ABSTRACT
Evidence supports a parsimonious approach to blood use for managing anemia, contrasting with the long-standing practice of blood transfusion targeting arbitrary hemoglobin levels. Hemodilution studies have demonstrated that humans can tolerate anemia. The cumulative data have confirmed and validated the safety of a conservative approach to transfusion. This has translated into formal national guidelines for blood transfusion as well as patient safety and quality markers supporting blood management stewardship to minimize unnecessary use of blood products.
- Copyright © 2017 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
- Moises Auron, MD, FAAP, FACP, SFHM⇑
- Department of Hospital Medicine and Department of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
- Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- ADDRESS:
Moises Auron, MD, Department of Hospital Medicine, M2 Annex, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195; auronm{at}ccf.org
- Marina Y. Duran Castillo, MD, FACP
ABSTRACT
Evidence supports a parsimonious approach to blood use for managing anemia, contrasting with the long-standing practice of blood transfusion targeting arbitrary hemoglobin levels. Hemodilution studies have demonstrated that humans can tolerate anemia. The cumulative data have confirmed and validated the safety of a conservative approach to transfusion. This has translated into formal national guidelines for blood transfusion as well as patient safety and quality markers supporting blood management stewardship to minimize unnecessary use of blood products.
- Copyright © 2017 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.