Recommendations

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Recommendations from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons on hernias, blood transfusion, reflux in gastric band patients & appendicitis. RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 7000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and International Medical Graduates.

3.
Don’t transfuse more units of blood than absolutely necessary, noting that many hospitals have developed policies on indications for transfusion with a view to minimisation.

Date reviewed: 1 March 2016

The limited blood resources available within the health system and the lack of evidence to support transfusing more blood than required necessitate the use of appropriate guidelines. Patients should be carefully evaluated (through use of applicable guidelines) when being assessed for blood transfusions and closely monitored.

Supporting evidence
  • Carson JL, Grossman BJ, Kleinman S, Tinmouth AT, et al. Red blood cell transfusion: a clinical practice guideline from the AABB. Ann Intern Med 2012;157(1):49-58.
  • Goodnough LT, Shieh L, Hadhazy E, Cheng N, Khari P, Maggio P. Improved blood utilization using real-time clinical decision support. Transfusion 2014;54(5):1358-65.
How this list was made How this list was made

RACS collaborated with General Surgeons Australia (GSA) and the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) respectively on the development of lists for Choosing Wisely Australia. Each organisation worked closely with key members including the Sustainability in Healthcare Committee and Professional Development and Standards Board (RACS), and the Boards of Directors (GSA and ASOHNS) to develop the lists of tests/treatments/procedures for general surgery, and head and neck surgery.


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