Editor's Choice
Am J Hematol. 2024 Mar;99(3):473-476 doi: 10.1002/ajh.27181.
POPULATION:
Red blood cell, transfusion dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes enrolled in two feasibility trials: REDDS in United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and RBC-Enhance in Canada (n= 66). INTERVENTION:Liberal transfusion strategy (maintain Hb 110-125 g/L), (n= 33). COMPARISON:Restrictive transfusion strategy (maintain Hb 85-100 g/L), (n= 33). OUTCOME:The transfusion strategy was applied for 12 weeks. In total, 232 and 471 units of red blood cells were transfused in the restrictive and liberal arms, respectively. Patients in the liberal arm had more complete blood count tests (13.8 vs. 10.3), a mean of 3.1 ± 2.9 more transfusion visits, and a mean of 6.3 ± 5.9 extra units of blood. Overall, the authors of this combined analysis of two feasibility trials, observed less variability in Hb levels in the liberal arm with patients reporting clinically important improvements pre- and post-transfusion (compared with baseline) in selected symptom and functional domains. However, many patients in both transfusion arms experienced stability or declines in their scores. |
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Editor's Choice
J Orthop Trauma. 2024 Jan 1;38(1):18-24 doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002696.
POPULATION:
Musculoskeletal trauma patients with planned surgery (n= 99). INTERVENTION:Liberal transfusion threshold of 7.0 g/dL (n= 49). COMPARISON:Conservative transfusion threshold of 5.5 g/dL (n= 50). OUTCOME:Overall, 46/49 (93.9%) of the liberal group had a transfusion versus 23/50 (46.0%) of the conservative group had a transfusion after resuscitation and after enrollment in this study. Following resuscitation and enrollment in the study, patients in the liberal group received a median of 1 unit of blood transfused (range 0–12) and patients in the conservative group received a median of 0 units of blood (range 0–14). Sixty-five patients completed 1- year follow-up. There was a significant association between a liberal transfusion strategy and higher rate of infection, with no difference in functional outcomes at 6 months or 1 year.
OBJECTIVES:
To determine whether it is safe to use a conservative packed red blood cell transfusion hemoglobin (Hgb) threshold (5.5 g/dL) compared with a liberal transfusion threshold (7.0 g/dL) for asymptomatic musculoskeletal injured trauma patients who are no longer in the initial resuscitative period. METHODS:Design: Prospective, randomized, multicenter trial. SETTING:Three level 1 trauma centers. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA:Patients aged 18-50 with an associated musculoskeletal injury with Hgb less than 9 g/dL or expected drop below 9 g/dL with planned surgery who were stable and no longer being actively resuscitated were randomized once their Hgb dropped below 7 g/dL to a conservative transfusion threshold of 5.5 g/dL versus a liberal threshold of 7.0 g/dL. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS:Postoperative infection, other post-operative complications and Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment scores obtained at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year were compared for liberal and conservative transfusion thresholds. RESULTS:Sixty-five patients completed 1 year follow-up. There was a significant association between a liberal transfusion strategy and higher rate of infection (P = 0.01), with no difference in functional outcomes at 6 months or 1 year. This study was adequately powered at 92% to detect a difference in superficial infection (7% for liberal group, 0% for conservative, P < 0.01) but underpowered to detect a difference for deep infection (14% for liberal group, 6% for conservative group, P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS:A conservative transfusion threshold of 5.5 g/dL in an asymptomatic young trauma patient with associated musculoskeletal injuries leads to a lower infection rate without an increase in adverse outcomes and no difference in functional outcomes at 6 months or 1 year. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. |