BACKGROUND: Current blood transfusion standards in Canada and the United States permit transfusion of ABO‐nonidentical platelets when ABO‐identical platelets are not available. This practice increases the availability of platelets, a component in chronic shortage in Ontario, Canada because of the 5‐day shelf‐life. The impact of transfusing ABO‐nonidentical platelets on patient outcomes is unknown.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 1721 patients who had cardiovascular surgery between November 1989 and December 1999 and who had also received a platelet transfusion perioperatively was conducted. The impact of platelet and plasma incompatibility on clinical outcomes was analyzed.
RESULTS: The analysis included 1691 patients who were divided into two groups according to the compatibility of the first platelet transfusion received: ABO‐identical platelet transfusion (n = 1008) and ABO‐nonidentical platelet transfusion (n = 683). The only difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups was that there were more urgent cases in the ABO‐identical platelet transfusion group (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in mortality at 30 days (10% for both groups, p = NS) or in postoperative length of stay (median, 7.0 days for both groups, p = NS). No significant differences were found with respect to the use of blood components, indices of bleeding, incidence of infection, or platelet CCIs.
CONCLUSION: Transfusion of ABO‐nonidentical platelets in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery is not associated with an adverse impact on patient outcome.
