Abstract

BERRO, Maximiliano  and  RODRIGUEZ, Ismael. Why do we keep transfusing two units of blood at the same time if just one could be enough?. Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2021, vol.37, n.1, e502.  Epub Mar 01, 2021. ISSN 0303-3295.  https://doi.org/10.29193/rmu.37.1.11.

Blood transfusion has been identified as one of the most overused medical procedures in hospitalized patients. One strategy that would reduce the exposure of patients to blood is through the implementation of a single-unit regime for stable patients without bleeding and with symptomatic anemia. The decision to transfuse blood is complex and depends on several factors, in addition, the risks of transfusion must be weighed against the expected benefits. Transfusion of two units of blood at the same time is no longer considered a “standard” form of treatment for anemic patients without active bleeding. There is a great opportunity to reduce the overuse of transfusion and encourage single-unit transfusions.

Keywords : Blood transfusion; Reference standards.

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