Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload

A 67-year-old female with a history of congestive heart failure and CKD was brought in by ambulance from her nursing home for a gastrointestinal bleed. The patient’s total fluid balance from her nursing home was 2.5L over... read more

TEG for Hypocoagulable Patients with Non-Traumatic Bleeding

Thromboelastogram (TEG) has been extensively studied in trauma and surgical patients, but has not been well studied in nontraumatic bleeding, nor has its use been well evaluated in the emergency department. This study... read more

Scvo2 in Sepsis: A Measurement Provided by Respiratory Care Practitioners

When treating patients with sepsis, intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department clinicians have learned that improved outcomes occur when staff members work together as a team. This article outlines the value of central... read more

The Misunderstood Coagulopathy of Liver Disease

In patients with abnormal coagulation testing results in the setting of liver disease, INR and PT may be best used to provide the practitioner with information about the synthetic function of the liver but not to assess hemorrhagic... read more

Sudden Abdominal Pain with a Palpable Mass

Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rare cause of abdominal pain that is often overlooked when patients present for evaluation. The disease can mimic almost any other type of abdominal pathology, and thus the diagnosis is frequently... read more

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

Practical Transfusion Medicine

The fifth edition of this practical textbook on transfusion medicine has been thoroughly revised with the latest in scientific and technological developments and edited by a leading team of international expert hematologists,... read more

Practical Transfusion Medicine

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

Is Hemoglobin Good for Cerebral Oxygenation and Clinical Outcome in Acute Brain Injury?

Hemoglobin is important for cerebral oxygenation and strategies to minimize anemia should be undertaken. higher hemoglobin levels are associated with less cerebral ischemia and better clinical outcome, whether this remains... read more

Transfusions Stuck in an Endless Cycle of Denial

Each publication from Maitland, et al., gives us a glimpse of a greater medical truth, but our view is obstructed by questions about external validity. This group published the landmark FEAST trial that questioned the... read more

Intra-Operative Events During Cardiac Surgery are Risk Factors for the Development of Delirium in the ICU

Risk factors for delirium following cardiac surgery are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intra-operative pathophysiological alterations and therapeutic interventions influence... read more

Implementation of a Standardized Transfusion Protocol for Cardiac Patients Treated With Venoarterial ECMO Is Associated With Decreased Blood Component Utilization and May Improve Clinical Outcome

The data indicate that implementation of a standardized transfusion protocol, using more restrictive transfusion indications in cardiac ECMO patients, was associated with reduced blood product utilization, decreased complications,... read more

AKI in Critically Ill Patients After Noncardiac Major Surgery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of major surgery. However, acute kidney injury occurring within the first 48 hours after surgery (early acute kidney injury) and therefore likely related to the surgery itself... read more

Transfusion Practice in the ICU

This study shows a group of MICU physicians altered transfusion practice after the publication of the TRICC trial results and that, in the years following, transfusion practice has remained closer to the restrictive transfusion... read more

Transfusion Medicine and Hemostasis: Clinical and Laboratory Aspects

Transfusion Medicine and Hemostasis: Clinical and Laboratory Aspects, Third Edition, is the only pocket-sized, quick reference for pathology and transfusion medicine residents and fellows. It covers all topics in transfusion... read more

Transfusion Medicine and Hemostasis: Clinical and Laboratory Aspects

The Role of Central Venous Oxygen Saturation (ScvO2) as an Indicator of Blood Transfusion in the Critically Ill

Transfusion of red blood cells is an everyday practice in critical care with the primary aim of restoring adequate tissue oxygenation. However, blood transfusion may also be harmful and costly, therefore a so called restrictive... 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

To transfuse or not transfuse: an intensive appraisal of red blood cell transfusions in the ICU

A restrictive transfusion threshold is recommended in nearly all critically ill patients. This is at least noninferior to more liberal transfusion practice; in addition, a restrictive threshold has shown improved outcomes... read more

Resuscitation of Endotheliopathy and Bleeding in Thoracic Aortic Dissections

In this randomized, clinical pilot trial of patients undergoing emergency surgery for thoracic aorta dissections, we found that OctaplasLG reduced glycocalyx and endothelial injury, reduced bleeding, transfusions, use of... read more

Indications and Outcomes of Extracorporeal Life Support in Trauma Patients

Data from the largest registry of critically ill trauma patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) demonstrates reasonable survival. With growing experience and improved safety profile, trauma should not be considered... read more

Thromboelastography Predicts Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Coagulopathic Patients

Critically ill patients with deranged conventional coagulation tests are often perceived to have an increased bleeding risk. Whether anticoagulant prophylaxis for these patients should be withheld is contentious. This study... read more