Indications for Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusion
The indications for RBC transfusion, number of units transfused, mean
units per case and mean haemoglobin (Hb) before transfusion are shown in
Table 2. The most common cause requiring transfusion was epistaxis. The
Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) procedures requiring reconstruction included
patients undergoing mandibulotomy, maxillectomy, oesophagectomy, neck
dissection and laryngectomy which required free (osseo-) myocutaneous
and/or pedicled flaps for reconstruction. The HNC procedures that did
not require reconstruction included patients undergoing medial
maxillectomy, laryngectomy, neck dissection, excision of parapharyngeal
tumour and excision of tongue tumour. Other Head and Neck (H&N)
procedures included thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, repair of
oesophageal perforation and neck exploration for a retropharyngeal
abscess. Non-ENT causes for transfusion were secondary to anaemia.