Minimum haemoglobin in intensive care

Abstract

Multiple and complex aetiological factors contributes to anaemia in critically ill patients. This article sets out to examine the clinical evidence and physiological rationale for transfusion, traditionally based on an arbitrary haemoglobin trigger of 10 g=dL. Maintenance of haemoglobin concentration level of 10 g=dL or above may benefit only a small group of patients with an acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina or those who have severe coronary artery disease. However, most critically ill patients tolerate anaemia very well due to physiological compen satory mechanisms and clinical studies suggest that there is an increase in adverse outcome if transfusion is carried out using this traditional trigger threshold.