• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2012

The Korean Society of Blood Transfusion (KSBT) was established in Seoul in 1982 by a group of physicians of clinical pathology (currently laboratory medicine), internal medicine, paediatrics, anaesthesiology, and surgery, who were members of the Korean Society of Hematology, in which they had been actively engaged as transfusion specialists. However, these physicians were dissatisfied with the lack of public recognition of blood transfusion and the unrealistic blood service system and therefore attempted to build an influential organization for improvement of blood services and transfusion medicine. The mission of the KSBT is to advance the science and practice of transfusion medicine. The KSBT advocates for education and research in the fields of transfusion medicine and for safe blood in blood services. The inaugural KSBT conference, with approximately 50 participants, was held in November, 1982; since then, annual conferences and educational workshops have been held regularly once or twice a year. Currently, the KSBT has approximately 800 members, who are practitioners of blood transfusion (holders of M.D.) or staff members of blood services (holders of other professional degrees). The Society also publishes the Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion (first issue published in 1990) and guidelines for blood services. A Society web site (http://www.transfusion.or.kr) was started in 2001, with the hope of increasingly providing information and feedback to members on a real-time basis. The KSBT has been an active participant in international activities. In 1995, the KSBT hosted the Sixth ISBT Western Pacific Regional Congress in Seoul and will host the $33^{rd}$ ISBT Congress in Seoul in 2014. Since its inauguration, the KSBT has had key roles not only in education and research in the fields of transfusion medicine but also in development of safe-blood services during the last 30 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1312-1317
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• 1992

Autologous blood transfusion is a common method of reducing the need for homologous blood transfusion during cardiac operations. Between June 1991 and May 1992, 12 cases [Group I] were experienced autologous blood transfusion using Cell Saver undergoing double valve replacement or redo-valve replacement. Control group [N=12, Group II] was selected to above similar operation during same period. The Cell Saver system [Haemonetics Corp.] was employed for autologous blood transfusion. The blood shed in the operative field before and after cardiopulmonary bypass and remained cardiotomy reservior was aspirated by means of a locally heparinized collecting system. After centrifused salvaged blood, the resulting red cell concentrate reinfused subsequently. The patient receiving autologous blood transfusion required significantly less homologous blood transfusion than their control group. [Group I; 3519 $\pm$ 869, Group II; 4622 $\pm$ 856, Respectively; P=0.005] There were no clinical infections in the autotransfusion group. And there was no apparent intergroup difference of the clinical findings, hematologio datas and coagulation parameters. We conclude the autotransfusion using Cell Saver is effective for reducing of the hom-ologlous blood transfusion in cardiac surgery.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2009

Purpose: It is important to begin a transfusion safely and appropriately as soon as possible in a hemorrhagic shock patient. A group $O^+$ unmatched pack red blood cell (universal $O^+$) transfusion may satisfy that requirement. We report our experiences with universal $O^+$ to compare its usefulness for hemorrhagic shock patients with that of a matched pack red blood cell transfusion in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients who had systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg or a pulse rate of more than 120 beats per minute in the ED were included, and their medical records were reviewed. The collected data were demographic data, vital signs, blood test results, time to transfusion, the amount of transfusion, complications, and diagnoses. We calculated the emergency transfusion score (ETS) based on the patients' medical records. Results: Two hundred thirty-five patients were included. Forty-eight patients (36 trauma and 12 non-trauma patients) were transfused with a universal $O^+$. These patients had less time to transfusion compared with the cross-matched transfusion groups (35${\pm}$42 versus $170{\pm}187$ minutes, p<0.001). There were no differences in complications between groups (p=0.076). Of the patients who were transfused with universal $O^+$, 94.4% got more than 3 ETS. Conclusion: The universal $O^+$ transfusion, compared with matched pack red blood cell transfusion, should be a useful treatment for ED hemorrhagic shock patient due to its having a shorter time to transfusion without an increase in complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.451-454
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• 1994

In February 1991 I initiated a blood conservation program that included hemodilution, use of a cell conservation device to concentrate diluted blood from operative field and from mediastinal shed blood, acceptance of a minimal hematocrit level of 25% in stable patients, and strict avoidance of use of blood products without definitive indication. A retrospective study to evaluate the effects of blood conservation program was designed to compare the amount of homologous transfusion, hematologic data, and postoperative outcome in patients operated on before and after initiation of blood conservation program. Patient characteristics were not different between two groups, before[n = 18] and after[n = 42] initiation of the program. The significant decrease of homologous transfusion[5.2 vs 1.4 units] and the marked increase of nontransfused patients[none vs 57%] in experimental group were due to marked decrease in homologous transfusion during the operation[4.6 vs 0.7 unit]. I conclude that with strict intraoperative blood conservation program, cardiac patients can be operated on with minimal homologous transfusion.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2023

The effect of improvement by keeping the former as the priority was examined through an evaluation of the role of the blood transfusion management (BTM) division. This division manages the status of blood for transfusion, evaluates the adequacy of blood transfusion (EABT), monitors and responds to the occurrence of transfusion-related side effects, and performs other tasks necessary for BTM. Although the establishment and operation of the BTM division can lead to the efficient evaluation of transfusion adequacy, there are disadvantages in that it takes time for EABT and it is difficult for the staff in charge of the BTM division to evaluate the adequacy of all the blood. In the future, it is essential to introduce a BTM division and committee specific to Korean patients to implement safe and appropriate BTM in medical institutions, and to assist medical institutions in training their personnel.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.9
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• pp.265-270
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• 2018

Neonates, especially extremely low birth weight infants, are among the groups of patients undergoing transfusion frequently. Since they are exposed to higher specific transfusion risks compared to the patients of other age groups, there are many special aspects that must be considered for transfusion therapy in neonates. The transfusion risks in neonates include adverse outcomes specific for preterm infants as well as increased metabolic, immunologic, and infectious complications. To reduce the risks of transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection and transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, leukoreduced and irradiated cellular blood products should be used for all neonates. This review summarizes the risks of neonatal transfusion therapy, specific methods to reduce risk, and current trends and practices of red blood cell and platelet transfusions in neonates, to facilitate decision-making for neonatal transfusion.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 2008

Purpose: Using a propensity analysis, a recent study reported that blood transfusion might not be an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients, which contradicted the results of earlier studies. This study aims to reveal whether or not blood transfusion is an independent predictor of mortality in trauma patients. Methods: A total of three hundred fifty consecutive trauma patients who were admitted to our emergency center from January 2004 to October 2005 and who underwent an arterial blood gas analysis and a venous blood analysis were included in this study. Their medical records were collected prospectively and retrospectively. Using a multivariate logistic analysis, data on the total population and on the propensity-score -matched population were retrospectively analyzed for association with mortality. Results: Of the three hundred fifty patients, one hundred twenty-nine (36.9%) received a blood transfusion. These patients were older (mean age: 48 vs. 44 years; p=0.019) and had a higher mortality rate (27.9% vs. 7.7%; p<0.001). In the total population, the multivariate analysis revealed that the Glasgow coma scale score, the systolic blood pressure, bicarbonate, the need for respiratory support, past medical history of heart disease, the amount of blood transfusion for 24 hours, and hemoglobin were associated with mortality. In thirty-seven pairs of patients matched with a propensity score, potassium, new injury severity score, amount of blood transfusion for 24 hours, and pulse rate were associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis. Therefore, blood transfusion was a significant independent predictor of mortality in trauma patients. Conclusion: Blood transfusion was revealed to be a significant independent predictor of mortality in the total population of trauma patients and in the propensity-score-matched population.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.30-38
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• 2022

Purpose: The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea initiated a quality assessment (QA) program for blood transfusion healthcare services in 2020 to ensure patient safety and appropriate blood use. This study examines the quality of blood transfusion services since the first national QA program for blood transfusion services in Korea. Methods: We analyzed HIRA claims and QA investigation data based on inpatient medical records from all tertiary, general, and primary hospitals between October 2020 and March 2021. The target population was patients aged 18 years and older who received either total knee arthroplasty or red blood cell transfusion. The QA indicators for transfusion healthcare service consisted of four quality indicators and four monitoring indicators. Results: We analyzed the results of QA indicators for transfusion service from the medical records of 189,668 patients from 1,171hospitals and expressed indicators as proportions. The average results for evaluation indicators were as follows: transfusion checklist presence, 64.8%; irregular antibody tests, 61.8%; transfusions in which the hemoglobin levels before transfusion met the transfusion guidelines for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 20.6%, and transfusions in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 59.3%. The average results for monitoring indicators were as follows: transfusion management implementation in medical institutions, 56.9%; preoperative anemia management in anemia patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, 43.9%; one-unit transfusions, 82.5%; and the transfusion index. Conclusion: The quality of blood transfusion healthcare varied and the assessment revealed that there is scope for improvement. Hospitals require more effective blood transfusion management and this can be facilitated by providing feedback on the QA results about blood transfusion healthcare services to medical institutions, and by disclosing the results to the public.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2014

Background: Conservation of blood during cardiac surgery is important because of the shortage of donor blood, risks associated with transfusion, and the costs of allogeneic blood products. This retrospective study explored the feasibility of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) without transfusion. Methods: One hundred and two consecutive patients underwent OPCAB from January 2007 to June 2012 at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. Excluding 10 chronic renal failures patients, 102 patients were enrolled. Their characteristics, clinical data, and laboratory data were analyzed. We investigated the success rate of OPCAB without transfusion according to preoperative hemoglobin (Hb), and the cutoff point of the Hb level and the risk factors for transfusion. We implemented multidisciplinary blood-saving protocols. Results: The overall operative mortality and the success rate of OPCAB without transfusion were 2.9% (3/102) and 73.5% (75/102). The success rates in patients with Hb<11, 11 70 years, diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, preoperative Hb and creatinine levels, and operation time. The events precipitating the need for transfusion were low Hb level in 9 patients and hypotension or excessive bleeding in 18 patients. Conclusion: The preoperative Hb level of >11 facilitates OPCAB without transfusion. These results suggest that transfusion-free OPCAB can be performed by modifying the risk factors and correctable causes of transfusion and improving various blood salvage methods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.418-423
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• 1984

Appreciation of the large volume deficits which may occur in surgical or trauma patients due to blood loss has led to vigorous transfusion techniques designed to overt hypovolemic shock and ischemic damage to vital organs which may develop in minutes during the hypovolemic state. In a significant proportion of patients treated with massive rapid blood or fluid transfusion, hypervolemia occurs and life threatening pulmonary edema may develop. Especially, hypervolemia may occur during transfusion for preventing development of the so-called low output syndrome following cardiac surgery. However, the most effective indicator which reveals the adequate level of transfusion is not settled yet. The present study was aimed to compare the effectiveness of the indicators suggested thus far and to determine the most sensitive one. Eight dogs were experimentally studied in terms of left atrial pressure, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, central venous pressure, mean systemic arterial pressure and heart rate before and after induced hypervolemia with infusion of 600ml heparinized homologous blood. Immediately after induced overtransfusion of the blood, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure increased 75.0%, in omparison with the control before transfusion, left atrial pressure 58.8%, central venous pressure 44.6%, and mean systemic arterial pressure 10.1%, one hour after transfusion, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure 40.0%, left atrial pressure 21.2%, central venous pressure 14.5%, and mean systemic arterial pressure 3.2%, central venous pressure 14.5%, and mean systemic arterial pressure 3.2%, respectively. Heart rate showed no significant change throughout the experiment. These result suggested that the changes of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure is the most sensitive indicator for detection of hypervolemia during blood transfusion.