Feasibility and success of a single-donor red cell program for pediatric elective surgery patients.

Although the risks of allogeneic blood transfusions are small, it is wise to limit donor exposure whenever possible. A program has been developed in which one donor provided all red cell (RBC) units for each patient awaiting elective surgery. Patients were mostly children who were ineligible for autologous blood donation. Seventy-three patients and 115 donors (mostly parents) entered the program. Of the 115 donors, 90 (78%) were eligible to participate and 25 (22%) were ineligible; 21 were ineligible because of RBC incompatibility. For each of the 73 patients, one eligible donor was selected to donate all RBC units. Preoperative RBC orders were 1 to 2 units for 41 patients and > or = 3 units for 32 patients. Of the 73 donors, 58 (79%) gave all RBC units ordered; 15 (21%) failed to complete all donations, but only 1 because of anemia (hematocrit < 33% [0.33]). Of 73 patients entered, 46 (63%) underwent transfusion, and 27 (37%) did not. Of 46 patients transfused, 38 (83%) received only single-donor RBCs. Thus, the RBC needs of nearly all pediatric elective surgery patients were provided by a single donor for each patient. Single-donor blood programs should be considered for elective surgery patients who are ineligible for autologous blood donation and who would otherwise be exposed to multiple donors.