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Sepsis-related anemia in a pediatric intensive care unit: transfusion-associated outcomes
Elshinawy M, Kamal M, Nazir H, Khater D, Hassan R, Elkinany H, Wali Y
Transfusion. 2020;60 Suppl 1:S4-s9
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric patients with sepsis in intensive care units are at high risk of developing anemia, which might have adverse effects on their prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on the outcomes of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with sepsis. METHODS We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial, enrolling 67 children, aged 2 to 144 months who were admitted to a PICU with a new episode of sepsis from November 2017 to April 2018. Patients were allocated randomly to two groups: Group 1, liberal transfusion strategy group, including 33 patients who had initial hemoglobin (Hb) between 7 or greater and less than 10 g/dL and received an RBC top-up transfusion to 12 g/dL; and Group 2, restrictive strategy group, including 34 patients who had the same Hb range and did not receive RBCs. Patients with Hb less than 7 or greater than 10 g/dL were excluded. RESULTS Of 33 patients who received liberal transfusions, 31 (93.94%) required ventilation, and 29 (87.88%) had multiorgan dysfunction. They had a significantly lengthier hospital stay and a higher incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury. Moreover, mortality was significantly higher in the liberal transfusion group (42.4% vs. 17.6%). CONCLUSIONS Compared to the restrictive transfusion strategy, liberal transfusion might be associated with a worse outcome. However, the possible role of other known and unknown confounding factors and minor protocol violations should be taken into consideration. We recommend minimizing factors worsening anemia in PICU patients to reduce the need for transfusion.
PICO Summary
Population
Children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with new episode of sepsis (n= 67).
Intervention
Liberal transfusion strategy group, (Group 1) received an red blood cell (RBC) top-up transfusion to 12 g/dL (n=33).
Comparison
Restrictive strategy group, (Group 2) did not receive RBCs. (n= 34).
Outcome
Of 33 patients who received liberal transfusions, 31 (93.94%) required ventilation, and 29 (87.88%) had multiorgan dysfunction. They had a significantly lengthier hospital stay and a higher incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury. Moreover, mortality was significantly higher in the liberal transfusion group (42.4% vs. 17.6%).
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Heterogenous treatment effects of transfusion thresholds by patient age: post-hoc analysis of the TRISS trial
Jonsson AB, Granholm A, Rygard SL, Holst LB, Moller MH, Perner A
Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 2019
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of a lower haemoglobin (Hb) threshold to guide red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is now generally recommended in critically ill patients, but uncertainty remains regarding the optimal HB-threshold for RBC transfusion in patients of different ages. METHODS We conducted a post-hoc analysis of 998 patients with septic shock and anaemia randomised to RBC transfusion at a Hb-threshold of 7 g/dl [4.3 mmol/l] vs. 9 g/dl [5.6 mmol/l] in the Transfusion Requirements in Septic Shock (TRISS) trial. We assessed if there were heterogeneous effects between the allocated Hb-threshold and patient age categorised and on the continuous scale. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality; the secondary outcome was 90-day mortality. Both outcomes were analysed using logistic regression models and in sensitivity analyses with additional adjusting for site of enrolment, presence of haematological malignancy and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. The secondary analyses were Kaplan-Meier curves with corresponding log-rank tests. RESULTS We found no heterogeneity between patient age and the allocated Hb-thresholds for RBC transfusion for 1-year mortality or 90-day mortality in the primary analyses. The sensitivity analyses suggested heterogeneity between age groups regarding 90-day mortality, however, this was not consistent for 1-year mortality or when assessing age on the continuous scale. CONCLUSION In this post-hoc study of ICU patients with septic shock, we found no reliable heterogeneous effects of transfusion at a Hb-threshold of 7 vs. 9 g/dl according to patient age on mortality. However, due to low power, this study should only be considered as hypothesis-generating.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with septic shock and anaemia, (n=998) who had not previously been transfused in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Intervention
Lower threshold group: RBC transfusion at a lower Hb-threshold of 7 g/dl [4.3 mmol/l], (n=502).
Comparison
Higher threshold group: RBC transfusion at a higher Hb-threshold of 9 g/dl [5.6 mmol/l], (n=496).
Outcome
No heterogeneity between patient age and the allocated Hb-thresholds for RBC transfusion for 1-year mortality or 90-day mortality in the primary analyses. The sensitivity analyses suggested heterogeneity between age groups regarding 90-day mortality, however, this was not consistent for 1-year mortality or when assessing age on the continuous scale.
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Effects of anemia and blood transfusion on clot formation and platelet function in patients with septic shock: a substudy of the randomized TRISS trial
Russell L, Holst LB, Lange T, Liang X, Ostrowski SR, Perner A
Transfusion. 2018;58((12):):2807-2818.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of anemia and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on markers of clot formation and platelet function in patients with septic shock are unknown. We assessed these effects in a randomized transfusion trial of patients with septic shock. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a prospective substudy of the Transfusion Requirements in Septic Shock (TRISS) trial, randomly assigning patients in the intensive care unit with septic shock and hemoglobin concentration of 9.0 g/dL or less to transfusion with one unit of RBCs at a hemoglobin level of 9.0 g/dL or a level of 7.0 g/dL. We assessed thromboelastography (TEG), multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA), platelet count, and international normalized ratio (INR) immediately before and after the first blood transfusion and again 3 hours after. The effects of hemoglobin level were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the association between markers of hemostasis and subsequent bleeding by Cox regression models. RESULTS We included 58 patients in this substudy. We observed no differences in whole blood clot formation, platelet count or function, or INR between patients with hemoglobin levels of 7.0 and 9.0 g/dL, and we found no effect of RBC transfusion on these markers. Platelet function, assessed by MEA, but not whole blood clot formation, was associated with subsequent bleeding. CONCLUSIONS In patients with septic shock, the level of anemia and the transfusion of RBCs did not appear to influence clot formation or platelet function. Low platelet function, as evaluated by MEA, was associated with increased risk of subsequent bleeding.
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Elevated Syndecan-1 after Trauma and Risk of Sepsis: A Secondary Analysis of Patients from the Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) Trial
Wei S, Rodriguez EG, Chang R, Holcomb JB, Kao LS, Wade CE
Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2018;227((6):):587-595.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Endotheliopathy of trauma is characterized by breakdown of the endothelial glycocalyx. Elevated biomarkers of endotheliopathy, such as serum syndecan-1 (Synd-1) ≥ 40 ng/mL, have been associated with increased need for transfusions, complications, and mortality. We hypothesized that severely injured trauma patients who exhibit elevated Synd-1 levels shortly after admission have an increased likelihood of developing sepsis. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed a subset of PROPPR patients that survived at least 72 hours after hospital admission and determined elevated Synd-1 levels (≥ 40 ng/mL) 4 hours after hospital arrival. Sepsis was defined a priori as meeting systemic inflammatory response criteria and having a known or suspected infection. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with elevated Synd-1 levels and sepsis. Significant variables at a p-value <0.2 in the univariate analysis were chosen by purposeful selection and analyzed in a mixed effects multivariate logistic regression model to account for the 12 different study sites. RESULTS We included 512 patients. Of these, 402 (79%) had elevated Synd-1 levels, and 180 (35%) developed sepsis. Median Synd-1 levels at 4 hours after admission were 70 ng/dL (IQR 36 - 157 ng/dL) in patients who did not develop sepsis, and 165 ng/dL (IQR 67 - 336 ng/dL) in those who did (p < 0.001). Adjusting for treatment arm and site, multivariable analyses revealed that elevated Synd-1 status, injury severity score (ISS), and total blood transfused were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing sepsis. CONCLUSIONS Elevated Synd-1 levels 4 hours after admission in severely injured adult trauma patients who survived the initial 72 hours after hospital admission is associated with subsequent sepsis.
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Liberal versus restrictive transfusion strategy in critically ill oncologic patients: the Transfusion Requirements in Critically Ill Oncologic Patients randomized controlled trial
Bergamin FS, Almeida JP, Landoni G, Galas FR, Fukushima JT, Fominskiy E, Park CH, Osawa EA, Diz MP, Oliveira GQ, et al
Critical Care Medicine. 2017;45((5):):766-773
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether a restrictive strategy of RBC transfusion reduces 28-day mortality when compared with a liberal strategy in cancer patients with septic shock. DESIGN Single center, randomized, double-blind controlled trial. SETTING Teaching hospital. PATIENTS Adult cancer patients with septic shock in the first 6 hours of ICU admission. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to the liberal (hemoglobin threshold, < 9g/dL) or to the restrictive strategy (hemoglobin threshold, < 7g/dL) of RBC transfusion during ICU stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Patients were randomized to the liberal (n = 149) or to the restrictive transfusion strategy (n = 151) group. Patients in the liberal group received more RBC units than patients in the restrictive group (1 [0-3] vs 0 [0-2] unit; p < 0.001). At 28 days after randomization, mortality rate in the liberal group (primary endpoint of the study) was 45% (67 patients) versus 56% (84 patients) in the restrictive group (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53-1.04; p = 0.08) with no differences in ICU and hospital length of stay. At 90 days after randomization, mortality rate in the liberal group was lower (59% vs 70%) than in the restrictive group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.53-0.97; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS We observed a survival trend favoring a liberal transfusion strategy in patients with septic shock when compared with the restrictive strategy. These results went in the opposite direction of the a priori hypothesis and of other trials in the field and need to be confirmed.
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Higher vs. lower haemoglobin threshold for transfusion in septic shock: subgroup analyses of the TRISS trial
Rygard SL, Holst LB, Wetterslev J, Johansson PI, Perner A
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 2016;61((2):):166-175
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using a restrictive transfusion strategy appears to be safe in sepsis, but there may be subgroups of patients who benefit from transfusion at a higher haemoglobin level. We explored if subgroups of patients with septic shock and anaemia had better outcome when transfused at a higher vs. a lower haemoglobin threshold. METHODS In post-hoc analyses of the full trial population of 998 patients from the Transfusion Requirements in Septic Shock (TRISS) trial, we investigated the intervention effect on 90-day mortality in patients with severe comorbidity (chronic lung disease, haematological malignancy or metastatic cancer), in patients who had undergone surgery (elective or acute) and in patients with septic shock as defined by the new consensus definition: lactate above 2 mmol/l and the need for vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg. RESULTS The baseline characteristics were mostly similar between the two intervention groups in the different subgroups. There were no differences in the intervention effect on 90-day mortality in patients with chronic lung disease (test of interaction P = 0.31), haematological malignancy (P = 0.47), metastatic cancer (P = 0.51), in those who had undergone surgery (P = 0.99) or in patients with septic shock by the new definition (P = 0.20). CONCLUSION In exploratory analyses of a randomized trial in patients with septic shock and anaemia, we observed no survival benefit in any subgroups of transfusion at a haemoglobin threshold of 90 g/l vs. 70 g/l.
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Long-term outcomes in patients with septic shock transfused at a lower versus a higher haemoglobin threshold: the TRISS randomised, multicentre clinical trial
Rygard SL, Holst LB, Wetterslev J, Winkel P, Johansson PI, Wernerman J, Guttormsen AB, Karlsson S, Perner A
Intensive Care Medicine. 2016;42((11):):1685-1694
Abstract
PURPOSE We assessed the predefined long-term outcomes in patients randomised in the Transfusion Requirements in Septic Shock (TRISS) trial. METHODS In 32 Scandinavian ICUs, we randomised 1005 patients with septic shock and haemoglobin of 9 g/dl or less to receive single units of leuko-reduced red cells when haemoglobin level was 7 g/dl or less (lower threshold) or 9 g/dl or less (higher threshold) during ICU stay. We assessed mortality rates 1 year after randomisation and again in all patients at time of longest follow-up in the intention-to-treat population (n = 998) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year after randomisation in the Danish patients only (n = 777). RESULTS Mortality rates in the lower- versus higher-threshold group at 1 year were 53.5 % (268/501 patients) versus 54.6 % (271/496) [relative risk 0.97; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.85-1.09; P = 0.62]; at longest follow-up (median 21 months), they were 56.7 % (284/501) versus 61.0 % (302/495) (hazard ratio 0.88; 95 % CI 0.75-1.03; P = 0.12). We obtained HRQoL data at 1 year in 629 of the 777 (81 %) Danish patients, and mean differences between the lower- and higher-threshold group in scores of physical HRQoL were 0.4 (95 % CI -2.4 to 3.1; P = 0.79) and in mental HRQoL 0.5 (95 % CI -3.1 to 4.0; P = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS Long-term mortality rates and HRQoL did not differ in patients with septic shock and anaemia who were transfused at a haemoglobin threshold of 7 g/dl versus a threshold of 9 g/dl. We may reject a more than 3 % increased hazard of death in the lower- versus higher-threshold group at the time of longest follow-up.
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Benefits and harms of red blood cell transfusions in patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit
Holst LB
Danish Medical Journal. 2016;63((2)):B5209.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is widely used for non-bleeding patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit (ICU). The evidence for effect and safety are limited showing conflicting results and transfused RBCs have the potential to harm subgroups of critically ill patients. Our aim was to assess the benefits and harms of RBC transfusion in patients with septic shock in a randomised clinical trial and to conduct an up-to-date systematic review with meta-analysis of all randomised clinical trials comparing different transfusion strategies. METHODS We planned and conducted a randomised, partly blinded, clinical trial assigning patients with septic shock in the ICU and a haemoglobin level of 9 g/dl (5.6 mM) or below to receive single units of pre-storage leukoreduced RBCs at a lower haemoglobin threshold level of 7 g/dl (4.3 mM) or below or a higher haemoglobin threshold level of 9 g/dl (5.6 mM) or below. The primary outcome was death by day 90 after randomisation. Secondary outcomes were need for life support, severe adverse reactions, ischaemic events in the ICU and days alive and out of hospital. Secondly, we conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing benefits and harms of using restrictive (range of lower haemoglobin thresholds) versus liberal (range of higher haemoglobin threshold) transfusion trigger strategies to guide RBC transfusion and pooled results in meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses. RESULTS Of the 1005 patients that underwent randomisation 998 were included in analysis of the primary outcome of mortality. Ninety days after randomisation, 216 of 502 patients (43%) in the lower threshold group had died compared to 223 of 496 (45%) patients in the higher threshold group (relative risk (RR) 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 1.09, p=0.44). The number of patients who required life support, who had ischaemic events, severe adverse reactions and number of days alive and out of hospital were similar in the two groups. Patients in the lower threshold group received 1588 units of RBCs compared to 3088 units in the higher group. A total of 176 (36%) patients in the lower threshold group never received RBCs in the ICU compared with six patients (1%) in the higher threshold group. The systematic review identified 31 trials with a total of 9813 patients in different clinical settings. In meta-analyses restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies were not associated with the RR of death (0.89, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.05, 5607 patients in eight trials with lower risk of bias), overall morbidity (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.12, 4517 patients in six trials with lower risk of bias), fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.61 to 2.83, 4630 patients in six trials with lower risk of bias). Trial sequential analysis on mortality and myocardial infarction showed that required information sizes had not been reached but use of restrictive transfusion strategies was associated with reduced numbers of RBC units transfused (mean difference -1.43, 95% CI -2.01 to -0.86) and reduced proportion of patients transfused (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.63). CONCLUSION The TRISS trial provided evidence for the safe use of 7 g/dl as transfusion trigger in patients with septic shock and reduced the number of units transfused with about half. In line with this, the updated systematic review including data from several recent trials showed no associations with mortality or other adverse events when comparing restrictive to liberal RBC transfusion strategies, however, restrictive transfusion strategies reduce the exposure of patients to RBC transfusions and reduce number of transfused RBC units. Given the fact that liberal transfusion strategies have not been proven beneficial, a more restrictive approach should be considered. Results from the TRISS trial together with other recent trials have the potential to alter the international guidelines for transfusing critically ill patients. Several guidelines have been updated the last years recommending the
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Blood transfusions in septic shock: is 7.0 g/dL really the appropriate threshold?
Mazza BF, Freitas FG, Barros MM, Azevedo LC, Machado FR
Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva. 2015;27((1)):36-43.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the immediate effects of red blood cell transfusion on central venous oxygen saturation and lactate levels in septic shock patients with different transfusion triggers. METHODS We included patients with a diagnosis of septic shock within the last 48 hours and hemoglobin levels below 9.0 g/dL Patients were randomized for immediate transfusion with hemoglobin concentrations maintained above 9.0 g/dL (Group Hb9) or to withhold transfusion unless hemoglobin felt bellow 7.0 g/dL (Group Hb7). Hemoglobin, lactate, central venous oxygen saturation levels were determined before and one hour after each transfusion. RESULTS We included 46 patients and 74 transfusions. Patients in Group Hb7 had a significant reduction in median lactate from 2.44 (2.00 - 3.22) mMol/L to 2.21 (1.80 - 2.79) mMol/L, p = 0.005, which was not observed in Group Hb9 [1.90 (1.80 - 2.65) mMol/L to 2.00 (1.70 - 2.41) mMol/L, p = 0.23]. Central venous oxygen saturation levels increased in Group Hb7 [68.0 (64.0 - 72.0)% to 72.0 (69.0 - 75.0)%, p < 0.0001] but not in Group Hb9 [72.0 (69.0 - 74.0)% to 72.0 (71.0 - 73.0)%, p = 0.98]. Patients with elevated lactate or central venous oxygen saturation < 70% at baseline had a significant increase in these variables, regardless of baseline hemoglobin levels. Patients with normal values did not show a decrease in either group. CONCLUSION Red blood cell transfusion increased central venous oxygen saturation and decreased lactate levels in patients with hypoperfusion regardless of their baseline hemoglobin levels. Transfusion did not appear to impair these variables in patients without hypoperfusion. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01611753.
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Plasma free hemoglobin and microcirculatory response to fresh or old blood transfusions in sepsis
Damiani E, Adrario E, Luchetti MM, Scorcella C, Carsetti A, Mininno N, Pierantozzi S, Principi T, Strovegli D, Bencivenga R, et al
PLoS ONE. 2015;10((5)):e0122655.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Free hemoglobin (fHb) may induce vasoconstriction by scavenging nitric oxide. It may increase in older blood units due to storage lesions. This study evaluated whether old red blood cell transfusion increases plasma fHb in sepsis and how the microvascular response may be affected. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of a randomized study. Twenty adult septic patients received either fresh or old (<10 or >15 days storage, respectively) RBC transfusions. fHb was measured in RBC units and in the plasma before and 1 hour after transfusion. Simultaneously, the sublingual microcirculation was assessed with sidestream-dark field imaging. The perfused boundary region was calculated as an index of glycocalyx damage. Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and Hb index (THI) were measured with near-infrared spectroscopy and a vascular occlusion test was performed. RESULTS Similar fHb levels were found in the supernatant of fresh and old RBC units. Despite this, plasma fHb increased in the old RBC group after transfusion (from 0.125 [0.098-0.219] mg/mL to 0.238 [0.163-0.369] mg/mL, p = 0.006). The sublingual microcirculation was unaltered in both groups, while THI increased. The change in plasma fHb was inversely correlated with the changes in total vessel density (r = -0.57 [95% confidence interval -0.82, -0.16], p = 0.008), De Backer score (r = -0.63 [95% confidence interval -0.84, -0.25], p = 0.003) and THI (r = -0.72 [95% confidence interval -0.88, -0.39], p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS Old RBC transfusion was associated with an increase in plasma fHb in septic patients. Increasing plasma fHb levels were associated with decreased microvascular density. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01584999.