24 August 2017 (Thursday) - MCHC

This useful flow chart appeared on one of the Facebook groups I follow today. Very useful… But where is says “heat” I’d say “warm”

23 August 2017 (Wednesday) - Transfusion Evidence Library Update

The Transfusion Evidence Alert email arrived in my in-box this morning. Whilst fascinating, not a lot was of immediate relevance to me. I think I need to delve into the preferences I’ve set up:

Top 10 new publications

Randomised feasibility study of a more liberal haemoglobin trigger for red blood  cell transfusion compared to standard practice in anaemic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy
Yakymenko D, Frandsen KB, et al., Transfusion Medicine 2017

Medical and economic implications of strategies to prevent alloimmunization in sickle cell disease
Gehrie EA, Ness PM, et al. Transfusion 2017

Efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid in orthopedic fracture surgery: a meta analysis and systematic literature review
Amer K, Rehman S, Haydel C. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2017

Interventions for chronic kidney disease in people with sickle cell disease
Roy NB, Fortin PM, et al. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017

A motivational interview promotes retention of blood donors with high internal motivation
France CR, France JL, et al. Transfusion 2017

The operational implications of donor behaviors following enrollment in STRIDE (Strategies to Reduce Iron Deficiency in blood donors)
Cable RG, Birch RJ, et al. Transfusion 2017

Fetal MCA Doppler to time intrauterine transfusions in red cell alloimmunisation: a randomised trial
Dodd JM, Andersen C, et al. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology 2017.

Transfusion Requirement in Burn Care Evaluation (TRIBE): a multicenter randomized prospective trial of blood transfusion in major burn injury
Palmieri TL, Holmes JH, et al. Annals of Surgery 2017.

Desmopressin use for minimising perioperative blood transfusion
Desborough MJ, Oakland K, et al. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017.

Transfusion thresholds for major orthopedic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mitchell MD, Betesh JS, et al.  The Journal of Arthroplasty 2017.

22 August 2017 (Tuesday) - Transfusion News email

The Transfusion News email arrived in my in-box this morning:

Bedside Checklists Could Prevent Most ABO-Incompatible Transfusions and Other Adverse Events

August 16, 2017
Since 1996, the hemovigilance surveillance system in the United Kingdom has collected and published yearly reports on the serious hazards of transfusions (SHOT). In 2016, almost 2.5 million components were transfused in the U.K., including 1.8 million red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. The number of deaths in the U.K. due to ABO-incompatible transfusions have decreased [Read More]

Negligible Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease

August 10, 2017
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) is a fatal and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins, or prions, in the brain. Classic cases of CJD are usually sporadic, but some are genetically based (5-15%) and even fewer are iatrogenic [Read More]

How to Learn with Justin Kreuter

August 21, 2017 | BBGuy Podcast
What if everything we think we know about how to learn is wrong? Dr. Justin Kreuter wants to show all of us (not just those currently in training) how we can get information into and out of our brains effectively!