Transfusion in the Intensive Care Unit

In the last decade, there have been several clinical trials that have studied red blood cell transfusion triggers in various Intensive Care Unit patient populations. Moreover, critically ill patients often suffer from coagulopathy. Recent studies have addressed the effectiveness of fresh frozen plasma and platelets to prevent or treat bleeding. This book offers a comprehensive summary of transfusion triggers for red blood cells in specific ICU patient populations and specific conditions with the aim to personalize transfusion strategy. In addition, it discusses evidence for triggers for plasma and platelets and outlines the most common adverse effects of blood transfusion in the ICU, underlining the need for a careful assessment of its risks and benefits.

Transfusion in the Intensive Care Unit is a practical handbook that can be used in everyday practice to guide transfusion and thus will serve as a valuable resource for physicians, fellows and residents working in Intensive Care, Anesthesiology, and Cardiac Surgery.