GI Bleed Survival Higher with Few Transfusions
By John Gever, Senior Editor, MedPage Today. Published: January 02, 2013
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
"Action Points
A restrictive transfusion strategy in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding improved outcomes compared with a liberal approach.
Point out that rates of additional bleeding, use of rescue therapy, and other complications were also lower with the restrictive strategy, suggesting that in patients with acute GI bleeds, not giving a transfusion until the hemoglobin concentration falls below 7 g per deciliter is a safe and effective strategy."
Primary source: New England Journal of Medicine
Source reference: Villanueva C, et al "Transfusion strategies for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding" New Engl J Med 2013; 368: 11-21.
Additional source: New England Journal of Medicine
Source reference: Laine L "Blood transfusion for gastrointestinal bleeding" New Engl J Med 2013; 368: 75-76.