Blood transfusion requirements for abdominal hysterectomy: 3-year experience in a district hospital (1993-1995).

Two hundred and thirty six women who underwent abdominal hysterectomy for benign disease at Fairfield District Hospital were studied retrospectively. Eleven patients received a total of 28 units of blood. The transfusion rate was 4.7%. The average number of units transfused per operation was 0.12. Each transfused patient received an average of 2.5 units with a range of 1-4 units. Only 27% of cross-matched blood was actually transfused. Patients with preoperative anaemia, prolonged operation time and a larger uterus were more likely to require blood transfusion. The group and screen procedure is an adequate preoperative blood order for patients having abdominal hysterectomy.