08 Oct Lower Transfusion Threshold Safe For Most Sepsis Patients
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Anders Perner, MD, PhD
Overlæge / Senior staff specialist
Professor / Professor in Intensive Care
Dept of Intensive Care
Rigshospitalet Copenhagen Denmark
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Perner: In the large international randomised trial, we showed similar outcomes in patients with septic shock with anemia transfused at a lower vs. a higher hemoglobin threshold. The lower threshold group received 50 % fewer transfusions and one-third of these patients were never transfused in ICU.
Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?
Dr. Perner: The results were remarkably clear.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Perner: Clinicians treating patients with septic shock can safely wait and transfuse at a hemoglobin level at 7 g/dl
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Perner: For the vast majority of patients 7 g/dl should be the transfusion threshold, but we need more data in those with acute coronary syndrome or severe bleeding
Citation:
N Engl J Med 2014; 371:1381-1391
October 9, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1406617
Last Updated on October 8, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD