A Quality Improvement Project to Limit Perioperative Transfusion During Craniofacial Surgery in Infants and…

StudyPediatric quality & safety· 2025

A Quality Improvement Project to Limit Perioperative Transfusion During Craniofacial Surgery in Infants and Children.

Grace Parizek, Annie Drapeau, Jonathan Pindrik … Ashley Smith

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Craniofacial & CleftStudyClinical practiceQ2IF 1.1

Transfusion algorithm cut low-threshold transfusions in pediatric craniosynostosis surgery from 32% to 5%

A Quality Improvement Project to Limit Perioperative Transfusion During Craniofacial Surgery in Infants and Children.

Grace Parizek … Ashley Smith

Pediatric quality & safety · 2025

Background

Open surgery for craniosynostosis in infants and children is frequently associated with significant intraoperative blood loss and the need for allogeneic transfusion therapy.

Purpose

We sought to address this through a multidisciplinary quality improvement approach to decrease variability in transfusion practices.

Methods

A streamlined intraoperative transfusion algorithm, from the moment the patient was evaluated in the preoperative holding area on the day of surgery through their departure from the postanesthesia care unit, was implemented during quarter 1 of 2021.

n = 118 pediatric patients

Results

high-hemoglobin transfusions dropped sharply after the algorithm launched

Before protocol

32%

After protocol

5%

More results

From January 2018 to December 2023, 118 pediatric patients underwent open cranial vault remodeling for craniosynostosis.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

In this quality improvement project, we decreased transfusion rates for patients with Hgb greater than 7.5 g/dL from 32% to 5% during 3 years.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

We have successfully developed and implemented an intraoperative blood transfusion algorithm that is generalizable and requires minimal human and material resources.

A Quality Improvement Project to Limit Perioperative Transfusion During Craniofacial Surgery in Infants and Children.

A Quality Improvement Project to Limit Perioperative Transfusion During Craniofacial Surgery in Infants and Children.

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