (Trauma Admissions), Trauma Resuscitation unit (Trauma Resus Area) and
J7(Trauma Ward). Data of blood product issuance (red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma) for these 4 areas was
provided by the Western Cape Blood Service for the period 26 March-30 April 2018, 2019 and 2020. This
included the stage 5 Covid-19 South African lockdown, as well as Easter for all three years which is traditionally
associated with raised trauma admissions. This data was quantitative.
Results: 201 products were issued in 2018 versus 103 for the same period in 2020 for the 4 trauma areas in
Tygerberg Hospital. The surgical ICU received the most products over 3 years with 183 of the product issuances.
Discussion: As expected there was a significant decrease in blood product (red blood cell and fresh frozen plasma)
issuance during the 2020 period which paralleled the lowered trauma numbers. This represented a significant
cost saving of over R150 000 despite increased yearly costs for blood products over the same period. This data
collection did not consider the reasoning for these blood transfusions or the clinical appropriateness thereof. The
author acknowledges the wide variability of transfusion thresholds and protocols within various centres around
the world, including Tygerberg and was not seeking to prove commentary on the appropriateness thereof in this
research.
Creator
Danielle C. Shead
Source
www.elsevier.com/locate/afjem
Publisher
ELSEVIER
Date
30 September 2020
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Citation
Danielle C. Shead, “Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 11 issue 1 2021
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Drop for drop: A descriptive analysis of blood product usage in a South African tertiary care setting during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 14, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2607.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Drop for drop: A descriptive analysis of blood product usage in a South African tertiary care setting during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 14, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2607.