Blood Transfusion Therapy

Abstract

Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is a balance between providing benefit for patients while avoiding risks of transfusion. Randomized, controlled trials of restrictive RBC transfusion practices have shown equivalent patient outcomes compared with liberal transfusion practices, and meta-analyses have shown improved in-hospital mortality, reduced cardiac events, and reduced bacterial infections. This body of level 1 evidence has led to substantial, improved blood utilization and reduction of inappropriate blood transfusions with implementation of clinical decision support via electronic medical records, along with accompanying educational initiatives.

Bone marrow harvest in donors with anaemia

“…While transfusion medicine provides precise information on many aspects of blood management, there are still areas where more detailed data are needed . Some of the guidelines, including those regarding BM donors with anaemia prior to BMH, lack in support of data from clinical studies .…”

Analysis of a large data set to identify predictors of blood transfusion in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty

“…Each year, more than 13 million units of allogenic red blood cells are transfused in the United States, with patients undergoing surgery comprising the majority of recipients . The 2004 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database analysis by Morton and colleagues demonstrated that hip and knee arthroplasty were among the top 10 most frequent procedures requiring blood product transfusion.…”

Transfusion in Oncology

“…If Hb is less than 6 g/dl, most patients require repeated transfusion ( In post-chemotherapy cancer patients, it may be important to maintain a level of Hb between 8-9 g/dL, and those subjected to radiotherapy an Hb higher than 10g/dL. RBC transfusion is not indicated in chronic anemia if it can be treated with specific medications (iron, vitamin B12, erythropoietin or folic acid) [12][13][14][15].…”

“…It is the insoluble in cold plasma fraction, obtained from a unit of fresh frozen plasma. The final product contains 60-85% of factor VIII, von Willebrand factor and factor XIII as well as fibrinogen in 10% of the original volume (10 -15 ml of plasma) [14].…”