Selective type & screen for elective colectomy based on a transfusion risk score may generate substantial cost savings

Background Preoperative type and screen are currently recommended for all patients undergoing colectomy. We aimed to identify risk factors for transfusion and define a low-risk cohort of patients undergoing colectomy in whom type and screen may be safely avoided. Methods We identified all patients undergoing elective colectomy in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project-Targeted Colectomy files from 2012 to 2016. Patients transfused preoperatively and those undergoing other concurrent major abdominal procedures were excluded. We compared patients who received blood transfusion on the day of surgery to those who did not. Half of the cohort was randomly selected for development of a points-based model predicting blood transfusion on the day of surgery. This model was then validated using the remaining patients. Results Of 61,964 patients undergoing colectomy, 3128 (5%) patients were transfused with 1290 (2.1%) occurring on the day of surgery. Preoperative anemia was the strongest predictor of blood transfusion on the day of surgery. Among patients with hematocrit > 35%, day of surgery transfusion risk was 0.8%; 99% of patients with hematocrit > 35% had a score 20 or less. Selective type and screen for patients with score ≤ 20 or hematocrit > 35% would avoid type and screen in 91% and 81% of patients, respectively. Conclusion Transfusion following elective colectomy is rare and can be accurately predicted by preoperative patient characteristics. Selective type and screen based on these parameters have the potential to prevent operative delays and lower cost.