When to Transfuse? Identification of Transfusion Triggers in Anaemic Patients

Aims/ Objectives: To identify the transfusion triggers in hospitalized patients for judicial use of blood products.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Haematology, Ali Medical Centre Islamabad, The duration of the study was from November 2018 to June 2019.

Methodology: In this study total number of transfusion events and the Hb transfusion triggers were analyzed for 265 patients. The threshold for transfusion was according to patient's clinical condition, the indication for admission and generally varied according to the situation and discretion of physician.

Results: Total 265 admitted patients were included in the study. The threshold for transfusion was 8.6 ± 1.7.

Conclusion: Liberal transfusion regimen can be safely used for surgical patients, severe hypoxic patients and patients with medical emergencies. However patients admitted with medical ailments that are otherwise stable should be given transfusion following restrictive transfusion regimen.