Inhalation Injury Does Not Influence the Amount of Blood Transfused to Major Burn Patients: A Secondary Analysis from the Transfusion Requirement in Burn Care Evaluation Study

Abstract

Patients with major burn injuries typically require numerous blood transfusions. It is not known if an inhalation injury (INHI) directly influences the need for blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether INHI increases the amount of blood transfused to major burn patients. A secondary analysis from the Transfusion Requirement in Burn Care Evaluation (TRIBE) study was conducted. Patients with INHI were compared with patients without INHI. The number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions per day (RBC per day) between INHI and No INHI was analyzed with a multivariable regression. Patients with INHI (n = 78) had significantly larger burns (P =. 0004), larger full-thickness burns (P =. 0007), greater admission APACHE score (P