Introduction of an evidence based "care package" reduces blood loss and pain following paediatric scoliosis surgery.

Results: We reviewed the records of 37 patients before and 13 patients after introduction of the care package. Data were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test; normally distributed data were analysed with Student's t-test, non-normal data with the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were tested using the chi- squared test. Age, weight, scoliosis aetiology and number of vertebrae involved were similar between the groups. No adverse events occurred as a result of the new care package. Median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 42% lower with the new strategy (20.7 ml/kg (interquartile range 15.3-26.5) vs. 35.7 ml/kg (17.6-56.0), p=0.04). The proportion of patients requiring allogenic blood transfusion fell from 69% to 31% (p=0.02).