[The evidence for blood cell transfusions to non-bleeding, critically ill patients is sparse]

Critically ill non-bleeding patients often receive red blood cell transfusions in the intensive care unit because of anaemia. The evidence that transfusion leads to improved outcome is limited and the treatment may be harmful to some of these patients. Current recommendations support a restrictive transfusion strategy. Additional randomised clinical trials are needed to elucidate the association between specific haemoglobin levels, transfusion and morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients including those with severe sepsis and acute coronary syndrome.