BACKGROUND : This study aimed to assess contemporary knowledge, attitudes and behaviors around transfusion of intraoperative salvaged blood (sRBCt) during hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) operations. Findings are meant to inform the design of future studies that address provider concerns to change behaviors and improve patient outcomes.

METHODS : A survey was designed and assessed for relevance, readability and content, and distributed to an international audience of surgeons performing HPB operations.

RESULTS : The 237 respondents were predominantly distributed across North America (37.55%), Europe (27.43%) and Asia (19.83%). Roughly one-half (52.74%) of respondents had used sRBCt in HPB surgery before. Transplantation surgeons were more likely than HPB surgeons to have previously used sRBCt [odds ratio = 5.18 (95% CI 1.89-14.20)]. More respondents believed sRBCt was safe for non-cancer versus cancer operations (68.57% vs. 24.17%, p < 0.0001). Less than half (45.71%) of respondents believed that sRBCt was safe in clean-contaminated fields. Most did not utilize preoperative strategies to avoid donor transfusion.

CONCLUSION : Practices related to sRBCt in HPB operations vary widely and there is no consensus on its use. Concerns seem primarily related to cancer-specific and infectious outcomes. While further studies are pursued, surgeons may increase their utilization of preoperative strategies to boost hemoglobin levels for at risk patients.