Surreal illustration of blood recycling within a hospital

Blood Management Strategies: How Hospitals are Reducing Transfusions and Improving Patient Care

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the latest techniques in perioperative autotransfusion, CGR destruction management, and personalized training initiatives optimizing blood usage in medical settings"

In modern healthcare, the effective management of blood resources is critical. Hospitals face the dual challenge of ensuring blood is available when needed while minimizing unnecessary transfusions. This article explores several strategies hospitals are using to optimize blood usage, improve patient care, and reduce waste.

The strategies discussed include autotransfusion techniques, which recycle a patient's own blood during surgery, methods for reducing the destruction of concentrated red blood cells (CGR), and personalized training programs for healthcare staff. Each approach contributes to a more efficient and responsible use of blood resources.

By examining these initiatives, this article aims to provide insights into how medical facilities can enhance their blood management practices, leading to better patient outcomes and more sustainable resource utilization. The focus is on practical, evidence-based methods that can be adapted to various healthcare settings.

Perioperative Autotransfusion: A Sustainable Approach

Surreal illustration of blood recycling within a hospital

Perioperative autotransfusion involves collecting and reinfusing a patient's own blood during surgical procedures. This technique minimizes the need for donor blood, reducing the risk of transfusion-related complications and conserving blood supplies. A study at Clinique Saint-Léonard examined the evolution of autotransfusion practices over 18 years.

Initially, the clinic saw consistent use of autotransfusion from 1996 to 2008, with 55 to 65 patients per month benefiting from the procedure. However, after 2008, there was a gradual decline, with a sharp drop in 2017. Despite the decrease in autotransfusion, the overall transfusion rate also significantly reduced, indicating improved blood management practices.

Surgical Techniques: Minimally invasive and percutaneous approaches reduced blood loss.
Femoral Neck Fractures: Prompt management (within 24 hours) minimized blood requirements.
Hemostasis: Precise hemostasis techniques and limited use of pneumatic tourniquets.
Medical Management: EPO and iron supplementation, tranexamic acid, and RAAC protocols were implemented.
Temperature Control: Intraoperative warming helped reduce bleeding.
Transfusion Thresholds: Alert levels for transfusion were established.
PSL Administration: Rational and directed use of platelet-rich plasma.
Monitoring: Hemodynamic monitoring for fragile patients and hemoglobin levels.

The decline in autotransfusion was offset by advancements in surgical and medical practices aimed at reducing blood loss and improving patient outcomes. These included the adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques, enhanced hemostasis, and the implementation of comprehensive protocols for patient management.

Optimizing Blood Usage: A Continuous Effort

Effective blood management requires a multifaceted approach, combining advanced surgical techniques, rigorous medical protocols, and continuous training and quality assurance. The strategies employed by Clinique Saint-Léonard and other institutions demonstrate the potential for significant reductions in transfusion rates and improved patient outcomes. As medical practices evolve, ongoing efforts to refine and adapt these strategies will be essential to ensure the sustainable and responsible use of blood resources.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is perioperative autotransfusion, and how has its use evolved over time at facilities like Clinique Saint-Léonard?

Perioperative autotransfusion is a process where a patient's own blood is collected and reinfused during surgery. This reduces the need for donor blood, thereby lowering the risk of transfusion-related complications and conserving blood supplies. At Clinique Saint-Léonard, autotransfusion practices were consistently used from 1996 to 2008, but saw a decline thereafter. However, this decrease coincided with a significant reduction in overall transfusion rates, showcasing improved blood management through other means. While autotransfusion directly addresses blood conservation, its reduced usage highlights the success of alternative blood management strategies.

What strategies are hospitals implementing to minimize unnecessary transfusions and improve patient outcomes?

Hospitals are minimizing unnecessary transfusions by implementing a range of strategies, including perioperative autotransfusion to recycle a patient's blood, waste reduction of concentrated red blood cells (CGR) to maximize resource utilization, and customized training programs for healthcare staff to ensure the appropriate and efficient use of blood products. By combining these approaches, hospitals aim to reduce reliance on donor blood, minimize waste, and enhance patient outcomes.

What specific surgical and medical advancements have allowed Clinique Saint-Léonard to reduce transfusion rates, even as autotransfusion practices declined?

The reduction in autotransfusion at Clinique Saint-Léonard was accompanied by advancements in surgical and medical practices aimed at minimizing blood loss and improving patient outcomes. These included minimally invasive surgical techniques, enhanced hemostasis using precise methods and limited use of pneumatic tourniquets, medical management with EPO and iron supplementation, tranexamic acid, and RAAC protocols, intraoperative warming to control temperature, alert levels for transfusion, rational use of platelet-rich plasma, and hemodynamic monitoring for fragile patients and hemoglobin levels. These strategies collectively contributed to lower transfusion rates despite the decreased use of autotransfusion.

What does effective blood management entail, and why is a multifaceted approach necessary for success?

Effective blood management involves a multifaceted approach. It requires the use of advanced surgical techniques to minimize blood loss during procedures, rigorous medical protocols for patient care, and continuous training and quality assurance for healthcare staff. This comprehensive approach ensures that blood resources are used responsibly and efficiently, reducing the need for unnecessary transfusions and improving patient outcomes. Continuous refinement and adaptation of these strategies are essential for sustainable resource utilization as medical practices evolve.

What does Concentrated Red Blood Cells (CGR) destruction management entail, and how does that impact overall blood management practices?

Concentrated Red Blood Cells (CGR) destruction management involves strategies to minimize the wastage of CGR units. While the specific methods for CGR destruction management aren't detailed here, it generally includes careful monitoring of blood unit expiration dates, optimizing inventory levels to match demand, and implementing procedures to ensure that CGR units are used before they expire. Efficient management of CGR is crucial to avoid unnecessary waste and ensure that blood resources are available when needed, contributing to overall cost savings and resource efficiency. It is typically coupled with autotransfusion and personalized training initiatives to have maximum impact.