An article recently published in Spine examines spinal fusions for patients with pediatric idiopathic scoliosis in the United States for predictors of allogeneic blood transfusion.
The article authors examined the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2009 for patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent spinal fusion. The researchers found risk factors were:
• Patients who underwent the anterior and posterior approach instead of just the anterior approach.
• Spinal fusion at nine or more levels instead of four to eight levels
• Higher Elixhauser Comorbidity Score
There was no difference between patients with or without autologous-related blood transfusion, according to the study authors. "These factors need to be taken into consideration for patient blood management before surgery," concluded the study authors.