ISBT Kuala Lumpur

There is an expanding number of randomized trials evaluating threshold of red cell transfusion. There are implications for many countries, resource-poor and resource rich, as well as for use of blood in children and adults. Most evidence from clinical trials comparing liberal v restrictive transfusion strategies support the guideline recommended use of restrictive transfusion strategy.   However, recent large trials published in high impact journals (NEJM and JAMA) suggest that restrictive strategy may be harmful in some clinical settings. In this workshop, we review the clinical trials in all populations, including patients with acute myocardial infarction (MINT, REALITY), high risk cardiovascular patients undergoing surgery (TOPS), acute neurocritical care patients with traumatic brain injury, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or intracerebral hemorrhage (HEMOTION, SAHARA, TRAIN).  These new trials have the potential to change clinical practice, and the findings need to be carefully considered by the international transfusion community.  We believe the interpretation of these new trials requires a nuanced approach to use of blood in individual patients, considering the amount of benefit, alongside the safety/risks and availability of RBC transfusions, which varies worldwide.

• Date: Monday 22 June, 08:30-10:00
• Facilitators: Jeffrey L Carson and Simon Stanworth

Welcome to a journey into the world of systematic and Cochrane reviews! 

Systematic and Cochrane reviews are considered the “gold standard” for summarising evidence and guiding decision-making in medical research. But how are they done? What is considered a good review? What tools can we use to put them together? How can one design and conduct a review that is robust and impactful? 

In this interactive workshop, the team from Transfusion Evidence Round-Up program and “Talking Transfusion” podcast will guide participants through a step-by-step journey of how to frame a clear research question, design a search strategy, conduct quality assessments and synthesise review findings. 

There will be small group breakout sessions led by the workshop facilitators, in which participants will work through different aspects of systematic and Cochrane reviews. Participants will be given practical tips which may help them design and conduct their own systematic reviews. 
 

• Date: Monday 22 June, 13:45-15:15
• Facilitators: The Transfusion Evidence Round-Up Team (Allison Mo, Erica Wood, Catherine Kimber)

• Date: Monday 22 June, 15:45-17:15
• Facilitators: Simon Stanworth and Erica Wood 

The primary target group is ISBT members with an emerging interest in setting up a platelet immunology laboratory, who would benefit from an in-depth discussion regarding the technical and methodological aspects of platelet antibody diagnostics. The secondary target group is ISBT members with a general interest in platelet and granulocyte immunobiology. Part of the workshop will be educational.

• Date: Monday 22 June, 15:45-17:15
• Facilitators: Petter Höglund and Maria Therese Ahlen

Outbreaks of infectious disease in the local community pose complex challenges to blood safety and supply. Outbreaks may involve transfusion transmissible agents that directly impact blood safety, or agents that impact community wellness and donor recruitment. In resource limited settings challenges to addressing risks are compounded by limitations in public health surveillance, staffing, laboratory supplies and equipment and reliance on small donor pools. These challenges also vary depending on the context such as low versus middle income countries, centralized versus decentralized blood systems and rural versus urban settings. In this session we will hear from transfusion experts in infection outbreak management and engage participants to brainstorm ways of preparing in advance, and of responding when the need arises.  

• Date: Tuesday 23 June, 08:30-10:30
• Facilitators: Sheila O'Brien

This workshop will introduce attendees to clinical vignettes that highlight concepts in the ISBT Code of Ethics. Attendees will vote using their phones on answers to questions related to the vignettes presented. We hope to stimulate discussion on these challenging issues. Topics will include pediatric transfusion and stem cell transplantation and genomics testing of donors. Additionally, attendees will be presented with proposed revisions to the ISBT Code of Ethics for discussion. Presenters are members of the ISBT Standing Committee on Ethics (SCE) or part of the leadership of the Donors and Donation Working party.

• Date: Tuesday 23 June, 08:30-10:30
• Facilitator: Richard Charlewood

Back by popular demand, the Immunohaematology interactive case studies!  With the added fun of Blood Group Bingo this year!  There will be music, prizes and loads of learning through interactive elements and interesting case studies.

• Date: Tuesday 23 June, 13:45-15:15
• Facilitators: Nicole Thornton, Peter Ligthart & Sofia Lejon Crottet 

Join this highly interactive 90 minute workshop to explore how transfusion IT systems can strengthen patient safety and where they can go wrong. Led by international experts from ISBT haemovigilance and IT working parties; International Haemovigilance Network and SHOT UK, this fast paced session blends brief, high impact presentations with live audience polling via the conference app and small group discussions. Tackle real world challenges such as implementation barriers, traceability, IT related errors, and cybersecurity, while learning from global experience and shared insights. Leave with practical, actionable ideas you can take back to your own organisation to support safer, smarter transfusion practice through effective use of IT and collaboration.

• Date: Wednesday 24 June, 10:30-12:00
• Facilitators: Karen Moniz and Gopal Patidar

In order to join this webinar, please fill in the registration form below.

This workshop will provide insights into how social and behavioural sciences research approaches can be used to address questions in transfusion medicine and blood banking, and will provide examples of multidisciplinary studies that aim to tackle key challenges both current and on the horizon. Attendees will have an opportunity to bring social and behavioural science-related questions from their organization to workshop with panelists.

• Date: Wednesday 24 June, 13:45-15:15
• Facilitators: Thane Moze Darumalinggam and Noriko Namba