Transfusion in the Intensive Care Unit

Overview

Journal Crit Care Med

Specialties Critical Care
Emergency Medicine

Date 2006 Apr 18

PMID 16617264

Citations 11

Authors

Jean-Louis Vincent

Michael Piagnerelli

Affiliations

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Abstract

Objective: To summarize the incidences of anemia and blood transfusions in critically ill patients, assess their comparative risks and benefits, and briefly speculate on the possible effects of leukoreduction and blood storage on the need to reevaluate transfusion triggers.

Design: A review of the current literature was performed.

Results: Anemia is common in intensive care unit patients and is associated with increased mortality. Some 20-53% of intensive care unit patients will receive a blood transfusion during their stay, and these have also been associated with worse outcomes. Leukoreduction may limit some of the infectious and immunomodulatory risks associated with blood transfusion.

Conclusions: Data on the risks and benefits of blood transfusion are conflicting, and with recent changes in blood transfusion practice, including the widespread introduction of leukoreduction, it is time to reevaluate our transfusion triggers.

Citing Articles

The association of donor and recipient sex on sepsis rates and hemoglobin increment among critically ill patients receiving red cell transfusions in a retrospective study.

Li W, Liu Y, Lucier K, Heddle N, Acker J EJHaem. 2025; 6(1):e1005.

PMID: 39866939 PMC: 11756991. DOI: 10.1002/jha2.1005.

Mitochondrial oxygen tension in critically ill patients receiving red blood cell transfusions: a multicenter observational cohort study.

Baysan M, Hilderink B, van Manen L, Caram-Deelder C, Mik E, Juffermans N Intensive Care Med Exp. 2024; 12(1):61.

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Effect of using smaller blood volume tubes and closed blood collection devices on total blood loss in patients undergoing major cardiac and vascular surgery.

Neef V, Himmele C, Piekarski F, Blum L, Hof L, Derwich W Can J Anaesth. 2024; 71(2):213-223.

PMID: 38191843 PMC: 10884058. DOI: 10.1007/s12630-023-02643-8.

Machine learning models to predict red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Liu S, Zhou R, Xia X, Ren H, Wang L, Sang R Ann Transl Med. 2021; 9(7):530.

PMID: 33987228 PMC: 8105834. DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-7375.

Iron deficiency and infection: another pathway to explore in critically ill patients?.

Swenson E, Porcher R, Piagnerelli M Intensive Care Med. 2018; 44(12):2260-2262.

PMID: 30397782 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-018-5438-8.