Tag: blood
Pretreating Transfused Erythrocytes with NO Prevents Pulmonary Hypertension
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH; Boston, USA), Harvard Medical School (HMS; Boston, MA, USA), and other institutions conducted a trial to see if treating stored packed sheep RBCs with NO before transfusion... read more
Blood Transfusion – Fresh vs. Standard-issue in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients
Among critically ill pediatric patients, the use of fresh red blood cells did not reduce the incidence of new or progressive multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (including mortality) compared with standard-issue red blood... read more
Fresh Red Blood Cell Transfusions No More Beneficial Than Older Red Blood Cells
Researchers have found that transfusions using fresh red blood cells—cells that have spent seven days or less in storage—are no more beneficial than older red blood cells in reducing the risk of organ failure or death... read more
FDA Approves New Pill to Treat Sickle Cell Disease
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a once-daily pill for sickle cell disease that works in an entirely new way — by boosting hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule found in red blood cells. The novel... read more
Blood Grouping Identifies Patients at Risk for Developing Venous Thromboembolism
Based on study of more than 28,000 TJA patients, presurgical ABO blood group testing looks like an inexpensive way to identify patents at increased risk for symptomatic postoperative VTE. Prophylaxis regimens can dramatically... read more
Blood Cultures From Arterial Catheters Reliable for Detection of Bloodstream Infection in PICUs
Cultures of arterial catheter–drawn blood are reliable for the detection of bloodstream infection in PICUs. The study group consisted of 138 patients admitted to the general or cardiac PICU in 2014–2015 who met the following... read more
Blood Culture Results Before and After Antimicrobial Administration in Patients With Severe Sepsis
Among patients with severe manifestations of sepsis, initiation of empirical antimicrobial therapy significantly reduces the sensitivity of blood cultures drawn shortly after treatment initiation. Of 3,164 participants... read more
How to Optimize the Use of Blood Cultures for the Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections?
Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a major cause of death in developed countries and the detection of microorganisms is essential in managing patients. Despite major progress has been made to improve identification of microorganisms,... read more
Pretreating red blood cells with nitric oxide may reduce side effect linked to transfusions
A new treatment may diminish a dangerous side effect associated with transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs) known as pulmonary hypertension, an elevated blood pressure in the lungs and heart that can lead to heart failure.... read more
Drone Doctors
Trials in Australia could be signalling the way ahead for a new role for remotely piloted aircraft in the air medical sphere, as James Paul Wallis reports. Drones have long since proved their worth as an aerial search tool... read more
Blood Cultures Drawn From Arterial Catheters Are Reliable for the Detection of Bloodstream Infection in Critically Ill Children
Arterial catheters may serve as an additional source for blood cultures in children when peripheral venipuncture is challenging. The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of cultures obtained through indwelling arterial... read more
Better AKI Patient Survival Linked to Negative Fluid Balance
Optimal fluid management of critically ill patients with or at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) is still uncertain. Now a new prospective study from India confirms that patients with negative fluid balance live longer.... read more
Lowering systolic blood pressure would save more than 100,000 lives per year, study finds
Intensive treatment to lower systolic (top number) blood pressure to below 120 would save more than 100,000 lives per year in the United States, say scientists. Two thirds of the lives saved would be men and two thirds would... read more
Definitive Global Transfusion Study Supports Patient Safety and Outcomes
Lower thresholds for blood transfusions during cardiac surgery have proven to be safe and provide good patient outcomes compared to traditional thresholds, according to the largest research study ever performed in this area.... read more
Can we stop worrying about the age of blood?
Blood transfusions are common in critically ill patients; two in five adults admitted to an ICU receive at least one transfusion during their hospitalization. Recently, there has been growing concern about the potential dangers... read more
Should Transfusions Be Matched by Sex?
In the first large study to look at how blood transfusions from previously pregnant women affect recipients' health, researchers discovered men under 50 were 1.5 times more likely to die in the three years following a transfusion... read more
Hypertension and Prehypertension Underdiagnosed, Undertreated in U.S. Children
Hypertension and prehypertension in children often go undiagnosed, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. The study focused on children with abnormal blood pressures across the United States.... read more
Arterial Blood Gas: Time and Motion Study
Nursing workload using the Proxima versus standard arterial blood gas sampling Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) sampling is carried out in intensive care units (ICU) every day. Traditionally the nurse takes the blood sample and... read more
Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children
In multicenter studies, tight glycemic control targeting a normal blood glucose level has not been shown to improve outcomes in critically ill adults or children after cardiac surgery. Studies involving critically ill children... read more
Blood Thinner Also Effective for Artery Disease
A phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer/Janssen), an oral anticoagulant, for the prevention of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) - including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction,... read more
Critical Care Patients Benefit From Restrictive Transfusion Strategy
Although a restrictive transfusion strategy significantly reduces the risk for 30-day all-cause mortality in critical care patients, its benefits are less clear in perioperative patients, according to a meta-analysis by a... read more
