nvic academy

This document aims to summarize the current literatureguiding the use of red cell transfusion in critically ill patientsand provides recommendations to support clinicians in theirday-to-day practice. Critically ill patients differ in their age,diagnosis, co-morbidities, and severity of illness. These fac-tors influence their tolerance of anaemia and alter the risk tobenefit ratio of transfusion. The optimal management for anindividual may not fall clearly within our recommendationsand each decision requires a synthesis of the availableevidence and the clinical judgment of the treating physician.This guideline relates to the use of red cells to manageanaemia during critical illness when major haemorrhage isnot present. A previous British Committee for Standards inHaematology (BCSH) guideline has been published on massivehaemorrhage (Stainsbyet al, 2006), but this is a rapidly changingfield. We recommend readers consult recent guidelinesspecifically addressing the management of major haemorrhagefor evidence-based guidance. A subsequent BCSH guideline willspecifically cover the use of plasma components in critically ill patients.