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Outcomes using lower vs higher hemoglobin thresholds for red blood cell transfusion
Jeffrey L Carson1, Paul A Carless, Paul C Hébert
1Division of General Internal Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson St, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. carson@umdnj.edu
Clinical Question:
Is a lower vs higher hemoglobin threshold best for minimizing both red blood cell use and adverse clinical outcomes when used to trigger red blood cell transfusions in anemic patients in critical care and acute care settings?
Bottom Line:
Compared with higher hemoglobin thresholds, a hemoglobin threshold of 7 or 8 g/dL is associated with fewer red blood cell units transfused without adverse associations with mortality, cardiac morbidity, functional recovery, or length of hospital stay.
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