Guideline in Focus
Red Blood Cell Transfusion in the ICU

Blood products are frequently administered to patients who are critically ill. By optimizing the management of limited resources like red blood cells (RBCs), both individual patients and the broader at-risk critically ill population stand to benefit. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for RBC transfusion among critically ill patients overall and specific subgroups, including patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac surgery, isolated troponin elevation, and septic shock.

PUBLISHED September 26, 2024

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Key Recommendations

In critically ill patients, we recommend a restrictive RBC transfusion strategy over a permissive RBC transfusion strategy.

In critically ill patients with acute coronary syndrome, we recommend against a restrictive RBC transfusion strategy.

In patients with septic shock and end-organ hypoperfusion, we suggest against adding permissive RBC transfusion thresholds to usual care.


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7-8 g/dL
hemoglobin target
in critical illness
7-8 g/dL
hemoglobin target
with isolated troponin elevation
10 g/dL
hemoglobin target
in acute coronary syndrome

Implement this guideline into practice

Our guidelines are aimed at helping you respond to today’s clinical challenges and improve patient health outcomes. Our panel of experts has developed multimedia content to facilitate adoption of this guideline into your day-to-day practice.


PRESS RELEASE

Guideline on Red Blood Cell Transfusion Released by CHEST
In a release issued to the media, lead author, Angel Coz Yataco, MD, FCCP, speaks to the importance of this guideline in practice.

1 MINUTE READ

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