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

Definitive Global Transfusion Study Supports Patient Safety and Outcomes

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

Can we stop worrying about the age of blood?

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

Should Transfusions Be Matched by Sex?

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

Hypertension and Prehypertension Underdiagnosed, Undertreated in U.S. Children

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

Arterial Blood Gas: Time and Motion Study

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

Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children

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

Blood Thinner Also Effective for Artery Disease

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

Critical Care Patients Benefit From Restrictive Transfusion Strategy

Pre-Op Screen: What Does A Pulse Oximeter Tell Us?

Routinely utilized in ICUs, operating rooms, and telemetry floors, the pulse oximeter ("pulse ox") is perhaps the single greatest monitoring advancement in the modern medical era. It relies on the fact that oxyhemoglobin... read more

Pre-Op Screen: What Does A Pulse Oximeter Tell Us?

Impact of transfusion on patients with sepsis admitted in ICU

Red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) threshold in patients with sepsis remains a matter of controversy. A threshold of 7 g/dL for stabilized patients with sepsis is commonly proposed, although debated. The aim of the study was... read more

Impact of transfusion on patients with sepsis admitted in ICU

FDA Recommendation: Reduce Max Storage Limit of RBCs

A group of researchers are asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce maximum storage limit for red blood cells from 6 weeks to 5 weeks, as long as there are sufficient blood supplies available. The researchers... read more

FDA Recommendation: Reduce Max Storage Limit of RBCs

New Blood Draw Protocol can reduce risks for pediatric patients

Researchers report that implementing a checklist-style set of procedures appears to cut almost in half the number of potentially unnecessary blood culture draws in critically ill children without endangering doctors'... read more

New Blood Draw Protocol can reduce risks for pediatric patients

Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions

A standardized approach to blood cultures in the pediatric ICU successfully reduced collections from central venous catheters, investigators at a single center reported, with no subsequent uptick in adverse events.... read more

Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions

Effectiveness of Pre-Hospital Blood Products

University of Warwick is collaborating with researchers at the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC) to support a ground-breaking new study to investigate the effectiveness of giving patients... read more

Effectiveness of Pre-Hospital Blood Products

Uncontrolled Bleeding Stopped By Injectable Viscous Hydrogel

A new study describes a novel embolic agent for endovascular embolization procedures that has a hemostatic activity comparable to that of metallic coils, the current gold standard. The nanocomposite STBs are injected through... read more

Uncontrolled Bleeding Stopped By Injectable Viscous Hydrogel

Blood Products Can Safely be Transported by Drones

Blood products don't seem to suffer damage when transported by drones, researchers report. Large bags of blood products, such as those transfused into patients everyday, can maintain temperature and cellular integrity... read more

Blood Products Can Safely be Transported by Drones

A closer step to artificial blood

Researchers have created an artificial red blood cell that effectively picks up oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to tissues throughout the body. This artificial blood can be freeze-dried, making it easier for combat medics... read more

A closer step to artificial blood