Indications for Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusion
The indications for RBC transfusion, number of units transfused, mean units per case and mean haemoglobin (Hb) before transfusion are shown in Table 2. The most common cause requiring transfusion was epistaxis. The Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) procedures requiring reconstruction included patients undergoing mandibulotomy, maxillectomy, oesophagectomy, neck dissection and laryngectomy which required free (osseo-) myocutaneous and/or pedicled flaps for reconstruction. The HNC procedures that did not require reconstruction included patients undergoing medial maxillectomy, laryngectomy, neck dissection, excision of parapharyngeal tumour and excision of tongue tumour. Other Head and Neck (H&N) procedures included thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, repair of oesophageal perforation and neck exploration for a retropharyngeal abscess. Non-ENT causes for transfusion were secondary to anaemia.