[Importance of blood transfusion in anemic patients with COPD and unsuccessful weaning from respirator].
BACKGROUND
Imbalance of load-capacity relationship in severe COPD may lead to ventilatory failure. Additionally, in such patients, anemia may aggravate the ventilatory load. In this retrospective study we investigated whether anemia patients undergoing long-term ventilation benefit from transfusion.


METHODS
We studied 5 anemic patients (hemoglobin: 8.7 +/- 0.8 g/dl) with COPD in whom trials of weaning from the ventilator had been unsuccessful. After transferral to our regional weaning centre, blood was transfused to increase the hemoglobin value to approximately 12 g/dl or higher. Subsequently, all patients could be successfully weaned within a short period.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in difficult to wean anemic patients blood transfusion should be considered and may lead to successful weaning.
Schönhofer
B
B
Krankenhaus Kloster Grafschaft, Zentrum für Pneumologie, Beatmungs- und Schlafmedizin, Schmallenberg-Grafschaft. Bernd.Schoenhofer@t-online.de
Böhrer
H
H
Köhler
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
Stellenwert der Bluttransfusion bei schwer vom Respirator entwöhnbaren Patienten mit Anämie und COPD.