Results of an improved blood reservation process for obstetric procedures in the delivery room: experience from Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital

Abstract

This retrospective comparative study aimed to improve the blood reservation process for obstetric procedures in the delivery room by evaluating the transition from the grouping & crossmatching method to the typing & screening method, and to assess its impact on nursing practice. Four hundred mothers who delivered between January 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024 were included, with 200 cases reserved by grouping & crossmatching and 200 by typing & screening. Data collected included blood reservation records, actual transfusion rates, estimated blood loss, related factors, and changes in workflow in the delivery room.
The results showed that the use of typing & screening increased from 0% to 86.5%. Nurses reported that the method reduced preparation time, while the transfusion rate remained constant at 0.5% in both groups, indicating that patient safety was not compromised. Although the mean estimated blood loss rose from 290.9 milliliter to 339.3 milliliter there was no statistically significant difference in postpartum hemorrhage rates. These findings suggest that implementing the typing & screening method can be a practical strategy to improve blood reservation in delivery rooms. It enhances efficiency, reduces workload and costs, ensures patient safety, and may be adopted as a model for other hospitals in Thailand.