The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (formerly called the American Association of Blood Banks) issued newly updated guidelines on red cell transfusion in hospitalized patients.
More than 45 randomized trials were considered, including more than a dozen since their last guideline update several years ago.
AABB recommended transfusion be restricted (in hospitalized hemodynamically stable patients) until hemoglobin is less than 7 g/dL: a strong recommendation on moderate quality evidence.
They advised a higher threshold of 7.5 g/dL for cardiac surgery patients, 8 g/dL for orthopedic surgery, and 8 g/dL for patients with chronic cardiovascular conditions.
They declined to advise on thresholds for transfusion during acute myocardial infarction.
For hemodynamically stable, acutely ill children who are critically ill or at risk for progressing to critical illness, a transfusion threshold of 7 g/dL was advised—also a strong recommendation on evidence considered moderate q…
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