Indications for red blood transfusion depend on clinical assessment and the cause of the anemia. In a stable, non-bleeding patient, often a single unit of blood is adequate to relieve patient symptoms or to raise the hemoglobin to an acceptable level. Transfusions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in high-risk hospitalized inpatients. Transfusion decisions should be influenced by symptoms and hemoglobin concentration. Single unit red cell transfusions should be the standard for non-bleeding, hospitalized patients. Additional units should only be prescribed after re-assessment of the patient and their hemoglobin value.
Conditions: Anemia, Low Blood Count
Treatments: Red Blood Cells (RBC) Transfusion, Blood Transfusion
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Sources
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