The updated guidelines published in JAMA recommend a conservative strategy for blood transfusion. Here are the new recommendations: For hospitalized adults who are hemodynamically stable (including critically ill patients) transfusion is now indicated only when the hemoglobin level hits 7 g/dL. For patients undergoing orthopedic or cardiac surgery and those with cardiovascular disease, the transfusion threshold should be 8 g/dL.
In addition, with standard-issue versus fresher blood. Accordingly, the new guidelines recommend using standard-issue blood rather than limiting transfusions to fresher blood (<10 days' storage). Of note, the guidelines don't apply to patients with acute coronary syndromes, severe thrombocytopenia, and chronic transfusion-dependent anemia.
