Tag: transfusion
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
Hyperfibrinolysis in Severe Isolated TBI May Occur Without Tissue Hypoperfusion
Hyperfibrinolysis is associated with tissue injury in both patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and in non-TBI patients. However, tissue hypoperfusion is associated with hyperfibrinolysis in non-TBI patients, but not... read more
Should All Massively Transfused Patients Be Treated Equally?
Although balanced resuscitation has become integrated into massive transfusion practice, there is a paucity of evidence supporting the delivery of high ratios of plasma and platelet to RBCs in the nontrauma setting. This... read more
Thrombolytics for Stroke: The Evidence
Thrombolytics for stroke: undoubtedly the biggest controversy in emergency medicine. Also, the topic of this week’s Emergency Medicine Cases Journal Jam podcast. Rory Spiegel, Anton Helman, and I take a deep dive into the... read more
Evaluating Transfusion Strategies
Cancer patients are at increased risk of septic shock. Therefore, Bergamin et al set out to assess whether a restrictive strategy of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion reduces 28-day mortality when compared with a liberal strategy... read more
CDC and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection
This guideline is intended to provide new and updated evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of SSI and should be incorporated into comprehensive surgical quality improvement programs to improve patient safety.... read more
Systemic and Microcirculatory Effects of Blood Transfusion in Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock
The microvascular reperfusion injury after retransfusion has not been completely characterized. Specifically, the question of heterogeneity among different microvascular beds needs to be addressed. In addition, the identification... read more
Ratio-based Transfusion and Non-trauma Patients
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) urge caution in adopting ratio-based transfusion - a practice previously studied only in patients with severe traumatic injuries - in non-trauma patients. Their study published... read more
Association of Ratio-Based Massive Transfusion With Survival Among Patients Without Trauma
Association Between Ratio of Fresh Frozen Plasma to Red Blood Cells During Massive Transfusion and Survival Among Patients Without Traumatic Injury. This study reports on the use and benefits of ratio-based blood product... read more
Transfusion in Critical Care – UK Regional Audit of Current Practice
A consistent message within critical care publications has been that a restrictive transfusion strategy is non-inferior, and possibly superior, to a liberal strategy for stable, non-bleeding critically ill patients. Translation... 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
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
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
Is platelet transfusion associated with hospital-acquired infections in critically ill patients?
After adjustment for confounders, including patient severity and other blood components, platelet transfusion was independently associated with ICU-acquired infection. Further research aiming to better understand this association... read more
Old vs New: End of Debate on Blood Transfusion Storage
The new data come from the Informing Fresh versus Old Red Cell Management (INFORM) trial, which assigned hospitalized patients to receive transfusion of the freshest red cells in the inventory.... read more
Patients benefit from tranexamic acid in surgery, withholding blood pressure meds before
Four innovative studies exploring ways to reduce complications related to heart surgery or minimize patient mortality due to risks associated with low blood pressure and surgery.... read more
