The Effects of Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Tissue Oxygenation and the Microcirculation in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

The transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is a common intervention in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet the benefits are far from clear in patients with moderate anemia (e.g.: hemoglobin (Hb) levels of 7 –10 g/dL). Determining which of these patients benefit, and how to even define benefit, from transfusion is challenging. As the intended physiological benefit underpinning RBC transfusion is to improve tissue oxygenation, several studies utilizing a wide range of assessment techniques have attempt ed to study the effects of transfusion on tissue oxygenation and microcirculatory function.
Source: Transfusion Medicine Reviews - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research