TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 68. Anemia and Blood Transfusion A1 - Luce, Judith A. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Wood, Lawrence D.H. Y1 - 2005 N1 - T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 3e AB - The current practice of transfusion in the ICU is conservative, reflecting a balance between the benefits and adverse consequences of transfused blood.Anemia developing in the ICU should not be attributed solely to phlebotomy; red cell loss, destruction, or underproduction should also be considered.Evaluation of the basis for anemia, beginning with analysis of the blood smear, reticulocyte count, and red cell indices, may lead to easier management of the anemia and may prove useful in overall treatment.For most critically ill patients, a transfusion target for hemoglobin of 7 to 9 g/dL is at least as safe as a higher threshold of 10 to 12 g/dL; the lower value may be superior.Transfusion is rarely associated with life-threatening complications such as transfusion-related acute lung injury, major hemolysis, or lethal infection.Erythropoietin and oxygen-carrying blood substitutes remain unproven for critically ill patients.Massively transfused patients are at risk for hypothermia and dilutional coagulopathy. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2023/11/28 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=2293268 ER -