A single unit transfusion(SUT) is defined as a single transfusion of whole blood or
packed red cell during his entire hospital stay.
Reports from alien clinics indicated that the administration of SUT was not necessary
in the most of the cases(Morton, 1960; Reece and Bsckett, 1966).
Reviewed here retrospectively all the patients who were admitted and transfused at
the Severance hospital from Feb, 1981 through Jan, 1982 by the Morfon's criteria for the
single unit transfusion, and following results were obtained;
1. In the period under study, blood transfusion were administrated at the Severance
Hospital to 4,877 patients, 1,122 children and 3,755 adults..
2. In the 3.,755 adultes transfused, 454 received a SUT(12.1%).
3. Reviewed the charts of 372 out of 454 adult patients, conservative 18(4.8%),
reasonable 87(23.4%), questionable 115(30.9%), and unnecessary.
4. Hgb and Hct levels were increased statistically after SUT in cases of conservative
and reasonable except Hct level in cases of conservative, and were not changed
statistically in cases of questionable and unnecessary.
5. 83.3% of sing1e unit transfusions were related to surgical situations.
6. Transfusion reactions were noted in 13 patients (3.5%).
7. 289 patients (77.7%) received whole blood and 83 patients (23.3%) received packed
red cell.
In summary 71.8% of SUT were evaluated as questionable or unnecessary, the SUT
might be reserved for the definite indications, considering the aspects of the transfusion
reactions and the usefulness of limited blood amounts.
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