Transfusions May Increase Mortality in Patients with Acute Lung Injury

Receipt of any red cell transfusion was associated with significantly increased mortality.

In a landmark randomized trial involving intensive care unit patients, a restrictive blood transfusion policy (i.e., not transfusing until a patient’s hemoglobin level was <7 g/dL) was associated with better outcomes than more liberal transfusion (Journal Watch Feb 12 1999). Now, University of Pennsylvania researchers have performed a prospective cohort study to examine the relation between transfusions and mortality specifically among patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS).

Of 248 consecutive patients (age >13) admitted to an ICU with ALI/ARDS, 84% received at least one unit of packed red cells. In-hospital mortality was 40%. After adjustment for potentially confounding variables (including illness se…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose